Page 39 of Craving You
“Yeah.Your client is either guilty of being involved or just a massive asshole,” the detective says.
“Detective Yotes…”
“Just Ross,” he says.
“Ross, Matthew came to see me a lot,” I say.
“For how long?”he asks.
“Years,” I say.“Twice a month on Saturdays.”
“So, not the same nights as George?”
“No,” I say.“What the fuck do I do?I won’t endanger them.My family didn’t do anything, they didn’t do anything and I won’t be the reason they get hurt.I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.I’ve never…”
“Stop.Slow down and breathe,” Ross says.
“Will you people stop telling me to fucking breathe?!”I yell at him as tears roll down my face.Remy comes around my desk and hugs me.I instantly fall apart and he scoops me up to sit in my chair with me.“I’m so scared.”
“I know, baby.I’ve got you,” he murmurs into my hair as he holds me tightly.
“What are we supposed to do to keep her safe?”Cam asks.
“First, when she is ready, you go into that meeting.You say the exact same thing you told the press, and you take no shit,” Ross says.“You fake it if you have to, but show that none of this is affecting you all.Continue business as usual, but youneverleave her alone.I will be around as much as I possibly can.”
“They are supposed to go across the country for a meeting soon.Can they still do to that?”Cam asks.
“Yes,” he says.“Company jet?”
“Yeah,” Remy says.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I sit up and wipe my face.
“Not a problem,” Ross says.
“Ready to do this?”Remy asks me.
“Yeah,” I sigh.
“I think she should speak, especially if Matthew will be there,” Ross says.“And really lay it on thick with them.”
“I agree,” Cam says.“You okay with that?”
“Yeah,” I say.I stand and we all walk out.This time, we take the stairs down one floor and go to the conference room that we are using today.When we walk in, everyone stops talking and stares at me.
“Good morning, everyone,” I say.A few murmur a response, but everyone is quiet for the most part.I don’t sit because I will explode.Cam and Remy stay standing with me, but Tris and the detective stand off to the side.“I’m going to get right into it, I guess… I know you all are here because of the video.I am going to be more blunt with you all than we were with the media because you deserve an explanation; I owe them nothing.Tris, can you take notes of their questions along the way so I can make sure I answer them?”
“I sure can,” she smiles.
“Okay.I worked in that club while in college,” I say.“I was always a dancer, but it was a form of coping after being having been raped in high school.I was young and dumb, so I didn’t think that I would ever get wrapped up in something bad.It was just dancing after all… Well, that quickly escalated into me being forced to do things I never wanted to do.I will spare you the details, but I knew the consequences would be severe if I didn’t do as I was told.I was too ashamed to tell my family for a while, so I just did what I was told and kept the peace as best I could… I was able to maintain my normal life because I guess I had proven that I would be obedient.I was, for a while.I eventually worked up the courage to tell Cameron and Remington.They knew I still worked there and were patient with me as I processed the horrific trauma I endured as a teenager.When I finally spoke up about what I was being made to do, they helped me escape… For transparency, it was only recently that I managed to get away.Yesterday, an individual here decided that getting a hold of pictures and videos to show only a fraction of the situation would be worthy of trying to blackmail us into paying ten million dollars to not have it released.We ultimately refused, and they released it… This led to the arrest of Rob Lasson, my boss at the club and the one making us do things with clients who paid well… This individual came to the club, knowing exactly who I was.It appears they had planned to try blackmailing me one day.
“I realize this doesn’t paint me in a good light to some, but I have never, and would never involve, this company in that.I kept them very far apart, and I have never blackmailed anyone into anything.Simply put, this person did help all of those girls escape by exposing what was going on, but also failed to accomplish anything.They shared pictures and videos of an encounter that I was forced into… I do not think the clients knew we were forced, but we were, nonetheless.
“This individual will not be named, and we will not be seeking to terminate the contract.We do not expect any backlash from this, so business will not be affected… Does anyone have any questions?”
“I do,” Leann Porter, a board member, asks.“Will the board members know the name of the client?”
“Yes,” Cam says.
