Page 27 of Overexposed

“Everyone back to their corners,” Olivier said, pinching the bridge of his nose as he circled the island. “I need a fistful of ibuprofen and two gallons of water before I finish making coffee.”

“We need to get in front of this story,” Jerry said. “We’ll use her to do it.”

The audacity of this dickhead was astounding. Almost as bad as Seven’s. “You’re not using me for anything,” I informed him, but the manager wasn’t paying any attention to me.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, to Gem. “This was never my plan.”

“I believe you,” he said after a very long pause, and some of the air whooshed out of me.

“Are you fucking serious?” Seven was suddenly in Gem’s face and shoving his brother backward. “You get some pussy and just roll over for her?”

I could take offense. I didn’t. But I could. Gem shoved Seven back. “Shut up. This isn’t about you.”

“It is about me. She used pictures ofyouto fuck upmylife. That contract isn’t a done deal yet and Clara is gone.”

“Do you really miss her?” Gem asked, and the question stopped his brother in his tracks.

Right, time to go. I slid off the counter and grabbed my boots from where they’d been dropped. After tugging one after the other on, I straightened my skirt and fixed my purse where it was slung across my chest. The only thing I needed was my phone…

It was peeking out of the back of Seven’s pants pocket.

“That’s not the point,” Seven argued. “And you know it.” He twisted the moment my fingers brushed the top of my phone and he caught my arm. “You’re not going anywhere,” he informed me, “until you sign that NDA.”

“Sev, come on?—”

An alert from the gates cut through the argument and Olivier made a face where he was downing water while Jerry spoke to him hurriedly.

“Now what?” Not waiting for an answer, Seven stalked over to the intercom. An image popped up from a camera at the gate.

“Excuse me, Sergeant McBride and Officer Bright are here to speak to Olivier Griffiths regarding an incident last evening.”

Seven bowed his head, and for just a few seconds, I kind of felt a little sorry for him. It was like his whole day was going from bad to worse. Then I remembered he was the prick trying to hold me hostage and I was over it.

“Fuck,” Jerry muttered. “I hoped we had more time.”

“It’ll be fine,” Olivier said, sliding a hand through his hair to finger comb it. “I’ll talk to them.”

“Not without a lawyer you won’t,” Jerry snapped, and he had a cell phone in hand. Not that I didn’t agree with the British asshole.

“Great, you boys are about to be busy. If you’ll just give me my phone, I will get out of your way.” I really did need the phone so I could get a ride and get the hell out of here.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” Seven informed me with a snap.

“Seven, c’mon.” Gem shot me an apologetic look.

“No, Gem, I’m sorry. This is one time I’m pulling the older brother card. I can’t afford anymore snafus. You know what, maybe we should take her upstairs until the rest of this is done.”

“Can you just sign the NDA?” Gem asked. “I hate asking you to do it. It’ll settle him down and we can get you out of here.”

“You just want my name,” I said with a quick smile and then folded my arms. “But no, I won’t sign an NDA.” At this point, it was the principle of the thing.

The doorbell rang, and it was like a skit on the weekend comedy show as everyone went to greet the cops. The blue uniforms offered quite a bit of comfort, especially since I was going to do them all a favor.

“Oh good,” I said with an aggrieved sigh. “You’re here. This man kidnapped me and is trying to hold me against my will.” Imotioned to Seven, and the older officer frowned as he looked from me to Seven then back again.

His eyes narrowed. Oops, he’d seen my neck. Well, it was bruised but I wasn’t accusing them of attacking me.

“I did not kidnap you,” Seven argued. “Don’t tell them that. I’m not holding you hostage either. I just need you to sign the contract and then you can go.”

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