“I do,” I say honestly.
“I don’t think it would be very nice of me to fuck you for the first time in over two years on a table. So, let’s go back inside. Okay?” he asks, and I nod.
Cole lifts me off the table and sets me on my feet, then takes my hand and leads me back into the house. We stop by the laundry room, and he gets my clothes out before we continue. When we get to the living room, I freeze when I see eight burly men sitting on the couch and in the chairs.
“Go to the pool house,” Cole says.
“What? Why?” one man asks, then sees me and smiles. “Ahh. Never mind. We will go.”
“That reminds me,” Cole says. “Go up and close with Carl.”
“What did the little fucker do this time?” he asks. I am assuming that it’s Finn that spoke up, since he told Carl that he was sending him up tonight.
“Care if I explain?” he asks me.
“It’s your restaurant,” I say with a shrug. Cole nods before turning back and explaining everything that I told him. Finn looks angry. It makes me feel better that they seemingly not standing for Carl’s shit.
“So, when are we going to take care of him? He’s been causing enough problems as it is now, he’s trying to rape his employees,” Fin says.
“Not trying,” I say. “He has raped his employees.”
“Do you know who?” Cole asks me.
“I do, but I’m not telling you,” I say. “Not unless they want you to know. It’s not my trauma to tell.” Finn raises his eyebrows when Cole nods.
“Just talk to them and let them know that we want to help, but we need to know what happened. Even if it’s coming from you,” he says.
“Okay,” I say. “I can also talk to the cooks. A few of them have seen it. One of them walked in and interrupted Carl when he tried to corner me in the walk-in. I don’t know if he knew what was going on though. He’s new.”
“Oh, Alex,” Cole says. “I don’t realize Carl put him on shift with you.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Who is he to you?”
“He’s a prospect,” Finn says.
“Where is he?” Cole asks. Right as he asks, the door opens and the man who unknowingly kept me from being raped walks in.
“Riley,” Alex smiles. “You don’t have pants on.”
“Question,” Cole says. “You ever catch Carl trying to hurt any of the girls?”
“I know what they say about him,” Alex says. “I thought I walked in on something with Riley, but she never said either way when I asked so I didn’t want to push her. I’ve always stayed ’til close, so she can leave with the others. Why? I hope that’s not the reason she doesn’t have pants on.”
“No, she’s okay. Did you work today?” Cole asks.
“Just got off.”
“He say anything about me having Riley take the day off?” Cole asks.
“Uhhh...” Alex says, clearly stalling. “He... said she was... man, I don't wanna say that.”
“Alex...” Cole sighs.
“He said she was working on a pay raise,” Alex says slowly.
“What the fuck? I’m going to kick his scrawny little ass,” I bark. Cole looks down at me and chuckles before wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me to his side.
“Alright. Pool house. Everyone out,” Cole says.