She thought back to his body on the staffroom floor. His neck twisted at an odd angle. He’d thought he was so invincible, that no one could get him, or hurt him, or attack him.
He’d been so wrong, and now, she had to deal with life after him.
How so many women had to deal with life after he tried to ruin them.
She didn’t want to continue working here, but she had to. For Pie, for the club. She wouldn’t allow anything to happen to them.
Entering his office, she moved around his desk and opened the top drawer only to find a stash of condoms. The sight alone was enough to turn her stomach. What he may have gotten up to, what he’d done.
“You can do this.” She took another deep breath and moved some of the condoms out of the way, finding only pens and a cell phone. Picking it up, she didn’t know what made her press the button, but she saw it had half a battery. Something was on the screen, so she pressed play.
“Fuck that feels good. Look up at the camera, Tiffany. Smile with your mouth full of my cock. For those that don’t know, I had this very dick up her ass a few seconds ago. Spin around, baby, let’s show them.”
She watched as Tiffany bent over his desk, and then Richard’s dick was inside her ass, sliding in deep.
Lindsey felt sick and quickly shut off the video.
She didn’t need to watch or know what he was capable of doing. Throwing the cell phone back into the drawer, she opened another, and found the replica appointment book. She was about to close the drawer when her name caught her attention.
Picking up the file, she glanced toward the open door. Perching on the end of his chair, she opened the file, and there were pictures of her, lots of them. Sliding them out, she looked through each one, and there were images of her with different men and women. A couple were taken of her with Kasey. Another of her with a man.
Some of them even looked like they’d been taken through her apartment window, which made her feel sick.
Closing the file, she tucked it beneath her arm and got out of the office. Closing the door with a slam, she made her way toward the front desk to find three people waiting. The file on her, she placed on the chair and sat down. Was that what he did? Stalk women, make something innocent look dirty, and then use it to blackmail them? Maybe she was being paranoid and he was just a fucking weirdo?
Pushing her nerves and sickness to the side, she signed the people in for their consultations, and for the rest of the morning got the new appointment book up to date. By lunchtime she was starving and realized she hadn’t packed any food.
Holding the file in her arms, she made her way back to the staffroom and grabbed her bag.
“I thought we could share lunch, catch up,” Marie said.
Closing her bag, Lindsey slammed the locker closed. “I’ve got to head out. Completely forgot to pack something to eat. There’s a snack truck just down the road. I’ll be back in a few, okay? Want anything?”
“No, I’m good. Are you okay?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know. You’re just not your usual self. You’re not happy or smiling or … anything.”
She laughed. “It’s because I’m back at work. I loved sitting around all day not dealing with other people’s problems.” She hugged Marie. “I’ll be back soon.”
Leaving the building, she walked a few steps and then saw Pie leaning against his bike.
“You forgot lunch, and I figured I’d come and eat with you,” he said.
She was so pleased to see him.
Walking toward him, she threw her arms around him and held him close. “You have no idea how good it is to see you.”
“I know what you mean. I’m just awesome.”
She chuckled and didn’t want to let him go. The scent of leather was a comfort to her, especially after the morning she’d experienced. “Can we go and talk? I’ve got something to show you.”
“Sure. There’s a sandwich place with booths and stuff. We can walk.”
“Yes.”
Pie took her hand, and together they walked the short distance to the sandwich shop. Her stomach felt twisted, and she hated this feeling that consumed her. Hated it more than anything else in her life.
Once inside the busy coffee shop, Pie found them a private booth, and after the waitress had taken their order, Lindsey released a breath.
“You okay?” he asked.
“No, I’m really not. Everyone seems to think that he took an extended vacation.”
“Yes. It’s what Diaz did. As far as anyone is concerned, he’s not in the country.”
“You think that’s safe to do?”
“No one asks questions to anyone who is out of the country,” he said. “No one knows where he is.”