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The Billionaire's Beautiful Mistake(47)

By:Elizabeth Lennox


George’s eyes widened. “You want a share?” he asked, licking his lips in hope. And then he chuckled. “I knew you were a good girl, Violet!” and he rubbed his hands together. “Here’s what we can do. I’ll go back to that bastard and demand that he pay up. He knew the terms of each night with you. I made that very clear to him before that first night.” He laughed, overjoyed with what he suspected Violet was going to offer. “We can split the money. I’ll give you half of everything, but you have to be ready for some of the men I send your way.”

“Half,” she whispered, shocked and disgusted. “You’ll give me half of everything you earn by selling me off to men?”

His eyes widened and he quickly shook his head. “Don’t think of it like that. It isn’t…”

“It is. You’re pimping me out, George,” she said in barely a whisper. “And what’s worse, you think I’m stupid enough to accept half while I do all the work.” Violet actually laughed. “Oh good grief, just get out of here.”

His mouth went slack. “You mean you were just kidding?”

Violet waved her hand, so disgusted with the world in general and George in particular. “Get out. And if you ever come back, I will have you arrested for stealing.”

His shoulders went up with those words. “You don’t mean it. You just need time to think about this. We could make a lot of money.”

Violet lifted her hand. “Don’t say another word, George. Or I’ll call the police right now, and have you arrested for solicitation and theft.”

He bristled for a long moment but Violet heard the deep voice behind her. “Do you want us to beat him up, Violet?”

Violet spun around, then looked way up as she realized that three very large, very angry-looking men were standing in her store. How had she not heard the bell jingle?

“Excuse me?”

Knox stepped closer. “We spoke to Creek last night, and we came over to talk to you. But this idiot seems to not believe your threats. So we’re here to back you up.” He looked up and down at George’s fat stomach and shorter stature with a sneer. “We’re all pretty riled and ready to beat someone up. Should we do the honors since this man insulted your integrity?”

Tucker and Saeger both looked at each other. Neither of them had ever heard Knox speak so much at one time, but they both agreed with the sentiment and turned back to Violet, nodding that they were all in.

“You want to beat him up?’ she asked incredulously, almost laughing.

Knox’s jaw was tight with his fury.

Saeger stepped closer. “He insulted you. You’re a lady and we don’t allow ladies to be abused,” Saeger explained with a deep, growl-like voice.

George actually moved behind Violet as if she might protect him. But when he touched her, trying to wrap his beefy arm around her waist, she shoved him away. “Don’t touch me!” she said through clenched teeth. “I told you to get out and don’t you ever come back here. If I even see you in Appleton, I guarantee that I’ll inform the police about your activities.”

“I heard you confess,” Kevin said, and the other two employees nodded their heads.

George huffed and puffed for a moment, looking at Violet, then the three men standing to her left, more than ready to pound him to a pulp.

“I’m leaving!” he shouted, lifting his hands into the air as he rushed towards the door.

Violet watched him leave, relieved that something had gone right today.

Slumping down against the wall, she looked around. “Okay, so everyone knows what that foul man did. I have no secrets. Just…please, could we keep this to just the…,” she looked around and rubbed her forehead. “Just the seven of us?” and then she laughed. It was hard enough to keep a secret between two people. But seven? That was just crazy. Eventually, someone would talk about what George had done and it would be all over town soon.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the three strangers. “I appreciate your help, damsel that I am, but what are you doing here?”

Tucker stepped forward this time. “We came to find out if there was any way for you to forgive Creek.”

Violet bowed her head, trying to hide the pain. Turning back to Kevin, she said, “Why don’t you guys take the rest of the day off? I’ll handle everything.”

Kevin shrugged. “We’ll just head back to the shipping area. There’s too much for you to wrap up by yourself, but we won’t listen. We’ll respect your privacy.”

And the three of them disappeared. Violet was grateful for their discretion, but she couldn’t say anything for fear of bursting into tears once again.