Tease Me (Private Listing #4)

“We didn’t see you yesterday,” I casually point out.

“Worked at the office in the morning and I spent all afternoon at the police station. I got mugged at lunch.” Patrick opens the door and we step inside. “I’m just glad the guy only wanted my wallet.”

“Sorry that happened to you,” I say. “I hope they get the guy.”

He couldn’t have been here chasing Madison yesterday afternoon then, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have hired someone.

“Hey.” Theo looks up from his computer with a smile. “We got them.”

Coop grins. “Finally, something goes our way.”

I nod and take a seat next to Theo.

“Security will escort them out.” Patrick sits at the end. “But we have time if you have some questions to ask them.”

I get my head in the game. “Sounds good.”

A knock sounds on the door. Then our security team walks in with Courtney and Peter.

“Please have a seat.” I gesture to the open chairs in front of me.

Courtney presses her lips thin and narrows her eyes but sits down. Peter looks like he’s sweating bullets.

“You two have been busy.” I take the paper with all the clients they contacted from my folder and slide it across the table.

Peter pales, but Courtney barely glances at it. She crosses her arms.

“This is your official exit interview. We’ll determine litigation soon.” Coop reclines like this is beneath him. “But there are a few things we’d like to know.”

Peter will be the weakest link. He already looks like he’s going to vomit.

“Tortious interference, defamation, potentially criminal charges if you used our information to create a new business.”

Peter swallows, but Courtney smiles.

“Defamation only works if what we said wasn’t true. If we said anything.” She leans back in her chair and crosses her legs.

“Do you have anything of use to add, Courtney?” I ask.

“Not without my lawyer.” She turns her nose up and I gesture to Matt who steps forward.

“Matt will take you to your office to gather your personal effects. You’ll need to give him all your access cards and keys for your office.” I gesture and Matt pulls her chair back.

She nods and leaves with Matt.

“Peter, do you understand what’s happening?” I study him. He’s still pale.

“I…” He stops and looks at Patrick and then Coop and finally me. He sighs like he knows he’s got no recourse at this point. “She asked me if I could help her. I knew what she was doing was shady as fuck, but…”

“You wanted to fuck her.” Coop sits forward with his elbows on the table. “I bet she made it worth your while.”

He swallows. “Yeah, but it was only smaller companies. Ones that wouldn’t make a huge impact. It was all good until Courtney told me to go after Madison. I’ve got nothing against you guys. Honest. But fuck, Madison kicked me in the balls and I worried I’d be pissing blood. I wouldn’t have hurt her. Courtney just wanted me to take her somewhere.”

Fuck. He was the man on the stairs. “You bruised her.”

“What?” Peter looks over at me. “Oh, sorry, man. The adrenaline was pumping through me so fucking hard.”

Patrick leans in. “You just admitted to attacking a fellow employee. I’ve already texted my contact at the police department and they’re sending a car to take you down to book you for assault.”