“You’d better get going, girl.” Travis tells me after I realize I’m already a few minutes late.
I pull up my Uber app and request a car to come pick me up, lucky enough to get one a few minutes away. Within ten minutes I’m at the venue, out of the Uber and am making my way into the hotel ballroom the network rented out.
Charlotte is the first one I see, in a dazzling cardinal red dress and gold heels. Her lip color matches her dress completely, looking like quite the beauty queen. “Well damn, if I knew you dressed up this nice I’d make you come out with me more often.”
“Wow, are you saying I dress like a snob?!” She chuckles.
“Erich would tend to disagree,” I tease, still believing those two have the total hots for one another.
Charlotte starts to shoot a reply back at me, but I feel my clutch vibrating in my hand and dig my phone out. Cobra’s name comes across, telling me he’s on his way in now. Charlotte must see my massive grin, “Is that the man you’ve been hiding from me?!” she asks, grabbing ahold of my arm and shakes.
“It might be. He’s on his way up now.”
“Oh, yay! I can’t wait to meet him. He seems to be bringing a lot of joy to your life, Izzy.” Charlotte isn’t wrong. Since meeting him I’ve felt kind of like a weight has been taken off my shoulders. It could simply be because I’m reconnecting with Raven and I missed her . . . but being with Cobra, well, it makes me take life moment by moment. I’m not worrying about things outside of my control anymore. Honestly, I appreciate life even more than I did before.
“Holy . . . Jesus, Mary and Joseph. What is that fine creature?” Charlotte rasps out, eyes focused on the main door of the ballroom.
I turn my neck and see my date walking inside. Pursing my lips together I have to bite the inside of my cheek just to ensure I keep my mouth shut. He’s wearing a black suit, with gold paisleys on his jacket. Cobra flashes his pearly whites, giving me a small wave and wink from afar. Charlotte tugs me closer to her, “That is your mystery man? Please tell me he has a brother, and then please tell me he’s single.”
“Oh, Char. I couldn’t do that. Erich is practically in love with you.” I tease, getting a scowl in response.
Cobra comes right up beside me, snaking his arm around my waist and presses his lips against my cheek in a sweet manner. “You look . . . ravishing.”
“He said ravishing.” Charlotte mutters, not wavering her eyes away from him.
“Is she okay?” Cobra asks me lowly.
“Yes, Char this is—”
“Colton, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Cobra interjects, extending his hand out to my friend. Charlotte and Cobra shake hands and for the next twenty minutes or so we make casual conversation.
“Man, I could really use a drink. Izzy, wanna brave the line at the bar with me?” Char asks, and I nod.
“Sure. Babe, what do you want?” I catch myself after I’ve called Cobra babe, realizing what I did.
He smiles, “I’m not picky. After all, you know what I like.”
I link my arm with Charlotte and together we walk over to the line at the bar which is at least twenty people long. “I didn’t know he was so handsome. He could be a model with the bone structure he has. And he’s nice! Oh, I can’t wait to see dickbag’s face when he see’s you have a date.
“Pfft, I don’t give a shit about him. He can stare all he wants for all I care. Is everything set up?” Charlotte had the task of making the slideshows and projections for this evening, so she’s our in on showing the investors what type of man their money is representing.
“Yep, the truth will be unveiled tonight.” Charlotte smirks, giving me a half hug in the process. “Okay, I’m sorry to do this to you but I really have to pee. Is it okay if I . . .”
I nod, “Yeah, go before you explode like a broken fire hydrant. No one needs to see that or smell it.”
“Ew, Izzy. You’re gross.” Char grumbles, shaking her head as she picks up her dress a bit and walks off to the nearest restroom.
I stand in line for a good five minutes or so listening to Ava Max’s song Salt play in the background as I inch my way up to the bartender. I’m the next one in line when a familiar voice comes up from behind me. “Elizabeth, I’ve been looking for you all night. I wanted to introduce you to Flora, one of the companies most generous investors. She’s a huge fan of yours.” Leonardo states, with an older Latina woman standing beside him.
I extend a hand, “It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you, Flora.”
“You as well Miss Ashers. I believe we’ll be having many future discussions. I happened to arrive here earlier today and witnessed the planned projection for nine. You and your colleagues have created a showstopper, that’s for sure. I can’t wait for my colleagues to see the amazing work you’re doing and what you’re bringing to light.” I lose my breath for a moment, that is until Leonardo starts to speak.
“Flora told me what a fabulous job you did on figuring out what we’ve contributed to the charity. The interviews she gave me a teaser of were a splendid idea! I’m sure it’ll open up everyone’s pockets tonight.”
Flora smiles widely, knowing the truth about what’s on the show. If I had any guess, I’d say she had reservations about Leonardo but couldn’t make them known until she had definitive proof.
“I’m afraid I must go off and mingle with a few others, but we will speak later. I have an amazing opportunity for you.” Flora pats my hand before walking off and leaving me alone with Leonardo.
“What do you want, miss?” The bartender asks.
I turn my neck to look at her, “I’ll have two margaritas on the rocks please,”
“Aw, buying me a drink. You didn’t have to, sweetie.” I shut my eyes at the disgusting pet name Leonardo’s given me and take in a deep breath as I try to find the words.
“Mind telling me who the fuck you are talkin’ to my girlfriend like that?” Cobra seethes from the opposite side.
“Girlfriend? Oh, how you work quickly Miss Ashers.” Leonardo responds.
“I’m sorry, what?” Cobra says.
I didn’t feel the need to fill Cobra in on my sexually harassing boss. Nor does he need to know. I don’t want him to look at me with pity in his eyes, or judgement for making the choices I did. I regret my actions because it made me a statistic. I still don’t know on whether I’m a victim or a woman who used her body to get her position, but the amount of shame I feel is sickening. I wish I had never slept with Leonardo. I wish I had never felt so pressured to act in that way. However, I can’t keep punishing myself for something that’s in the past.
“Nothing, it’s just that uh . . . Miss Ashers seems to change her mind on her choices in men. I’ll leave you two alone. Enjoy your evening,” Leonardo states just as the lights dim and the projector begins to play.
“Hi everyone, I’m sure you all know who I am since I see your faces every single day. But for those of you who don’t know me, my name is Charlotte and I’m one of the many producers here at WPOZ. The reason I’m telling you this is because I didn’t always used to be a producer. At the start of my career I was a highly sought-after anchorwoman, until one day where I was told about my transfer to a different department . . . all because of one thing, or rather, one person.” The room grows silent as Charlotte’s voice continues to play through the speakers.
“I was personally attacked by the man who is supposed to lead us all. Leonardo pressured me into having sex with him to keep me on the air and when I refused, he put another woman in my place and sent me off to the production team. I was punished by Leonardo for not offering him sex to keep my face on the air, and here is my proof.” A series of text messages come across the screen showing detailed conversations between Charlotte and Leonardo where he flat out admits he told her after she had the job what the additional requirements were. She asked if he was kidding where he retorted something back to her.
After Charlotte’s story finishes playing, Dior’s pops on, woman af
ter woman until my face is the one plastered across the screen. “Hi. Some of you know me and some of you don’t. I’m the freshest blood in the WPOZ family. I’m sure you’re all starting to see a theme here. Well, spoiler alert. My story is just like the rest of these miraculously talented women. We’ve been subjected by the same man, made to feel inferior and fear for our jobs if we didn’t do as he demanded. I’m about to show you security footage of the day Leonardo came over to interview me for the segment after my wrongful termination from one of our competitors. I will admit at the time I didn’t know there were cameras in my apartment. My roommate only made me aware after I told him about what happened and brought the footage to my attention. I’ll allow it to speak for itself.”
Everything that was said the evening of the interview plays over the projection screen and I feel Cobra’s hand tightening around my hip. I don’t know whether he’s pissed at me for not telling him, angry because of what Leonardo did or in complete shock.
Although, as he rips his hand away from my hip and throttles his fist into Leonardo’s face I have my answer. “You sick pig. What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Cobra picks him up by the collar of his shirt and slams him down on the bar, picks up a glass and breaks it against the edge, holding a jagged piece of glass against Leonardo’s throat.
“Is anyone seeing this!? Look how hostile this man is being toward me. I’m fearful for my life!” Leonardo yells.
“As you should be, motherfucker. Now, give me one reason why I shouldn’t shove this shard right through your throat and let you choke on your blood.”
“Because he isn’t worth it,” Flora’s voice booms from behind me. “Effective immediately Leonardo no longer works for WPOZ.”
“What?! You can’t do that! You need to have a board meeting and conduct a vote.”
Flora stares him right in the face and smirks. “I did hold an emergency board meeting earlier today, calling every member minus yourself to this exact location. They saw the footage, or rather, the proof and agreed we should remove you from your position immediately. I’m making it known here and now you are forbidden to step on any property owned by WPOZ and if you do, we’ll have no choice than to call the police.”
“You can’t do this! I own part of my company!”
“You own forty-nine-point-four percent, Leonardo. The investors and I combined our percentage and own a total of forty-nine-point-six percent, meaning we have the upper hand. Do us all a favor and get out of here, before you embarrass yourself further.”
Cobra releases Leonardo and returns to my side, rubbing my hip in a soothing manner. He presses his lips to my ear, whispering. “You are even sexier than I ever thought, continuously standing up for what’s right. You’re too good for me, Izzy.”
“I highly doubt that’s true.” I mutter in response.
Cobra grabs ahold of my hand, takes me away from the crowd and pulls me against him. “It’s true, trust me. I’m thinkin’ of every reason in my head on why we shouldn’t work. That’s just one of them, but despite it all I wanna give this a shot with you. I want more than I proposed. I want more, Izzy, and I hope you do too.”
My stern poker face turns into a beaming smile and for some odd reason tears well behind my eyes. “I wouldn’t mind giving it a go, if you’re open to it, Colton.” I use his real name, showing him I’m being serious.
“Why don’t we start by getting out of this joint? It’s time I take you on a real date.”
“I . . . I don’t know, Flora said she wanted to chat with me soon so I think that’s tonight.”
“Miss Ashers, go out with your handsome boyfriend. I’ve already made your assistant aware that you’ll have a meeting with me tomorrow at ten in your office.”
“I don’t have an assistant, or an office.” I say.
“You do now. Have a good evening, Miss Ashers.”
Epilogue
Souls do not have calendars or clocks, nor do they understand the notion of time or distance. They only know it feels right to be with one another.
~ Lang Leav
Izzy
3 months later . . .
My hands are wrapped around Cobra, or Colton as I now call him. Ever since the night of the gala I’ve called him by his real name unless we’re with his brothers at the club. It’s more personal to me and at this point I feel like I know a deeper part of the man, a part that no one else gets to see. It’s reserved just for me and I get giddy inside just thinking about it.
“Are we almost there?” I ask, hoping he can hear me over the loud rumbling of the motorcycle along the highway. We’ve been driving all day and my ass feels like it’s going to fall off at this point. The next time we go on another trip I’m going to make sure we take my car.
“Sure are, babycakes.” Colton makes a sharp turn and we’re suddenly off the interstate, heading down the remnants of a town until we come up to a farm with two driveways. There’s a small white house and a larger house back a ways. Colton turns down toward the smaller house and I see a small woman come busting out the front door.
While I see her mouth moving I can’t make out what she says until the bike comes to a complete halt and he turns the engine off. “I’m gonna kill you one of these days if you don’t start telling me when you’re coming to visit!” She hollers while Colton props up the kickstand, holding out a hand for me to get off his bike. He hops off after and the older woman looks down at me, not yelling at him any longer. Instead she’s smiling. It’s full on, genuine and sweet. Emotion rolls over my body because I know who she is.
This is the miraculous woman who raised Colton, the woman who taught him what’s right and wrong, how to act and more importantly— how to love. He learned everything from this lady and I can’t thank her enough for raising her little boy in the way she did. He turned out pretty damn great if you ask me.
“Hi, I’m Izzy.” I wave to Colton’s mom, but say fuck it and run up to the woman, wrapping my arms around her like we’ve known one another for years.
She holds onto me like I’m her own daughter, rubbing my back and we don’t let go. Not for a while at least, we hang on to each other and while it might seem odd to some people, it’s beautiful to me. She’s the one who pulls away first but keeps her hands intertwined in mine. “You’re the woman who’s stolen my boy’s heart. Oh, the way he talks about you Izzy. It’s no shock he’s head over heels in love with you.”
We’ve been dating for three months and neither of us have uttered those words to the other. “Damn, momma! You blew my spot.”
She releases my hands and looks between the two of us. “Huh?”
Colton chuckles, “I haven’t told this woman how much I love her yet. Never seemed like the right time. But there never is a right time these days, is there? Hell, don’t see a time better than right now with my two favorite ladies on the planet.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry! He goes on and on about you, so much sometimes I wanna choke him. Congrats on your new segment with the network. I hear you’re doing very well.” Colton’s mom says.
I nod, “Yes, I am. I didn’t think I’d like moving from being a meteorologist to having my own show, but I enjoy it. It’s giving me the opportunity to discuss things that matter in the Las Vegas area.” After the truth was revealed, Flora gave Charlotte and I promotions. Charlotte is the face of WPOZ while I have my own show that comes on once every week discussing real issues around Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. On it I interview countless people, whether they’re victims, those who need to defend themselves or investigators. It’s given me an entirely new look at journalism.
“Oh, speakin’ of that!” Colton goes to the bike, pops his seat open and grabs out one of the swag hoodies we have for the show, tossing it to his mom.
“Thank you! I couldn’t wait to represent my new daughter! Elizabeth Ashers, host of The Hot Seat. Wee!” I never thought my smile could grow to the size it is right now, but I’ve found a family with Cobra that I’ll never be able to find in my own
blood. To say I’m grateful for reconnecting with Raven would be an understatement.
That one message led me to the man of my dreams. Not only that, but to people who treat me like I’m one of them. While my childhood may have been fucked up, I’ll make sure when Cobra and I have kids they won’t have to deal with the same animosity or cruelness. The only thing they’ll experience is so much love.
“I love you too, Colton.” I whisper with tears in my eyes, grabbing his hand as he comes up right next to me.
“You better, ‘cause I plan on keepin’ you for a long ass time, babycakes.”
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Mouser
Reapers MC Book 9
Acknowledgments
My Betas, Courtnay, E.C., Jai, Chas, Tania, Janet, Taneesha, Kim, Isabelle, Heidi, Cynthia, Jojo, Vikki, & Lisa— You ladies help me more than you can possibly imagine. Whether it’s brainstorming plots, helping me narrow down title options, or simply giving me opinions on which color I should go with on an upcoming cover design. I cherish each one of you that are on my team and I’m forever grateful that you continue to help me day in and day out.
My Cover Designer, Clarise— Thank you for always somehow understanding whatever it is I’m aiming to do, even if I suck at explaining it. You’re one of the best designers in this industry and an even better friend. Love you so much!
My Blogger Team— We’ve been in this for the long haul now. Thank you so much for dedicating the last three years to me and continuing to support and share my work, no matter what’s coming your way. I appreciate you all so much and can’t thank you enough!
Chaos: A Reapers MC Boxset Page 56
