Sebastian (Bowen Boys, #5)
Kathi S. Barton
Chapter 1
“If you want a job here, you’re going to have to cover up those tats. And by covering them, I mean I don’t want to see them. At all.” Ama tried her best to bring her temper down to a low simmer, but this guy was getting on her last nerve. “You think you can get rid of them by Monday?”
“No. And for the record, I wouldn’t even if I could.” She stood up and was moving toward the door when he called her back. She turned to look at him, not bothering to hide her contempt for the prick.
“You should have thought of this before you found yourself all drunked up and under a needle. Maybe next time you’ll simply learn to say no.” Opening the door, she walked out, but apparently he had more to say, so he followed her. “Maybe if you’d dress a little more conservatively, somebody might think of you less as a hooker and more of a serious worker.”
She looked down at the shirt and pair of clean jeans she had on. The only thing showing besides her face and hands was her neck, and not much of it either. She had even covered the biggest mark she had on her arm by wearing long sleeves.
She looked up when he came around the doorway of the room where he’d been interviewing her and grabbed her by the arm. Ama wasn’t really sure what to do now, so she did what she always did. Her fist popped out and hit him in the face before she could think to maybe take a deep breath. When he stumbled back she took a step toward him, but stopped when she realized that there were other people in the store that might step up to help the prick. She turned and walked out of the used clothing store and into the street, hiking her laptop bag up on her shoulder to keep it safe. She looked across the street and crossed against the light, then went into the deli hoping for a sandwich and a way for herself to unwind.
She was standing in line when the guy from the interview came out of his store and looked around. She turned her back, not caring at all if he saw her.
“Is that a computer?” She looked at the older woman standing next to her and nodded. “My mate and I just got ours today. I’m betting you’re very good with them, aren’t you?”
“I do okay. It’s sort of a way of life now days.” She had no idea why she was talking to her, but Ama glanced at the man coming across the street and turned back to the counter.
This time the man standing next to her spoke. “That shop you just left? The man is on his way over here. I think you should maybe try moving to one of the tables. That way if he walks by the door, he won’t see you right away and maybe you might not go to jail.” He laughed when she shrugged. “But if your plan is to go to jail, then by all means stand where you are and let him try and take you again. He doesn’t look any too happy with you right now. When we saw you come out just in front of him, we knew he was trouble.”
“Thank you, but I…he’ll either leave on his own or not. I don’t really care.” And she didn’t either. She turned her back to the man and woman again and heard the woman laugh slightly. When the door opened behind her, she didn’t even bother to look. She knew who it was.
“You, Amazing or whatever the f*ck your name is, I’ve called the police.”
Ama was next in line and started to place her order. But before she could finish, she was jerked around by the * again. He had a white shirt held to his face, and she could see that he was still bleeding. Several people in the deli stepped back, but not the older woman or the man standing next to her.
“Good. I hope you did call them. Maybe then I can press charges against you for sexual assault.” He sputtered, but she was on a roll now. “You called me a hooker and told me that I was a drunk. You’re just lucky that I didn’t kick your tiny little balls up around your head. I would have said brain, but it’s doubtful that you have one.”
He drew back to more than likely hit her, but she grabbed his balls and twisted them. He screamed like a girl.
“Now we’re going to play a little game here. I’m going to call it truth or balls. The rules are simple; you tell me the truth and I won’t pull your balls off. Got it?” When he didn’t answer her, she gave them a little twist.
“I got it. Christ, I got it.” He started to grab her arm and she twisted them again. “You’re f*cking going to pay for this, bitch. You see if you don’t.”
“Not very smart, are you? When someone has your nuts in a grip like I do, you don’t threaten them. Now, did you call the police?”
He screamed when she jerked him. “No, you f*cking cunt. I didn’t, but you can bet your sweet ass I’m going to when I get back to my desk.”
“It’s doubtful that you’ll be able to sit at that sorry excuse for a desk, but you’re welcome to it. In a clear voice, I want you to tell these nice people that you’re very sorry for coming in here and ruining their lunch by cussing like a…what is it you called me again?” Ama started to twist him again until he repeated what he’d said to her in the interview, and a couple of things that he hadn’t. “Good boy. Now do it.”
He nearly sang out his apology and she let him go. But no sooner than she released him, he slapped her in the face. She stood there with blood running down her lip, staring him down. He was backing out of the place as he threatened her again.