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6. Caught in a lie

Doug

"Ames, you can't let Kirk do this to you. I have other stuff to do. I can't pick you up right now. I have other places to be." I hate not being able to help my sister. But Tank wants me to clear a space for the incoming shipment and I have to be there, just in case he decides to slip in some illegal drugs, or God forbid he decides to store guns in my warehouse. I wish that I didn't show him the place. Now that he knows I am afraid that he's going to do what he wants with it, knowing it is under my name. I just hope he knows that if I'm going down, then he's going to go down with me.

"I know, it's just for tonight. Please?"

"I'm going to send one of my employees to pick you up, okay?" I am hoping that Billy can do me a favor. With Ames and her anxiety about using public transportation, even as simple as an app ride, it makes me feel responsible for her. "Just sit tight and you'll be at Mom and Dad's in less than an hour. Go get your stuff ready."

"Thank you, brother." She ends our connection seconds later and I sigh dreading to ask the favor, knowing that Billy has too much on his plate already. Today is Tuesday, the crowd won't be too big and I'm sure that Jordan and Zak can handle the bar for an hour or two before Luis comes in for his shift. I need Billy to find another bartender to help out.

When I reach the bar, I see Jordan is busy making drinks and Zak's beside him helping him out with re-stocking new glasses onto the glass rack under the counter. I waved at Jordan signaling him to come to the other end of the bar where it's less crowded once he's done. While waiting I called Luis telling him to come early before his shift and the man laughed telling me that he was on his way, saying he had nothing better to do.

"Hey, so where's Billy?" I ask once Jordan gives me my usual glass of Whiskey.

"He's buying lemons. The new guy messed up our order and it'll be delivered tomorrow. So now, Billy is buying local." He grins and the fact makes me smile. We both know that Billy hates supermarket stuff. They're not as fresh as the ones from our produce guy. But the problem then became another problem, I really must trust Jordan with Amelia.

"Look, I need a favor."

"Shoot, what can I help you with?"

"I need you to pick up my sister and drive her to my parents'. You can use my car, I'll text you the address."

"No... no worries I'll use my car. If it's okay with your sister." He smiles and I thank the guy, giving him enough for gas and some extra just because I know his financial condition and I appreciate him bailing me out. "You can leave after Luis gets here. He's on his way, he probably gets here in about ten more minutes." I finish my drink before excusing myself to go back to my office and deal with my other problems.

I lock the door behind me and turn on my laptop. The CCTV that I secretly installed yesterday with the help of Tanks's guys is showing their feeds. The view is clear and unobstructed from any objects. I will thank the bikers later, probably with some steaks that my cooks can box up and have them delivered to their club.

I switch from one feed to another, checking the views and making sure that they are recording as Tank's IT guy had instructed me before. It still amazes me that a biker club has a hacker working in their club. Hell, it's probably how they make money aside from distributing illegal goods. There's a knock on my door before I instinctively click the CCTV tabs, closing them, before telling whoever it is to come in.

"I'm sorry, boss, but someone is looking for you. And...um..." He hesitates before he steps into my office and closes the door behind him. "His name is Mac, and he said that he's here regarding Tank?" Jordan seems confused like he's genuinely worried about me. Or, maybe he worries about himself. Mac can look very intimidating to some people. I still haven't found the person who stole from me.

"It's okay. He's a friend, you can show him to the booth by the bar, Jordan. Thank you, you can continue. I already texted you her details." I thank him again and he understands that he is going to pick up my sister and drop her off at my parents.

"Tank is busy with club business, there's not going to be shipment delivery for tonight." I sigh, knowing that it is too late, Jordan had said yes already, and I still have to catch up with Mac, the prez of Flaming Skull. "I heard someone in your crew stole from you. I get why you need the CCTV." Mac says after I take my seat in the booth. I thank the waiter for my beer and relax back in my seat. The big burly man in front of me took a big sip of his beer. For someone as big as Mac, the guy gives out a relaxing vibe easily. But now that he knows about my missing inventory I don't want him to think that my relation with Flaming Skull will be a liability.

I watch the bar in between our conversations. Zak is still training to handle the drink orders while waiting for Billy to arrive from his errand. It won't be long now. Zak knows to ask for my help when he needs it, and it'll be only time until Luis arrives. Though we wouldn't have the problem in the first place if it wasn't for Kirk. Damn him. Maybe I should get Mac and his boys to visit him, but then I know Amelia will only get more hysterical and I will be swamped with more issues.

"That pretty guy looks suspicious enough, do you need my guys to shake information from him or your other crew?"

"No, Jordan...is just being Jordan, I think you just spooked him a bit," I smirk, trying to ease our conversation. I surely don't need Mac and his guys to shake information from my employees, not when doing so they might lose a finger or a limb. I shudder just thinking about Jordan getting grilled for information.

"The CCTV will show me. Your crew had placed them in various hidden places and no one but me and your guys know. So, I'm confident that I'll get the guy. Then when I do, you can help me scare him to give everything back and leave town." Mac's laughter is so loud, it makes some people turn heads. I take another sip, before offering to refresh his drink. We talk more about technicalities for the next shipment.

It's two hours later when I am finally alone in my office, opening the last browser on my laptop and back to scanning the last CCTV footage. I almost shut it down, but seeing Jordan enter the employee lounge I paused.

I'm glad that he was back and as if on cue Ames texted me, informing her that she had arrived safely at our parents'. What I didn't expect was him locking the door to the employee lounge. "Hmm..." I watch the time stamp, knowing that it is still another hour until his break time. But when the man turned his front towards the CCTV, I noticed why he slipped inside the break room. His shirt is wet, and it looks like sauce. He must've bumped into one of the kitchen staff when he was hurrying back from his errand. I've been in his shoes before. I was about to take a look at another feed giving the guy time to change in peace when I saw it. He has tape binding around his chest. My mind wonders what the hell he's doing with it. Is he recording stuff? Is there something underneath the...wait, I squint my eyes when I see the perfect pair of breasts that should not be attached to Jordan's chest. I mean...he's a guy, right?

It didn't take long for me to know that the man have breasts. I should give her privacy, but I am too curious to stop watching the feeds. Jordan strips his breast from the binding material on his chest before grabbing a fresh one, carefully pressing his breasts, and covering them with a clean working shirt he had stashed in his locker. I know I should ask Billy, but something inside makes me get up after shutting down my laptop and head straight to the employee lounge.

I need to know and I need to know now.

As expected the door is unlocked from the inside when I knock.

"Doug, hey... Amelia is at your parents." He smiles, and then I notice the soft contour of his jaw. I want to ask, but there's something inside me that wants to mess with the guy, I mean the woman. Ugh... I don't even know, for all I know he might be trans and I am way ahead of myself with assumptions.

"Right, thank you for that. I really appreciate it. So, what's with the locked door?"

"Uh...I had an accident. I never feel comfortable changing in locker rooms." He shrugs, his eyes avoiding mine and his body language is telling that he's not comfortable, that he was lying. Okay then, two people can play this game. Let's see how long he can last with his lies. Or in this case, her lies.

Preview of the next chapter

Jodie

I have never been a good liar. Never have been and never will. I skirt around the truth, that is what I do best. And when Doug asks about the locked door, I lied saying I don't do locker rooms. I don't change in front of other people. I can't keep my eyes on him, fearing he might see through my lies. Maybe he doesn't think my lie is important enough to be acknowledged when he decides to let it go. At least that's what I hope when he steps into the room and walks closer. His menacing height makes my insides thump harder. I feel the blush creeping up my chest, spreading to the tip of my ears.

"Billy is behind the bar with Luis?"

"Yes, he has been for the last hour and Luis has been helping Zak before Billy even arrived." My hand reaches for my damp clothes and my breast binds, hiding them under my shirt, before quickly shoving them into my locker. I hope that he doesn't see it because if he asks, I have no idea what to say. I will get nervous and my self-preservation will fall apart. I will confess that I've been lying for months and he will cut me loose and I will be without employment and barely have money to live by until the end of the month.

I don't expect him to do what he does next. But when he locks the door behind him, I am forced to swallow my spit. My hands are sweating, my ears are drumming with my heartbeat and I barely hear his next words.

"S-sorry, I don't understand..."

He is standing inches from my face. When he leans closer, I shudder as his lips sweep the side of my ear...

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