Page 138 of Collect the Pieces

I set my laptop on the counter and grab a bottle of sparkling water from the fridge before settling onto a barstool. The laptop screen glows as I open my email.

Gretel leaps onto the stool next to me, tail twitching, bright eyes focused on me, wide and unblinking.

“What?” I whisper.

More freaky staring.

This cat.

I swivel my stool sideways, and she places one paw on my leg.

“You want to sit in my lap?”

Another paw. Then her little nails claw through my pants as she scrambles into my lap.

“Ow, you little demon.” I curl my arm around her and swivel back to the counter. She sits up, balanced on my leg and stares at the laptop as if she’s about to start typing.

“I don’t remember hiring you to be my assistant,” I mutter, curving my arm around her to tap on the keyboard.

Gretel purrs and rubs her head against my wrist as I check my email.

The first one, sent about an hour ago, grabs my attention.

I’m torn between irritation and confusion.

[email protected]

Request for funding.

The fuck is she sending this to me for?

Since Z got married, he hasn’t had much contact with the MC’s superstar porn girl. Rooster maintains her website—organizing her content, uploading new videos, keeping things running smoothly. Since Rooster never dipped his dick in Stella—the way Z and our old president, Sway, did—their relationship is strictly business. Although Shelby’s not a fan of Stella’s.

All I do is help Rooster with the messy parts of the website—fixing broken links, making sure the videos work, and sometimes troubleshooting login issues for her subscribers—although apparently, I’m not very “professional” in my responses.Whatever.

But the money side? Not my fucking domain.

Sway set up funding for Stella’s projects and was never transparent with the club about the financials. Now that Z’s president, every major expense goes to a vote. If Stella needs cash, she should be going through our treasurer—or Z.

I click the email open.Big mistake.

I almost gag. Both at the amount she’s requesting and what it’s for.

The MC’s porn princess has been pitching wilder and wilder content ideas for her site lately. No doubt in a sad attempt to capture Z’s attention again. Am I going to raise my hand at church and float that theory to my prez?Hell fucking no.

Not my business.

My phone buzzes against the counter.

I scoop it up and laugh when it’s Rooster.

“Hey, motherclucker,” I answer, keeping my voice low.

“You see this email from Stella?” he asks.

“I’m looking at it right now.”

Gretel lets out a loud, “Meeow” and bumps her head against my elbow, purring like a race car.

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