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“Yes, sir.”
By the time Colleen arrives at my door, the camera feed is discreetly disguised and I have two chairs waiting.
“Miss Peterson and Miss Bailey, sir.”
“Thank you, Colleen. Ladies, do take a seat.”
I wait until they are seated before leaning a hip against my desk. I look from one to the other before I introduce myself. “I’m Archer Colleymore, CEO of More Secure. How may I assist you ladies this afternoon?”
I push my glasses further up my nose as I look from one to the other. The brunette dissolves into tears while the blonde speaks. “I’m Michelle Bailey, this is my friend, Sidney Peterson. Sidney needs your help desperately.”
I listen to the young woman sobbing and reach for a box of tissues behind me. I itch to pull her into an embrace and tell her that everything will be okay and that she doesn’t need to be afraid.
What the fuck!?
I take a deep breath as I lean forward and hand it to her, forcing my professionalism to the fore. I wait until she has taken a few and dab her face. Being this close to her is wreaking havoc on my nerves. I need to get laid and fast. That has to be the reason for this response I feel toward her. Her friend sits silently, waiting. Finally, she looks at me with red eyes.
“My ex-boyfriend owes some really bad people money and–and—”
“They’re pursuing you for his debts,” I finish her sentence.
She nods.
“Okay. When did this start?”
“Last November we broke up. Well, I kicked him out. It’s a long story. A week later, the first collector showed up. And it’s been happening ever since. But last night–last night was—”
She dissolves in tears once more and I look at her friend.
“Did he—”
“No. But she was quite shaken. He had a knife at her neck and everything.”
“He pulled a weapon? Were you hurt?” I’m immediately on my knees in front of her and tilt her chin upward to examine her neck. Her soft skin feels as though it’s searing my fingertips. I instinctively swipe at a tear as it trickles and instantly pull back. She swallows, and I watch her neck move. Her eyes meet mine. I hold her gaze as she speaks softly.
“I—I wasn’t hurt. But it was the first time he became that forceful.”
“Okay. Do you have any idea how much the debt is?”
“No.”
“Can you describe these guys?”
“The main guy is someone called Spike.”
“Deon ‘Spike’ Malone?”
“That’s what the police called him.”
“You’ve been to the police?”
“Yes. But—”
“Useless asswipes. They probably backed off as soon as they heard it was Spike.”
“They did.”
We look at each other for a few seconds longer before I remember there is someone else in the room. I go back to leaning against my desk.
