Page 58 of Bottles & Blades

“How has the plan changed?” he asks carefully.

I drag the chair next to him out, plunking it directly in front of him then sitting so that he has to shift back, adjust his position.

So he has to adjust tome.

“I figure,” I drawl, crossing one leg over the other, my foot resting on my opposite knee, “that you have a choice to make.”

He frowns. “What choice?”

“You make the TIs to the specification Mel needs?—”

“I already?—”

“Again,” I growl, leaning forward. “I’m not done talking.”

His teeth click together, his mouth shuts so fast.

“You make those changes and hire a management company so that you areneverwithin a fucking mile of her again.” I move even closer, wanting him to see my anger, coiled like a snake ready to strike. “Or you fuckingbracebecause I’m going to find a way to take every single one of your properties away from you.”

He puffs up like a pissed-off goose. “This is how the great Jean-Michel Dubois negotiates?”

“Still not done talking,” I grit. “That will just be the beginning.”

He goes pale.

Because I don’t stop.

“I will fuckingruinyou, Justin. I will do it with the video of you doing that shit to Mel and I won’t stop. I will dig up every bit of fucking dirt on you, will drag that shit far and wide, and I’ll do it so well that you won’t so much as have a pot to piss in.” My face is an inch from his. “And that won’t be the end either.”

“Wh-what will be?”

“Wrong fucking question.” I lean back and slap my hand on the table, making him jump as I climb to my feet, move to the door.

“I-I?—”

I stop, lift a brow at him. “You have something else to say?”

“I’ll do the TIs.” A beat. “And hire a management company.”

Fucking cowardly asshole, crumpling like a cheap suitcase.

I shake my head, keep moving. “Too late, asshole.”

My fingers settle on the handle when he speaks again. “I’ll lower her rent.”

Got him.

I spin around, study him closely, have the pleasure of watching him pale further. “Fine. I’ll run it by Mel. If she agrees then Marie will come in here, and you’re going to sign whatever the fuck she puts in front of you, do you hear me?”

He nods jerkily, words sputtered out and unintelligible.

“And you need to know, asshole,” I say, watching him jump again, relishing in that fear.

Fear he’d given Mel.

Fear he’ll never give again.

“Know that I’ll be keeping an eye on you. And if I hearonefucking whisper of you doing that again, I’ll…”

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