All the color drained out of her face.

“And I am relatively certain only employees have access to the storeroom,” I went on. “I am certain the members would find that even more fascinating—and so would a judge.” I winked at her. “I mean, how does anyone know that’s the only tape in existence? Maybe other members have been taped in the steam room. Granted, they might not be doing anything untoward, the way Jay and I were, but I think you’ll find that most people will take a very dim view of being photographed or videotaped in the nude without their knowledge.” I removed my feet from her desk and leaned forward. “Judges take a very dim view of that as well.”

Her mouth opened and closed. No sound came out.

“In fact, I forwarded the video to my attorney this morning.” I folded my arms. “He was quite fascinated, especially when I explained it could have only been shot by one of your employees and that neither Jay nor I gave our consent to being taped, and there are no signs posted in the men’s locker room that there are surveillance cameras.” I leaned forward. “So not only is there a civil suit looming—my attorney seems to think we can sue for, oh, I don’t know, at least a couple of million—there are also some criminal liabilities involved as well.”

“Oh, my God.” She barely whispered the words.

“But I hate the whole notion of civil and criminal trials,” I went on. “So, I had my attorney contact the owners of this business and inform them of what exactly was going on around here. They weren’t very happy. But we offered them a way out.” I stood up and walked over to the storeroom door. “Apparently, Body Quest is struggling financially. Some months you wind up in the black, sometimes you’re in the red—which doesn’t really speak very well to your management style or abilities.” I turned the knob. The door was locked, but it didn’t matter. “So, I had my attorney make the owners an offer, which they accepted. Once the paperwork is finished, Rosemary, I will be the new owner of this business.” I walked over to the desk and put my hands down. “We anticipate the closing will take place on Monday.”

“I—I—”

“When I walked into this office, Rosemary, I hadn’t really made up my mind what to do about you.” I smiled. “But once you started in with your condescending, superior attitude, with absolutely no interest whatsoever in the egregious criminal invasion of my and Jay’s privacy—at the hands of one of your employees, in your place of business— you made up my mind for me. Once the sale is closed on Monday morning, you’re fucking fired.” I waved my hand around the office. “I suggest you start packing up your personal property. If you have not removed it all from this office by one on Monday afternoon, it will be thrown into the trash. You will be escorted off the premises by the police.” I walked over to the door, and paused. “Wow, that felt really good. Thank you, Rosemary. I really enjoyed this. Have a nice day, you miserable bitch.”

She stared at me, her mouth open, as I shut the door to her office.

It did feel good.

Money is power.

I walked up to the front desk. Robby was smirking at me, one eyebrow raised. “Hello, Robby.” I smiled at him. “I bet you didn’t know that whenever you use your phone to videotape or take a picture, there’s a digital marker on the images that is particular to that phone. It’s kind of like fingerprints.”

His smirk vanished.

“So, I hope fucking Chad—or whatever little reward he gave you—was worth it.” I winked at him. “I have someone tracing that video of me and Jay back to the phone that originally recorded it even as we speak. I hope for your sake it wasn’t yours—because we are going to press criminal charges.” I clicked my tongue. “I bet you didn’t know it was illegal to record people without their permission, especially when it’s done maliciously, to embarrass or humiliate the people being recorded. Did you know that?”

“I—”

“And by the way, I certainly hope you have other irons in the fire.” My smile grew. “You see, I bought the gym today. Monday I take possession. And you’re fired.” I turned and started walking away, then stopped and turned back. “And I really feel I have a responsibility to any future potential employers of yours to let them know about your criminal tendencies.” I tilted my head to one side. “I think I saw a Help Wanted sign when I drove past the McDonald’s on Shaw on my way here. That’s about the only job you’re going to get for the rest of your life. Give my best to Chad, will you?”

God, it felt great.

I started whistling “Paparazzi” as I walked back to the car.

I sat behind the wheel of my car and laughed.

Then I started the car and drove home, where I took care of a few more things. Everything was lining up exactly the way I wanted.

Money, indeed, is power.

Chapter 13

Ihesitated, my hand poised to knock on Chris’s door. It was just before six, and the pledges weren’t due to arrive until eight o’clock. The Great Room was already set up for Big Brother Night, and the more I thought about it, the more nervous I was getting. I’d been so wrapped up in all the Chad drama I hadn’t given Big Brother Night a second thought. I’d stopped at a liquor store and picked up the family beer, but I still felt incredibly unprepared. Maybe taking a little brother is a mistake, I thought as I stood there. I knew who Galen Donovan was—I remembered him from Rush and I’d talked to him a little bit at some of the parties, but I didn’t know much else about him. For that matter, I didn’t know a whole lot about any of the pledges.

Chris was right—I was failing as a brother.

But whatever it was he wanted to talk to me about, I was almost positive it wasn’t about Big Brother Night.

Some of the brothers were out playing basketball when I’d pulled into the parking lot. When they saw my car, the game had stopped, and they’d gathered under the hoop, talking to each other. When I parked, I waved. Only one of them had waved back.

My heart sank a little. That wasn’t a good sign.

Of course they’ve all seen the video, I told myself as I walked toward the house. But why this cold-shoulder treatment? We’re SUPPOSED to all be brothers, bonded by the fraternity. So much for brotherhood and the ideals I was taught as a pledge.

I wasn’t as confident as I’d been when I’d talked to Jeff earlier. Underneath it all, I’d been a true believer in Beta Kappa. Sure, I’d been a shitty brother this semester—blowing off meetings, not coming to parties, and not coming around as much as I probably should have. I’d been so wrapped up in my own life—revenge on Chad, a nasty little voice whispered in my head—I’d not given the brotherhood as much attention as I should have, as they’d expected me to when they’d offered me a bid last semester.

But this rejection really stung.

There were other brothers in the backyard, sitting around the picnic tables. I waved—and again, a couple waved back but the others pointedly ignored me.

And as I walked into the house, my heart sank with each step I took toward Chris’s office. This is about Big Brother Night, that’s all it is, I kept repeating to myself. Taking a little brother was nerve-racking enough, given everything else that was going on.

But I’d be a good big brother to Galen. I would. I would help and guide him through his pledge semester, and would make sure he’d make a better brother than I’d been so far.

I took a deep breath, and knocked.

When Chris opened the door, he looked unhappy. “Come in.” He waved me into the office and shut the door behind me. He walked around the desk and plopped down hard into his chair. He really looked miserable.

I took a seat in the chair across from him. “What’s this about, Chris?” I asked, trying to control my rapidly beating heart. Stay calm, don’t get emotional—remember, logic is the key.