“Brooks,” she says, “I appreciate how much you care. I love knowing that I have you in my corner. But I’m not doing this for me, or for you, or for your brothers. I’m doing this for the women who didn’t know what danger they were getting into. I’m doing this for every other woman in the future that might have applied for this job otherwise. I’m doing this as a big fuck-you to any man in a position of power who thinks he doesn’t have any rules to follow and that people’s lives are dispensable. Brooks, Iamthe wolf here.”
I smile, looking back at her. I nod.
She’s right.
She is the goddamn wolf. She stands up slowly, the beads of soap and water trailing down her body as if they’re taunting me.
“Now,” she says, “take me to your bed.”
WREN
When Cato told me we would be going to the hotel today, I almost threw up. I nodded and smiled, but as soon as I had a moment, I excused myself and went to the bathroom.
This is it.
This is where it all started for all those women before me.
But unlike those times, this is also where it ends.
Work this week has been fairly normal so far. Lots of the same meetings and mundane tasks, until Cato puts a meeting on my calendar entitled “Chat About Travel Plans.”
I pull out my phone and type up a text to Brooks, Julian, and Keaton.
He just added a meeting to my calendar today to talk about travel plans. I’ll keep you posted.
Julian and Keaton both like the message.
Brooks fires off texts to me rapidly.
When is the meeting?
Do you have the device on you?
Don’t forget to turn the mic on.
And don’t forget to press the button in case anything goes wrong.
It’s just a meeting, B. Take a breath. Let’s meet at my place tonight to discuss,Julian adds. I like it and grab my notebook and head down the hall to his office.
“Morning, Mr. Everett,” I say with my normal smile, taking my usual seat across from him. Larry is there in his usual spot too, in the corner, eyeing me up and down with a curt nod.
“Morning, Wren,” he says. “Thanks for joining us. We wanted to chat about next week’s plans.”
“Sounds great,” I say, opening my notebook.
“We’re going to be meeting with a potential business owner whom we are interested in investing with,” he says. “We will be meeting with him at the Landry downtown. I expect it’ll be a long meeting, so we will be getting rooms—on the company account, of course.”
I swallow and nod, clearing my throat and making sure that my mic is clear from my blazer to capture as much as possible.
“Sounds good to me,” I say, feigning nonchalance like it’s my job. “Any prior research on the company you’d like me to prepare before the meeting?” I ask, trying to get him to divulge more information. He just gives me a smile and sits back in his chair.
“No need. This is a personal friend of mine,” he says. “We have enough prior knowledge. Just have to close the deal,” he says. “But I admire your gumption, Wren. Very proactive. That’s why we decided to bring you with us. We’d like to let you have a front-row seat to these kinds of meetings. We would even love it if you would participate some. Practice your people skills, not that you need much practice. More like, perfect them.”
He gives me that same charming smile, but it makes me queasy. I smile back.
“Thank you, Mr. Everett,” I say. “I’m excited. It sounds like a great opportunity.”
“I’ve had Rose forward you the hotel assignments. The rooms will be near each other, should you need anything.”
