Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Daisy nodded, her smile bittersweet. “Then we’ll talk every day. Maybe you can even visit us.”
Ava’s eyes darted to Dash and me, her expression an unspoken question. I felt Dash nod subtly behind me, but deep down, we both knew the visit wouldn’t happen anytime soon.
23: The Investigation
Dash
Stone’s fingers were a blur while moving over the keyboard. His gaze stayed glued to one of the three monitors on his desk, displaying a page of line by line blacked out text. He turned the monitor my way. “They released the complaint, but most of it’s redacted. Why release it then?”
“My father’s trying to play the victim,” I explained, barely glancing up as I thumbed through the physical mail left for me on Stone’s desk. “It’s the reason for every extra moment we took to get this right. Why’s the sound system off?”
“It’s not off in your office,” Stone replied, still typing. “Upstairs complained the music you were selecting was too distracting.”
Distracting? A soft instrumental?
Heat crept over me. I began to feel my own sense of harassment from my team. Every last one of them needed to be placed on disciplinary action for having no refinement or taste for a better life. Music equaled the path to great things.
“Maybe you should,” Stone said, his eyes finally lifting to give me a knowing look.
“Did I say that out loud?” I asked, though I knew the answer.
“No.” His gaze moved back to the screen. “I know you too well. You want to begin the process of firing everyone who works for you.” Yeah. He proved he’d read my thoughts accurately. “I say we should move them to a new building where they can’t mess with this vibe. It’s a great office.”
Luckily, before I inked that decision in place, my cell phone vibrated in my front pants pocket. I was surprised to see Lon’s name on a text. We rarely texted or emailed for that matter, strictly staying professional. All other communication was done privately, through untraceable measures.
“Richmond Holdings has responded.”
“Stone’s reading it now. They’re ridiculous. We’re gonna have a madhouse on our hands. I’ll call you back.”
Before the words were fully out of my mouth, the telephone’s control panel lit up like a Christmas tree in the darkness of night. Instantly, every line flashed with an incoming call. Even though we’d kept a very low profile, and the last few days since filing the complaint had been quiet, I’d sent a directive for my staff to consider working from home. Those few here were the diehards. The ones who didn’t like life outside of work, or music, or happiness, for that matter.
I had also approved private protection for Brianne, Stone, Beau, Amelia, and the children. I’d expanded it to include the women listed in the complaint. The expenses in this case were through the roof and we’d barely begun.
I left Stone at his desk and headed for my office to see what was being said online.
“Beau’s barreling up in his old fishing pickup, tires screeching and so on,” Stone said through the intercom system he used even though I was feet away. “Seems dramatic.”
“Hmm.” I stood behind my desk. When my husband was riled up, he rarely kept quiet. His voice carried, loud and unapologetic. I waited, knowing he’d storm through the door, straight for my office. Once here, Stone generally shut the door behind Beau, and stopped actively listening to give Beau privacy, certainly not me.
I heard the bells clang against the door as it was slammed open.
“Where is he?” Beau announced angrily. “Stone, you need to pack this up and go home. If you need help, I’ll take you,” he said with authority, as if he had the right to dismiss my staff.
The clomp of his booted feet came through my office door, and he scanned the room. His cell phone was at his ear.
“The sorry bastards made all this public like it hadn’t been hangin’ over their heads for a few days. They’re attackin’ you and said the allegations are a malicious attempt to ruin their family’s bullshit values. They’re talkin’ about you like you’re a piece of shit they were forced to do away with. They’re givin’ a further public statement at four o’clock. Come on, you gotta go home. I need to get the kids. Everyone needs to stay home and be safe.”
His frustration ended with his hands flying through the air then dropping to his sides. Whoever was on the phone was forgotten.
“They’re stirrin’ people up against the way we live. Scott says it has to be bots, but it hit social media hard, everywhere instantly. You’re immediately trendin’. It had to be a planned attack. It’s not gonna be safe for you or Stone. Not in today’s world. We gotta get you home.” His thumb tossed over his shoulder. “I was buyin’ bait and Scott called. That’s why I was here so fast.”