Page 49 of Entice

“She didn’t tell me.” Jordan took a sip of his coffee. “I need to have a conversation with Sage.”

“There has to be a reason,” Crystal said. Sage was a bright woman. Why would she turn down Max’s offer?

“Sage told me she didn’t want to drag me or the club into the court of public opinion.”

Movement by the door caught Crystal’s attention. “Speaking of which.” She jerked her head, and Jordan groaned.

“Fuck.”

Before Max or Sierra could say a word. Miss Reporter was in their faces. “Well, this is cozy. Any comments, Mr. Frost?”

Crystal balled her hands in her lap. She so wanted to deck this woman. She was sick of the reporter trying to get information out of them morning and night.

“No comment,” Jordan said, draining his coffee cup. Crystal pushed hers away.

“Fine, do you have a comment, Mr. —”

“None of your business.” Max’s tone was so cold Crystal shivered. He rose to his feet, putting his arm around Sierra as she stood.

Crystal and Jordan followed suit, except Jordan didn’t touch her. They’d agreed when the reporter was around, no touching. They walked back to the parking lot with the woman and her cameraman trailing them.

“An adult store. What were you four doing in there?” Her tone was salacious, and Crystal wanted to punch her.

“Seriously?” Sierra said.

“Sierra,” Max said.

“For your information the store has a book club. We attended, and that’s all there was to it. Now go bother someone else, and leave my friends alone.” Sierra’s tone was dismissive.

They arrived at Sierra’s car. Crystal climbed in, and then Sierra. Max kissed Sierra good night. The men walked to their cars. Crystal could see the indecision about who to follow on the reporter’s face.

Sierra took advantage and pulled out of the spot and took off. “That woman is trash,” Sierra said.

“I agree. She won’t leave us alone.”

“About the case?”

“Yes. I’m still trying to find out who told her about it. I have my suspicions.” Reporters were always sniffing around the courthouse, but if they found out how groundbreaking this case was…Crystal shook her head.

“Well, you can tell us all about it on Friday.”

“Yeah.” Crystal laid her head back on the seat. So much for her and Jordan having any alone time together.

* * * *

Crystal finished up with her coffee on Friday morning and started reading through her emails. She’d sent out some feelers into the kink community to see if anyone had come up with anything like the case they were dealing with.

She’d been careful not to say too much so as not to violate Sage and Brady’s privacy. After the first three defeats, it hit her. No one had encountered an issue quite like this.

“Well, well, hard at work, are we?”

Crystal glanced up to see Charles Johnson lounging in her doorway. She barely suppressed a sigh. She didn’t like this guy at all. “Yes. Are you looking for Valerie or Kendra?” Why else would he be in her office?

“No.” He swaggered over to her desk. “I have a—job—that you will take care of.”

The predatory gleam in his eye put her senses on high alert. “Mr. Johnson, I do not work for you.”

“You don’t.” He began to circle her desk. “This has nothing to do with work.”

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