Page 3 of Calculated Kisses with a Scorpio
“Something at the Kingsland Boulevard location needs your attention. I’m looking at something that don’t sit right with me. Meet me over there?”
“I’m on my way. Where is Camille?”
Diamonds & Moore headquarters was about twenty minutes from the location Von mentioned.
Without even knowing what was going on, I shook my head. I had promoted Camille a year ago, and I’d regretted it ever since. She had been a good employee, but as a store manager, she sucked.
There was no telling what I was about to walk into, but if it was enough to get Von out of the control room, it was bad.
“She’s there and what I need you to handle because I think she’s finally lost her mind.”
“Of course. I played myself thinking we’d go thirty days without incident.”
Von laughed.
“I should have bet you because I know I’d be a rich somebody if I had.”
“Whatever, get off my phone.”
Von’s laughter turned up a notch, and I hung up.
I had plans to go to my office, and this delay annoyed me. Too many things had gone on this morning for this kind of interruption. Camille and I had a past, and it was the main reason I gave her so many chances, but that was about to change. I couldn’t step into my new position worrying about if my locations were functioning properly. She wasn’t management material, and my mama would have to answer for her crimes because promoting Camille had been her idea.
When I pulled up and saw the police, I barely got my truck in park before I hopped out of the driver’s seat.
“Kai!” I looked over just as Von stepped out of his truck.
“All I know is that somebody better be dead.” We slapped hands.
“I’m saying.”
We walked to the building, and an officer stepped outside to tell us we couldn’t access the store.
Instead of turning up like I wanted, I pulled out the necessary information to show that I owned the jewelry store. These officers must have been new because everyone in Rushin Springs knew who my family and I were. Once we crossed into the store and my eyes landed on Camille, it felt like my head would explode. Camille and another officer had someone cornered, and something about the sight in front of me had me ready to put a few people in the ground.
My eye twitched as I got closer to them.
“Aye! What the fuck is going on? Camille, why the hell are there police officers in my building, and I don’t have not one missed call from you? This is not how we handle business. If y’all need to speak with this young lady, we have an office where that can take place, but in my showroom and with an officer blocking my door isn’t and won’t ever be the way.”
I kept my voice leveled because the last thing I needed was for this officer to think his life was in danger.
“Mr. Moore?” I nodded and watched as the officer’s hands settled on his belt. “We received a disturbance from Ms. Hudson about this girl stealing. Now, she did the right thing about contacting us because this young lady also mentioned that the suspect has been casing your establishment for weeks.”
“She is lying, and she knows it. I’ve never needed to steal from a damn soul! I reached into my purse to get out my wallet, and all of a sudden, this broad is going overboard. The jewelry Istoleis still sitting on the damn counter for goodness’ sake. The sign says only one piece can be shown at one time, so what did I attempt to steal if I set the bracelet on the counter then reached into my purse?” She faced Camille and snapped her fingers. “Quickly now, we’re all waiting.”
I laughed, and baby girl cut her eyes at me, but when I hiked my left eyebrow at her, she simmered down.
Something about the action had me giving her a once-over that must have caught Camille’s attention because she stepped closer to me. Baby girl wasn’t fazed because she smirked then blew Camille a kiss. I shook my head, eyed her from head to toe, and committed her face to memory.
I turned back to the officer, purposely ignoring Camille.
“How about this. Every inch of Diamonds & Moore is under surveillance. The front door, the displays, the showroom floor, and registers. Whatever questions we have can tell us our next course of action.”
“Kairo, I can look over the footage later. We don’t want to take up more of the officers’ time. Let them arrest her, and at her sentencing, we can provide the footage.”
“Now, ma’am, if we can settle this right now, we will. Usually, we have to fight owners on access to this stuff.”
I tuned out the rest of whatever he was talking about and walked over to the display counter.
