Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“Well, I’m strong enough to have negotiated this contract,” he brags. “You’ll come around eventually. They always do. One way or another.” He does one of those annoying good-old-boy laughs as he looks to his father for agreement.
“A contract is not a free pass to behave in bad faith,” Kayla replies evenly. “It can be revoked at any time.”
That gets Brent’s attention. “We all signed. It’s a done deal,” he declares.
That must be why he felt so emboldened to say these things. He thought some contract would let him get away with insulting Kayla. As if a piece of paper could protect him from her wrath.
“A contract with a behavior and morality clause on Jessup Enterprise’s side. One you are in breach of,” she clips out, cold as the year we did an outdoor game in Canada. She knew this might happen and prepared accordingly. Turning her focus to the older man, she says, “I warned you, and I was right. Your son has cost you this partnership.”
With that, she lays her napkin on the table and stands.
“Fucking bitch,” Brent spits out, garnering the attention of the tables closest to us. Though they seem to have been eavesdropping as much as we’ve been.
I’m halfway out of my seat when I realize Kayla is leaning on the table, both hands planted solidly on its surface as she gets right in Brent’s face. “Bitch? Is that all you have?” she asks with a light laugh. “At least be original. I’ve heard that since I was a kid.” She flashes him a villainous smile. “Maybe try something more shocking, like cunt.” Her expression shifts into faux pity. “Or is that too crude for you?”
She’s daring him to say it with every syllable, every look that crosses her face. He wants to. I can tell it’s right on the edge of his tongue, but he’s too chicken shit to say it.
“That’s what I thought,” Kayla declares, victoriously rising to her full height, towering over the table.
It’s not until her back is turned that he finally manages to hiss out, “You are a cunt.” It’s awkward from his mouth, like he’s never said that word a single time in his life.
I should let Kayla handle it. On some level, I know I should.
But Riggs is moving too, and fast. I intercept him, not to stop him, but to get there first. Not to protect Brent, because fuck that guy, but to protect my best friend.
Bam! My fist connects with Brent’s jaw with a sick crunching sound that has people gasping in horror.
“You think you can say that without consequences?” I roar at his stupidly shocked face. I laugh darkly, “No, you thought the consequences were gonna be her telling you off, right? Or maybe giving you one less percentage point in your deal? That’s not how this goes. You don’t talk to people like that. Especially women.” I get right up in his face, closer than Kayla was for sure, where the scent of copper and scotch is strongest, and grit out, “Taste that blood in your mouth? Swallow it and know that I could make you spill more if I wanted to.”
“Are you threatening me? I’m going to sue you,” he shouts, the words garbled around the blood and saliva (and possibly a loose tooth or two) in his mouth. “You all saw him attack me for no reason.” He looks around wildly for backup. “She deserved it. She told me to say it.”
“Threatening? I already did it, and I’ll do it again,” I vow. “I don’t care about your lawsuit and money bullshit, but keep talking about her. See how you feel about it when your spleen is leaking into your gut and you’re puking up sour bile.” He goes a little green at the idea. “What do you think? You have the balls to say something else to her? Try using your whole chest this time.”
I gesture to Kayla, who’s standing stock-still, frozen and staring at me with her nostrils flaring. She’s so pissed at me. She doesn’t handle things this way, especially business. And she definitely doesn’t want people stepping in to handle things for her, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t sit by and listen to this asshole degrade her like that. Fuck, they’re lucky it was me and not Riggs who got here first. Brent wouldn’t be whining in that case. He’d be out cold… or worse, which is still a possibility considering Riggs looks ready to dogpile on Brent if given half a chance. One punch from me is a wake-up call. One from Riggs is a guaranteed hospital trip for a softie like this guy.
“What are you doing?” Kayla finally manages to ask—well, demand—of me.
“Weasel dick deserved it,” I answer. “And you’re welcome.” I give her a jaunty gentlemanly bow, trying to bring everything down a notch.