Page 9 of Filthy Rich

“You put your hands on me. Nobody does that and gets away with itanymore,” she told him in a steely voice before bolting off in the direction of the kitchen.

“Get the fuck off me, Aldrich!” I shoved him away and got to my feet. “Stupid goddamn shit you just pulled, man. Very goddamn stupid,” I said as I removed a lone shrimp stuck to my jacket by its tail.

“But she assaulted me. You saw it happen, Blackstone,” he yelled. “I will sue that bitch for damages, the fucking whore!”

I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him right up to my face. “You will do nothing of the kind or you’ll live to regret it. Go home to your wife and family if they’ll even have you at this point.”

“Fuck you, Blackstone.” But it came out sounding more like, “fung gew, Blaxsdone,” on account of his broken nose. Lost a lot of its impact that way, too. Arrogant asshole.

“And make sure you take a cab to protect the populous of the city from yourself,” I added. “You’re too fucking drunk to stand right now, let alone drive anywhere.” Then I let go of him andwatched as he fell back down to sprawl on the floor, soaked in his own blood and a shitload of shrimp cocktail.

I found her having it out with her boss in the kitchen.

“Why in the hell did you hit him?”

“Sexual assault is against the law, you idiot. Why in the hell did you put me in this situation tonight, Martin, and then abandon me to that pack of dogs out there? Hmm? Do you have any idea what I’ve had to put up with tonight?”

Ouch.I dearly hoped she didn’t lump me in the same category as the rest of the dogs in the room tonight.

She reached into the front pocket of the red apron wrapped around her hips and pulled out a handful of business cards and tossed them at her boss. “That’s how many of the dogs want to get toknowme better and show me a banging good time, emphasis on thebang! I shouldn’t have to deal with that sort of thing when I am trying to do a job.”Jesus Christ, she’s right.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Brooke, it wasn’t that bad out there. You totally overreacted.”

She really didn’t.“He put his hands all over my arse and flicked his tongue at me, and you think I overreacted?”

Her boss had the brains to keep quiet about her last comment at least, I’d give him that. “Go back out there and get names and numbers, apologize, and clean up the mess. We’ll have to cover the dry cleaning at least. Do that and you can keep your job.”I don’t think you know your employee very well. She’s done with you, asshole.

She gaped at him in shock for a moment, then put her hands down and began untying her apron. It took a few seconds for her to get the crisscrossed ties free, but the passage of time only seemed to increase the anger coming off her in waves. Her idiot boss just stood there watching her, waiting for her to drop the apron.

Which she did. Right at his feet to lay with the scattered business cards the dogs had given to her.Good girl.

“No, thank you, Martin. I quit this hideous job, and don’t youevertry to contact me again.”Smart girl.

“Brooke,” he yelled after her, “who is going to pay for all of this?”I think that would be you, Martin.

But Brooke had already grabbed her things and was at the door when she turned back one last time, her long blonde ponytail whipping around her neck from the force. She was so very angry, but her composure was a thing of magnificence—and her words spoken in that accent of hers—awe-inspiring. I couldn’t take my eyes away for anything.

“Take it out of my final pay. And then you can fuck off.”My dick is so hard for this girl right now.

Then Brooke was really gone.

“I’ll cover any damages, but I sincerely doubt there will be any. The guy who grabbed her was way out of line and I witnessed the whole thing. I’ll cover the dry-cleaning bills, too.” I handed the fool my card and left him standing there in the kitchen with his mouth hanging open like a goldfish gasping its last breaths.

I caught up to her out on the street where she was in line for a cab. She looked me over as I walked up but she didn’t say a word.

“Hey, those were some impressive self-defense moves you’ve got,” I said.

“Sorry you were in the line of fire in there.” She indicated her head toward my suit, which was pretty much trashed with shrimp cocktail sauce.

I shrugged. “It’ll clean. How about you? Are you all right after that disasterin there?”

“I’ll be fine as soon as I can get home.” Her voice didn’t sound as strong as before, and I sensed the adrenaline was wearing off. She was upset and rightly so.

“Can I give you a lift? My car can be here in five minutes and I’d be happy to take you wherever you need to go.”

She shook her head. “That’s not possible unless your car can float on water.” She checked her watch. “Besides, I don’t know you and I would never get into a car with a man I don’t know.”

“Fair enough,” I said. Although I was disappointed she wouldn’t take me up on my offer, I had to agree with her superior logic. A girl who looked like her definitely shouldn’t go with any man she didn’t know. It would be dangerous. For some reason I hated the idea of her in any kind of danger. “I’m really sorry you had to endure that crowd tonight. I hope I didn’t do anything to offend you?—”

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