“That’s what I thought.”
The owner watched her instead of the phone.
“What is he threatening you with?”
“Nothing,” Derek said.
Maya answered at the same time.
“My life.”
The words surprised even her.
Derek’s smile disappeared.
Maya took a breath.
“He keeps things.
Messages.
Pictures.
Names.
Every time I tried to leave, he told me he could ruin every place I went next.”
Derek pointed the phone toward her.
“I paid for that apartment.
I introduced you to those people.
You think you can erase me and pretend none of it happened?”
“I’m not pretending.”
Her voice shook, but she continued.
“I’m trying to live somewhere you don’t control.”
Something shifted in the owner’s face then.
Not pity.
Maya would have hated pity.
Recognition.
As though he understood the difference between being alone and being cornered.
Derek noticed it too.
His anger rose.
“This is ridiculous.
She’s a waitress you’ve known for what, three weeks?”
“Three weeks,” the owner said.
“And you’re going to take her word over mine?”
The owner looked toward the security staff.
“Ask the front desk for the entrance recording.”
Derek went silent.
One guard disappeared.
Maya stared at the owner.
He continued calmly.
“Also bring the manager who was near the door when these men entered.”
Derek’s eyes narrowed.
“For what?”
“You came into a private club searching for an employee who was clearly attempting to avoid you.
You brought two men with you.
You stationed one near my rear corridor.
I’d like to know why.”
“They’re friends.”
“Then they can explain themselves.”
Derek’s jaw flexed.
He turned toward Maya.
“This is what you wanted? Strangers involved in our business?”
She almost apologized.
The instinct was immediate and humiliating.
For years, he had trained every conflict to end with her apologizing for causing it.
She felt the word rise into her throat.
Then she looked at the table she had hidden beneath.
She remembered crawling across the floor because the sight of Derek had convinced her there was no safer choice.
