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“I own?—”

“The share that you own will still exist,” I said. “You’ll still continue to make money from Rosethorn, although Tommy and I would like to buy you out at a significant amount that would leave you set for a while. We’re being generous.”

He sneered, jamming his finger down on the table. “What is it about him, huh? Is he fucking you?—”

“Alright,” Ellen said, bristling as she stood up. “Jeff, you’re the dumbest motherfucker I’ve ever worked with in my entire life. Everyone herehatesyou. You’re nothing more than an unlikable idiot tripping on the power you think you have. Get the fuck out of the office or else we’re calling security.”

“You can’t speak to me that way?—”

“Jeff, you’re fired,” I said calmly. “Leave. Any further questions can be emailed to our lawyer—” he tried to speak over me but I continued, “—and you are to turn in your badge to security. You are free to pack your belongings, but we are finished here.”

“You’re such a bitch!” he shouted. “You’ve had it out for me ever since our divorce. You can’t do this.”

“It’s already done,” I said.

Tommy stood up and went around the table. He opened the door to the meeting room and gestured like Jeff was a dog. “Out.”

The rage in the room had a metallic taste to it. The four of us waited as Jeff snatched up the papers and turned to leave. He stormed out, and I sucked in a breath as I spotted Salt standing with Kendra and Lee.

Jeff spotted him too.

“You son of a bitch,” Jeff snarled, rushing towards him.

“Jeff!” I shouted, following after him.

Salt’s gaze darted past Jeff to me right as he attempted to punch him. It wasn’t a very good attempt, and in one swift motion, Salt grabbed his arm, twisted, and put him in a headlock.

“Call security,” Tommy growled, pushing past me. “Pepper, let me handle this.”

“Get the fuck off me!” Jeff shouted, shoving against Salt.

He released him, but Jeff turned around and tried to punch him again. This time, Lee and Tommy pulled him back, dragging him away.

“My fucking god,” Ellen said next to me. “He’s insane. Good riddance.”

“He is.” I shook my head as Salt slid his arm around my waist and tugged me close, as we watched Jeff get into it with Tommy and Lee, and then the security guards. My mouth dropped as Tommy punched Jeff hard enough that his head snapped back.

“Damn,” Kendra said. “I think he’d been holding that back for a while.”

“Me too,” I said.

Scott rushed past me. “Y’all owe me a goddamn bonus for the legal shit I’m doing this week.”

I snorted. Kendra crossed her arms. Ellen started to pull out her phone to take a picture, and I hissed.

“Ellen.”

“What? You’re telling me you don’t want a record of the trash being taken out?”

Salt laughed. “I do.”

She smirked and snapped a picture. “You’re winning me over pretty fast.”

“I’m trying,” he chuckled.

Kendra looked at the two of us and let out a hum. “We gotta at least make itseemlike the man is single when it comes to marketing.”

“I’m not worried about any of that right now,” I said. “We need to sign him first.”

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