“Is this asshole trying to get his ass fired?” I watched on the screen as the manager put his hand on her shoulder as they walked in together.

“I’m guessing he’s asking her if she’s okay after last night.” Tony’s voice was calm as he got up to look over my shoulder.

“Does he have to put his hands on her to do that shit?”

“Don’t look now, but you’re sounding more like the kid from the Bronx than the college grad businessman. Where are you going?”

I ignored him as I headed out the door. It was the evening of the following day, the day after I’d followed her home and kissed her.

I’d spent the whole night worrying about her and whether or not she was safe in that place or if someone had found her and a million other fucked up things.

The shit had ran me out of my bed at the ass crack of dawn and had me pacing like a caged animal. I’d used what little information I had to search for her, but so far I had nothing.

There were more people with her name than I’d expected to find and if she was on social media, she must be one of the ones who had their shit set to private.

I left it to my guys to bypass that shit and was waiting for the results now. I just needed to know where she came from and I’d take if from there.

I was antsy as a teenage girl on her prom date. I was both excited and wary about what I would find. If she was in some kind of trouble there was no question that I would help her.

But I wasn’t looking forward to uncovering any entanglements. Although I’d convinced myself that she wasn’t the type to let me touch her if she was involved, I won’t shake this uneasy feeling until I know for sure.

I’d shown up here earlier than usual because I couldn’t just sit at home waiting. I missed her, wanted to see her. Thoughts of her had damn near ran me out of my penthouse.

I was the one doing the chasing this time, which was already a new look for me. And since I was new to this shit I wasn’t quite sure of my moves.

I took out my phone a hundred times to call her, but remembered that she said she had class. I’d tried busying myself but nothing seemed to work.

I couldn’t get the feel of her in my arms, or the taste of her lips out of my head. Not even an hour in my personal gym had done much to help me there, and in the end I was sick of my own company.

None of the things I usually do in the city to pass time held much interest, so I decided to just show up here a few hours early, which put the early afternoon staff in a tizzy since they hardly ever get to see me.

Tony was no help. From the time he reached my place this morning he’s been going on about some shit or the other that had nothing to do with anything.

And if he plays that fucking song one more time I’m going to wring his damn neck and drop him in the Hudson. Asshole!

He and I had been trying to find a link between Arlene and Ray Morrison since we got here with no luck. Though we did learn a little more about the asshole.

When it grew near time for her to show up I’d grown restless and he hadn’t missed it. “Isn’t it about time for you to play voyeur?”

Asshole turned on the security monitors and zoomed in on the door. It was just in time for us to see her and the manager, Richard, coming through the door together.

Now I’m going to go break his fucking arm for being stupid and then have a few words with my girl about letting other men put hands on her.

I didn’t miss Tony’s disrespectful snicker as I headed out the door of the office. But his reminder to stay cool helped me to remember where I was and I throttled it back a notch.

Luckily for the manager he hadn’t followed her downstairs where she went to put her bag and coat away, but instead was headed for the office on the other side of the floor.

I caught up with him right before he made the

door. He was looking way too fucking pleased with himself and there was no need for me to guess why. He must’ve heard my footsteps behind him because he looked back over his shoulder.

“You, here, now.” He was right to look scared at my tone. I was pissed enough to really break his arm off and beat him with it.

“Sir, is something the matter?”

“I think I already told you about putting your hands on my staff. If you do it again you’re fired.”

If not for Tony’s warning I would’ve done worst to the smiling asshole. He wasn’t smiling any longer though. He looked scared out of his fucking mind.

I walked away and left him to think about what the fuck he’d done wrong. I thought about going after her, but changed my mind, even though I was dying to see her, touch her again.

I did take my sweet time getting back to the office in the off chance that I ran into her. What the fuck was she doing down there so long?

Tony was laughing his ass off when I got back to the office and I knocked his legs off my desk. I couldn’t beat the manager asshole to a bloody pulp

but there was nothing stopping me from throwing a few at this smug bastard’s ass.

“What the hell did you say to that kid? He looked like he was shitting bricks when you walked away.”

“Good, he needs to keep his fucking hands to himself.”

“Yeah, but uh, I think you just showed your hand. I thought you didn’t want anyone knowing about your interest in her?”

“Who the fuck said that?”

“Excuse me for living bro.” He held up his hands and grinned.

“Oh shit!”

“What is it?” His eyes had gone back to the screen while I went to the fridge for water for both of us.

“Uh, nothing I don’t think. I’ve just never seen it here before is all.”

What the hell was he talking about now? I went to look for myself. Miss. Thing was wearing black slacks instead of the usual short skirt.

“She’s too fucking much isn’t she? What you wanna bet she didn’t ask anyone if she could change the damn uniform. They better not say shit

to her after last night.”

“Didn’t you make some chick cry a few months ago for wearing a pin or some shit on her lapel because it wasn’t part of the uniform?”

“Your point?”

“It’s blatant favoritism is all.” I know he was just trying to get a rise out of me, but I also knew that that’s exactly what everyone else was going to think as well. Like I give a fuck.

“My place my rules.” That made me sound like an ass, but I didn’t care. I was already upset because I knew some asshole was going to make an issue out of it.

I just didn’t expect the person who showed up to be the one. Or maybe I should’ve. Two minutes after she hit the floor Arlene was at my door.

“Was there something I could help you with?”

“I need to speak with you.”

“I’ll see you in the manager’s office in a few.”

It was obvious that she wasn’t pleased with the fact that I still wouldn’t let her in my private office even though I’d had Anna in here.

She walked away in a huff and Tony and I exchanged a look before he left and went to take up his post at the bar, leaving me alone.

I took my time going to meet her in the office because I already knew what this was about. As expected, as soon as I walked in the door, she launched into an attack on Anna for being out of uniform as she put it.

“I fail to see how this has anything to do with you. You have nothing to do with the restaurant, I hired you to take care of the dancers remember.”

“That maybe, but once we start letting one person break the rules it’s only a matter of time before…”

“We, aren’t letting anyone do anything. I allowed her to wear slacks because some asshole walked in off the street and put his hands on her. I’d think as a female you’d understand.”

I watched her to see if she’d react and had I not been expecting it I would’ve missed the way she swallowed nervously and tugged at the fingers of one hand with the other. So unlike her usual self assuredness.

“Now if that’s all you had to say to me.” I turned and left before I did something I’d regret. I was more convinced now that she’d set her up, but without proof in my hand there was nothing I could do for now.

I signaled Tony to follow me and closed the door behind us when he walked in. “Have you heard back from anyone yet?”

“Yeah, I was waiting for you, they just got in touch a few minutes ago.”

“What did they find?”

“You’re not going to like it Max, but I need you to keep a cool head you hear me.”

He moved to my computer and pulled up something in my inbox. I read in silence for a few minutes while he stood over me like a damn sentinel.

“That unconscionable bitch.” He pushed me back down in my chair when I started to get up.

“Sit your ass down. What are you going to do? Put hands on her?”

“For starters, yeah. I’d like to break her fucking neck but I have more sense than that. I want her

out of my place right fucking now.” I didn’t expect to become this pissed off. Not to the point where I actually saw red.

“And what reason are you going to give for that? Until we know more now is not the time to act. If she’d stoop this low who knows what the fuck else she has up her sleeve?” He kept a restraining hand on my chest, keeping me seated in the chair.

“If you tip your hand now what happens when you’re not here? Or heaven forbid she finds out where your girl lives and go after her there? Use your head brother, we’re here, we’ll protect her.”

I took a few deep breaths to calm the fiery rage down a peg. What he said made sense, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to take action. I’ve never felt this kind of panic before. And though realistically I knew there was nothing Arlene could do to her while I was here, I still wanted her as far away from her as possible.

“I didn’t see Anna on the floor, where is she?”

‘They put her in the VIP section.”

“Hmm, is he trying to curry favor with me or trying to read me which one?”

“I’m guessing after you dug your foot in his ass he’s playing it safe.” I switched screens and pulled up the VIP room. There she is. She’d work less and make more in there.

That shit was guaranteed to put a few noses out of joint. It usually took a year at the very least on the floor before you were allowed to work that section.

Now that I could see with my own eyes that she was safe I turned my attention back to the report and read it again. It didn’t go over any better the second time.

“Why did you stop me? I could bury her with this alone.”

“That’s for the law, but you know she could wiggle out of that shit a thousand ways. We have to wait.”

“Wait for what? For them to have another go at her?” I’ll never let that shit happen. I imagined her walking that dark street alone at night and broke out in another cold sweat.

If she was anyone else I knew it would’ve been easy to get my way, but I already know she’s going to give me shit if I ask her to move in with me no strings attached until we got this thing sorted.

I could just find her another apartment in a better part of town but that wouldn’t work either, and I would still worry so what’s the point? “If only I knew what the fuck they’re up to.”