Against the Rules by Ella Goode Page 0,32
ready then, please begin. I’m sure you know how much time you need.”
The red light on the program starts blinking. While Kevin gathers his thoughts, I start looking at Vegas wedding chapels. Elvis impersonator? Yes, what’s the point of getting married in Vegas if you don’t have an Elvis impersonator? Chapel with fresh flowers? Definitely. I want all the flowers and we’ll go with roses because they seem to go with the Elvis concept. I make a few more notes until I find the perfect one. It has an opening at three in the morning on Saturday. Perfect. Now I need a jet. I send a message to Monica to book it for me. Halfway through making a reservation for the penthouse suite at the Bellagio, Kevin appears in front of my desk.
“I want a ten figure settlement,” he announces.
Color me unsurprised. I figured he was going this route. “For what?” I ask, pretending like I don’t know.
“For not going to the press about how you’re harassing young female staff. You’ll probably have to resign.”
“And what will you tell the press?”
“I know what I saw, plus there will be corroborating witnesses from the club. Everyone saw you flirting with Sanchez in the lunchroom. I have so much evidence you don’t even know.”
“If everyone saw all of these things, then why would I need to pay you for your silence?”
Kevin’s dumbfounded for a second. How did we ever end up hiring a guy who isn’t competent enough to blackmail a toddler caught eating cookies for breakfast?
“If you had any evidence of this, Kevin, maybe I would feel concerned, but since you’ve got nothing, I’m sorry that you wasted your thirty minutes with me.” I wave my fingers toward the door. “You should go now. Stop at Monica’s desk, though, she’ll have some paperwork for you.”
The mention of paperwork perks him up. “Oh, so I’m going to add unlawful termination and retaliation to my lawsuit against you.”
“Who says I’m firing you? Haven’t you heard? All terminations and hirings are now done by your peers. I hope your coworkers like you, Kev, otherwise I don’t know if your job will be here after you get out of prison.” I reach over and stop the recording.
“Prison?” His brows beetle together.
“For attempted extortion.” The doors open and in marches my assistants along with two detectives—all of whom had been listening in on the conversation. “You know my assistants, so let me introduce you to detectives Tarantino and Hervy from the fraud and burglary division. They have some questions for you.”
“I’m the one that was wronged,” Kevin shouts, backing away. “I’m a whistleblower. I have rights! I want a lawyer!”
“Yeah. Yeah. Come and blow the whistle down at the station. We’ll be all ears,” says Hervy. “Congrats on your engagement,” he calls over his shoulder as he escorts an unhappy and still shouting Kevin out the door.
I cock my head toward Lucky. “You shared the good news, huh?”
“I did.” She smiles and this time the smugness doesn’t irritate me. Instead, it turns me on.
I stay seated but swing my legs around and pat my lap. “Come over here. We’re getting married this weekend,” I tell Cesar and Monica.
“They know. I already told them.” Lucky slides an arm around my shoulders and settles into my lap. “Cesar is mad that he isn’t coming.”
“You should have it here where we can all go!” he cries. “This isn’t fair. I love weddings.”
“I hate them,” Monica replies.
“So don’t go,” Cesar retorts. While the two start squabbling, Lucky dips her head into my neck.
“I love you,” she says.
“I love you, too, but we’re getting married this weekend in Vegas. Look.” I swing the monitor around. “I’ve booked us a chapel.”
“We might have to take Cesar.”
“I’ll give him a bonus to stay here.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“You’re perfect.” I grab her hair and pull her down for a kiss. Our tongues tangle and my heart soars. I wasn’t in the market for a woman, but I guess I was ready for a bride.
Epilogue
Lucia
“Where are you?” I hold the phone to my ear with my shoulder as I juggle my folders into one hand. I’d just gotten them in the order I’d wanted them so I can’t mess them up now. I’ve been a little obsessive about the new hires. I just want everything to go right.
“Hey. I called you. I ask the questions.” B.J. barks back. Someone is in a mood today. How can you wake up on the wrong side of the bed when