Page 25 of Double Down & Dirty

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After a knock sounded at his closed office door, Gray stood and strode toward it, trying to keep an evil smirk from forming. This is going to be so damn satisfying.

He opened the door, his body blocking the view of the rest of the room, and pasted on a smile. “Hello, Aurora. You’re ten minutes late.”

Moving closer, she placed her hand on his chest, seduction written all over her face. As usual, she was dressed to the nines. A red miniskirt topped off legs encased in over-the-knee, black boots. Her short-sleeved, black, silk shirt showed an obscene amount of cleavage for a Friday morning business meeting, and she was dripping in diamonds. Thankfully, the twins had never gifted her with any expensive jewelry because she might need to hock it all soon. “You know me, Gray. I love to make an entrance. I’m so glad you called so we can put all this behind us.”

She had no idea how ironically true her statement was about to become. Taking a step back, he opened the door wider for her to enter his lair. The singer sashayed in and came to an abrupt stop when she saw all the other people in the room. Remi, Ian and Devon Sawyer, their cousin Mitch Sawyer, Reggie Helm, two of BDR’s lawyers, and Abby were either sitting on chairs or the couch, or standing and leaning against a wall. Each one was frowning and, with the exception of Abby, had their Dom faces and attitudes on.

Glancing around in confusion, Aurora asked, “What’s going on? Remi? Gray?”

Indicating an empty chair in front of the desk, Remi tapped the back of it. “Have a seat, Aurora. There are some things we need to discuss.”

She hesitated, uncertain, and then the bitch was back as she strode across the room and gracefully took a seat. “I’m not sure what this is all about—”

“This is about the end of your contract with Black Diamond Records,” Gray interrupted as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“W-Wha-What are you talking about? You can’t end my contract!” Her eyes were wide in a combination of incredulity and fear.

“Oh, yes, they can,” one of BDR’s lawyers, Joe Stillman, responded as he stepped forward and handed her a copy of her contract with the pertinent clause highlighted. “‘At no time can the client, herein known as Aurora Locke, bring negative publicity, slander, or liable to Black Diamond Records, its CEOs, Remington and Grayson Mann, or any of their employees or other clients. If that occurs, Black Diamond Record reserves the right to void the representation of Aurora Locke and all recording contracts.’ If you notice at the bottom of the clause, your initials are there saying you signed off on it.”

“But ... but, I didn’t do anything!” Her indignation was evident in both her expression and the increasing volume of her voice. “I’ll sue! You can’t prove I did anything!”

“Oh, yes, they can.” Ian sneered and shook his head. “The blood-sucking lawyer and I seem to be the start of a broken record—pun intended.”

He hit a button on the TV remote he’d been holding, and the screen on the wall next to the door came to life. While the picture jumped around a lot, it was clear the TMZ reporter was secretly recording his interview with Aurora, getting the alleged dirty scoop on the Mann brothers, Abigail Turner, and The Covenant. The private, elite BDSM club was now dealing with an influx of applicants, reporters, and curiosity seekers. A pissed-off Ian had already contacted a company to push the front gate fence line a quarter mile to the east, complete with a new guardhouse. With the wooded area surrounding the existing fence, that would help prevent the paparazzi from trying to get covert pictures of the club’s members. He was also having Boomer’s wife, Kat, train a few more K9s for added security.

Stillman looked down his nose at a sputtering Aurora. “That and the reporter’s signed affidavit are all we need to void your contracts.”

“Which means ...” Remi added, “... you’re no longer a recording artist with Black Diamond Records. That will be announced this afternoon by the PR staff. We’ve also rescinded your new album. It belongs to BDR and won’t be released.”

Aurora jumped up, her face beet red. “You can’t do this!”

“Oh, yes, they can.” That time, it was all the men in the room, with Abby clearly trying not to laugh out loud at them.

Reggie, the Sawyer brothers’ lawyer and a club Dom, stepped forward, using that commanding voice all Dominants seemed to possess. “Now, sit down because this meeting isn’t over yet.” After the stunned singer slowly took her seat again, he handed her a stack of papers held together with a thick, black, document clip. When she accepted them, he said, “Consider yourself served. The Covenant and its owners are suing you—”

Her jaw dropped. “But—”

“Shut up and listen; I’m due in court in an hour. As a guest and temporary member of The Covenant, you signed a confidentiality and non-disclosure contract which you’ve violated. We’ll be seeking in excess of $25 million in damages.”

“Tw-Twenty-five m-million ...” Her astonishment was almost comical as her gaze darted from one person to the next, but none of them were sympathetic.

A devilish grin appeared on Ian’s face as he shrugged. “Fences are expensive these days.” It wasn’t that the Sawyer brothers needed the money, not with a self-made billionaire for a father and their own thriving businesses—it was just sweet revenge.

Reggie turned to Abby who’d been sitting there quietly. “Abigail, do you have a dollar on you?”

She certainly did. Gray had given her one earlier and told her to hold onto it, but hadn’t explained why. “Um ... yes.” Standing, she pulled it from her skirt pocket and handed it to the lawyer.

“Thank you.” Reggie waved it in the air. “This is your retainer I’ve accepted. I’m now officially your lawyer.”

“O-Okay.” Her brow furrowed, unsure of where he was going with this.

Turning back to Aurora, who now had rage in her eyes, he gave her another thick stack of papers. “Consider yourself served, again. Ms. Turner is also suing you for slander and is seeking the sum of $15 million dollars.”

“What!” Aurora jumped up again, throwing the papers to the floor, in a full rant. They had a strong case since she’d told the reporter Abby had been in The Covenant and participated in deviant sex acts there, when in fact, Abby hadn’t been cleared for admittance to the club, nor had she stepped a foot on the property yet. The owners would attest to that in court. “You’ve got to be crazy! You’re all fucking crazy. I’m not giving that bitch, or anyone else, a fucking dime!”

The Mann twins growled as Reggie rolled his eyes. “That’s what they all say until I prove them wrong.”

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