Page 99 of Open To Negotiation

“I’ve been here working upstairs for over an hour,” Noah said from beside me with a frown.

“She was already here when you got here, and she left before you came down.”

“Why didn’t you notify me?” Noah demanded. “Isn’t that what you were instructed to do?” Noah looked at me and then back to Dane.

“Before she came in.” Dane shifted his feet nervously. I’d never seen this man look uncomfortable. “She asked if any of you were here, it seemed important so I didn’t think she would want you to know she was here. We had our eyes on her the whole time.” Dane kept his attention on me.

“She was drinking?” I asked through a tight throat.

“Yes sir, quite a bit, but she switched to water eventually. She was left alone. Only the incident with Riley but we aren’t—”

“What incident with Riley?” I cut him off.

“Well… she made her pay for drinks. They seemed to have some words but no one knows what was said.”

“Aw fuck,” Noah muttered and shook his head. “We should have fired that girl, she’s too obsessed with you.”

I knew she had a thing for me but I’d never slept with her, unlike Noah, I didn’t fuck women where I worked.

“Quinn looked quite upset when she left,” Dane added. Smart man, he knew things were different tonight.

“When did she leave?” I asked.

“About twenty minutes ago. Her friend was here, I think her boyfriend picked them up.”

“You’re going after her, right?” Noah asked me, like it wasn’t even a question.

“No. I’m not.” I looked over at Dane. “Let the bar manager know Noah needs to speak to her.” I would leave the firing to him. With that I walked into the loud club.

“What the hell are you doing?” Noah followed behind me.

“I’m going to go and get some shit done.” I made my way up the stairs.

Noah followed me into the office and I ignored him as I sat behind my desk and started pushing paper around to find what I needed. Even though I was distracted.

Quinn had been here with Aubrey, got drunk and left. She could have gone anywhere, I was glad she came here so my people could look after her since I couldn’t.

I only deserved breadcrumbs of her life.

“Are you staying long?” Noah gritted out the question, clearly displeased.

“No. Heading to the office.” I didn’t need to look up to see that he didn’t agree. But I ignored him and kept gathering the things I needed.

“I’ll just wait outside,” Noah said as he stood; guess he didn’t want to be around me either.

My phone rang, breaking my angry silence. I pulled it out of my pocket and the pain in my chest lightened instantly. I was an ass, I shouldn’t want her to call but seeing Quinn’s name on my phone was everything. I was pleased she was calling me when she was drunk. Even if we fought, I would be happy to hear her voice, even if she yelled at me. She should yell at me.

“Hey.” I barely bit back her nickname. I didn’t need to mess with her head more than I already had.

“Theodore Knight?” I was shocked by the man’s voice. I pulled the phone away to make sure it was Quinn’s name and I hadn’t lost my mind and imagined it.

“Who that fuck are you and why do you have Quinn’s phone?” I growled.

“Sir, are you Theodore Knight?”

“Yes,” I snapped out.

“Sir, my name is Officer Monroe. You’re listed as the emergency contact for this phone,” the man said. I pushed to my feet instantly, a deep heaviness settling in my gut. “There has been an accident, sir.”