Page 53 of Cold Carnage

Subject:Legal Action Notice—Richard Green v. Serpents Organization

Dear Ms. Adams,

We are writing to inform you that our client, Mr. Richard Green, has decided to pursue legal action against the Serpents organization for damages sustained during an incident at The Pour House on June 9.

Mr. Green was struck by Mr. Ryker Kane five times, resulting in significant physical injury and emotional distress. Despite initial medical attention provided by the arena staff, Mr. Green has experienced ongoing complications necessitating further treatment and rehabilitation.

As representatives of Mr. Green, we seek compensation for his medical expenses, lost wages due to his inability to work, and damages for pain and suffering.

Please find attached a detailed account of the incident, along with medical reports and an itemized list of expenses incurred to date.

We request that you acknowledge receipt of this notice within 10 business days and provide your response or willingness to discuss a potential settlement.

Sincerely,

Jocelyn Moore

Moore & Nelson

My mouth droppedopen as I reread the email, anger surging through me like wildfire. This was the last thing we needed—a lawsuit threatening to drag our organization through the mud just as we were working to rebuild our image.

I felt my hands tremble with frustration as I opened a new email draft. Words flowed onto the screen as I began typing a response, fueled by a mix of indignation and disbelief.

Dear Ms. Moore,

While we deeply regret Mr. Green's unfortunate experience at The Pour House…

I paused mid-sentence,realizing that sending an emotional response could only make matters worse. My fingers hovered over the keyboard before I reluctantly hitSave Draft.

I needed to cool down before crafting a professional reply. This situation required careful handling, not knee-jerk reactions fueled by anger.

Closing my laptop with a sigh, I leaned back in my chair again and rubbed my temples. The PR fallout just got a whole lot messier.

Gideon wasn't going to be happy.

I could almost hear his voice in my head, stern and unyielding, as I stared at the email. This was a PR nightmare. If the Serpents settled out of court, it would look like they were admitting fault—something I believed the press conference covered. The incident was all Ryker. So, why not sue him directly?

Money.

It all came down to money. Suing the organization meant deeper pockets and a better chance of a substantial payout. Richard Green and his lawyers were playing the system, exploiting a moment of vulnerability to line their own pockets.

I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on my shoulders. Standing up, I stretched my arms above my head, trying to shake off the tension that had built up over the long day. My muscles protested, reminding me just how late it had gotten.

Gathering my things, I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed for the door. The office was nearly deserted, the cleaning crew moving methodically through the empty cubicles. Theirpresence was a comforting reminder that life went on, even in the midst of chaos.

Stepping outside, I was greeted by the warm embrace of summer air. The city buzzed with nighttime energy—cars honking in the distance, people laughing as they spilled out of bars and restaurants. For a moment, I let myself get lost in the sounds and smells of the night, grounding myself in reality.

I began walking toward my car, my mind still churning with thoughts of legal battles and PR strategies. It seemed like every step brought a new worry or challenge to tackle. But as I moved further from the office, those thoughts started to fade into the background.

The night sky stretched above me, stars peeking through patches of clouds. There was something calming about it—a reminder that no matter how overwhelming things seemed right now, there was a vast world beyond this momentary crisis.

As I approached my car, the night's calm seemed to wrap around me like a comforting blanket. The city's distant hum faded into the background, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My keys jingled in my hand.

"Paige?"

I jumped, spinning around to face the voice that cut through the silence. My heart pounded in my chest as recognition dawned.

Brendan.

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