Page 45 of Tarek

“Penelope this is my IT manager, Wes. Wes this is our new Savior,”

I extend my hand out to Wes to feel a firm handshake. “Nice to meet you.”

“Your work proceeds you. I know what you and your team did with MJ Bank in 2020,” Wes says proudly.

A wide smile spreads across my face, my cheeks burn. It’s a beautiful thing to have your work acknowledged when it normally goes unnoticed.

“I see someone has been doing their research,” I state. Wes’ smile brightens as he picks up three leather bounded folders.

Tarek guides us into a small glass-walled boardroom to the back. As the glass door clicks shut behind us Wes immediately gets down to business.

“A hacker by the name of Ewpeople, sent an email to a member of staff under the guise of a guest wanting information about the club,” Wes states.

“I fired that person. This club is invitation only. All new members go through Lystra down stairs.”

My fingers tap the glass tabletop. “What is he asking for?”

“Five million or he would leak information about the club to the public - including patrons’ details to their workplace, families and so on,” Wes replies.

“Five million? Alone? He is an amateur. No one with that level of information would ask for only five million. What has he done thus far?” The guy has to be dumb, only five million for this treasure trove of information.

“Pastor Joseph information was leaked to his wife and members of his church board.” Wes flicks his tablet, and his screen appears on the white board.

He then pushes the leather-bound folder to both Tarek and me. I open the folder reading what appears to be the dossier of Pastor Joseph.

“There is a red X over his face. Why?” Flipping through the pages doing a quick scan.

“He tried to have sex with a woman without her consent. I had to excommunicate him and compensate the woman.” Tarek says as he shrugs out of his jacket. Throwing it over a chair to the side of him.

“Unfortunately for us she was also one of his ‘disciples’. So, we definitely had to throw him out,” Wes adds.

“So, your pleasure house has rules?”

“Of course it does. Most of our rules are to protect women,” Tarek replies, as he sits making himself comfortable on the chair.

“Rules like what?”

“No touching without consent. Men can only go into an active room with a female escort,” Tareks states.

Wes nods and adds, “No alcohol behind closed doors. Our floors have eagles or people watching, looking out for the safety of our members. Especially our women.”

“So, this pastor was caught, kicked out, and you had to pay the girl money,” I turn the page to a beautiful girl with dark brown hair and green eyes.

“The problem is today we found out that said girl committed suicide. Her name was Fiona Charles,” Wes comments.

“How is this my problem?” Tarek asks nonchalantly, as he flicks through the file.

“Tarek!” I screech and I slap the table.

He ignores my outburst and looks at Wes.

“In her suicide letter she mentions club Nowhere and her assault with Father Joseph.”

* * *

TAREK

It’s all these fucking priests with their insatiable perverted appetite that get businesses like mine in trouble.

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