Page 114 of Sinner

And Dorn wasn’t good at hiding his indiscretions. No matter the kind of friends he had, it was all about perception. He’d soon learn he’d fucked with the wrong people.

Plus, it was amazing what Photoshop could do in a pinch. Perhaps I had more of a bad girl inside of me than I’d originally believed.

I certainly wasn’t stupid enough to go to his house, even though the thought had crossed my mind. However, if I’d gone there, I might have replaced my mace with something inflammatory and a lighter, lighting him up like a firecracker.

Or perhaps I’d use Xander’s method with a knife.

No, I wasn’t that kind of person, but thinking the evil thoughts had given me the courage to have a short conversation with the prick.

I strolled into the shop, inhaling the wonderful scent of freshly ground coffee. The location was larger than it appeared outside with various seating arrangements. I found Dorn in the back lounging in a leather chair and taking up too much space for just one person. He truly thought he was something special.

His arm was in a cast, and he’d somehow convinced a young girl to help him, including lifting his coffee cup so he could continue to dictate whatever new and damning article he was working on. What a true pig. While the din of the shop was loud given the number of people enjoying the atmosphere, his deep voice that held a tone of clear arrogance was louder than most.

I plopped down in the seat in front of him, offering a sweet and very plastic smile.

“Hi, there. Do you remember me?” I turned my head toward the girl, giving her a hard look. She seemed surprised. “You need to leave. Mr. Franklin isn’t an invalid no matter what he wants you to think. Plus, if you hang around him long enough, he’ll try and rape you. Save yourself the heartache.”

He jerked up his head, immediately narrowing his eyes.

“Really?” she asked, obviously completely appalled.

“Really,” I told her. A few customers had already turned their heads in our direction.

The girl grabbed her things and scampered away, sputtering as she did so.

“What the fuck do you want?” he hissed. “What are you trying to do?”

“What do I want? Well, a retraction and not just in a gaming magazine that only a percentage of the population reads. A big, splashy display, say in theChicago Tribune. What I’d like to do and plan on doing is ruining you and your career as you attempted to do to mine.” I leaned over, keeping my sweet smile even as revulsion rolled through me. “And to two highly respected companies. You have been a very bad boy.”

He had no clue what to say, but utter venom flashed in his eyes. At least I sensed he knew I was serious.

“Little girl. You don’t want to fuck with me.”

“You’re right. I’m certain your dick is the size of a peanut. At least from what I could tell the night in the garage when you assaulted me.” I allowed my voice to increase just enough he didn’t like it very much.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re deranged.”

“Yes, I believe I am. Now, that might work to your benefit or exactly the opposite. It’s entirely up to you.” I removed a single photograph from the folder I’d brought in with me.

He barely glanced down, but I could tell I’d made him uncomfortable as hell.

Good.

“What the fuck is this?” he demanded.

“Call it an incentive to write that retraction I mentioned.”

He laughed. “The photograph is doctored.”

“What if it is? I think it depicts exactly what you did to me including the brutal punch you threw. Don’t you? There are many more where this came from.” I leaned in so only he could hear. “When you work with computers all day long, designing games and writing code, you learn a thing or two about Photoshop. Plus, when you obtain surveillance footage of the garage, well… Priceless goodies to use.”

He thought he had me, also leaning in until I gathered a whiff of his stale coffee breath. “Then the footage captured what your boyfriend did to me. I think I’ll have him arrested.”

“He’s not my boyfriend. Just a good man you pushed. See, he doesn’t like men who abuse women. He tends to become… a bit deranged. There’s no telling what he’ll do. Now, I can save you the anguish if you’ll agree to write the article. No harm, no foul.”

Dorn acted as if he was considering my recommendation, repulsing me by leaning so close it was almost as if the manwas going to kiss me. “Not a chance in hell, sweetheart. You’re nothing and your little threats mean zero to me.”

I didn’t budge for twenty seconds until I sighed and glanced over my shoulder. The handsome man Stephanie was currently dating came forward. I was impressed. The guy was dressed just like a detective in the police dramas on television. Perfect.

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