Page 2 of Calculated Kisses with a Scorpio (BLP Signs of Love #10)
“Get out, and you’re uninvited from dinner and possibly the family.”
I laughed harder and didn’t miss the smile spreading on his face.
He stood and we slapped hands. I promised to see him for dinner, then made my way out of his office.
When I got to the elevator, I ran into Steven and mugged him.
I smirked when he tripped, trying to get away from me.
He was lucky that every time we had an interaction, it was in or during HQ events, because had I caught him on the streets, he would have to see me.
As I got off the elevator, my cell phone rang.
“What’s up, Von?”
“Something at the Kingsland Boulevard location needs your attention. I’m looking at something that don’t sit right with me. Meet me over there?”
“I’m on my way. Where is Camille?”
Diamonds & Moore headquarters was about twenty minutes from the location Von mentioned.
Without even knowing what was going on, I shook my head. I had promoted Camille a year ago, and I’d regretted it ever since. She had been a good employee, but as a store manager, she sucked.
There was no telling what I was about to walk into, but if it was enough to get Von out of the control room, it was bad.
“She’s there and what I need you to handle because I think she’s finally lost her mind.”
“Of course. I played myself thinking we’d go thirty days without incident.”
Von laughed.
“I should have bet you because I know I’d be a rich somebody if I had.”
“Whatever, get off my phone.”
Von’s laughter turned up a notch, and I hung up.
I had plans to go to my office, and this delay annoyed me.
Too many things had gone on this morning for this kind of interruption.
Camille and I had a past, and it was the main reason I gave her so many chances, but that was about to change.
I couldn’t step into my new position worrying about if my locations were functioning properly.
She wasn’t management material, and my mama would have to answer for her crimes because promoting Camille had been her idea.
When I pulled up and saw the police, I barely got my truck in park before I hopped out of the driver’s seat.
“Kai!” I looked over just as Von stepped out of his truck.
“All I know is that somebody better be dead.” We slapped hands.
“I’m saying.”
We walked to the building, and an officer stepped outside to tell us we couldn’t access the store.
Instead of turning up like I wanted, I pulled out the necessary information to show that I owned the jewelry store.
These officers must have been new because everyone in Rushin Springs knew who my family and I were.
Once we crossed into the store and my eyes landed on Camille, it felt like my head would explode.
Camille and another officer had someone cornered, and something about the sight in front of me had me ready to put a few people in the ground.
My eye twitched as I got closer to them.
“Aye! What the fuck is going on? Camille, why the hell are there police officers in my building, and I don’t have not one missed call from you?
This is not how we handle business. If y’all need to speak with this young lady, we have an office where that can take place, but in my showroom and with an officer blocking my door isn’t and won’t ever be the way. ”
I kept my voice leveled because the last thing I needed was for this officer to think his life was in danger.
“Mr. Moore?” I nodded and watched as the officer’s hands settled on his belt. “We received a disturbance from Ms. Hudson about this girl stealing. Now, she did the right thing about contacting us because this young lady also mentioned that the suspect has been casing your establishment for weeks.”
“She is lying, and she knows it. I’ve never needed to steal from a damn soul!
I reached into my purse to get out my wallet, and all of a sudden, this broad is going overboard.
The jewelry I stole is still sitting on the damn counter for goodness’ sake.
The sign says only one piece can be shown at one time, so what did I attempt to steal if I set the bracelet on the counter then reached into my purse?
” She faced Camille and snapped her fingers. “Quickly now, we’re all waiting.”
I laughed, and baby girl cut her eyes at me, but when I hiked my left eyebrow at her, she simmered down.
Something about the action had me giving her a once-over that must have caught Camille’s attention because she stepped closer to me. Baby girl wasn’t fazed because she smirked then blew Camille a kiss. I shook my head, eyed her from head to toe, and committed her face to memory.
I turned back to the officer, purposely ignoring Camille.
“How about this. Every inch of Diamonds & Moore is under surveillance. The front door, the displays, the showroom floor, and registers. Whatever questions we have can tell us our next course of action.”
“Kairo, I can look over the footage later. We don’t want to take up more of the officers’ time. Let them arrest her, and at her sentencing, we can provide the footage.”
“Now, ma’am, if we can settle this right now, we will. Usually, we have to fight owners on access to this stuff.”
I tuned out the rest of whatever he was talking about and walked over to the display counter.
My hands were folded behind my back as my eyes swept the counter. I stopped when I came across what had to be the bracelet in question. It was a beautiful piece, with emerald and rose quartz crystals. The bracelet was from our zodiac line, and this one held a little crab in the center.
Although beautiful, I didn’t appreciate it sitting outside of the case just available for anyone to grab.
“Camille, how many pieces did you show this young lady and from which collection?”
“Uhm—well . . .”
While she stumbled over her words, I removed the display key from my pocket and put the bracelet back.
“Next time, don’t leave my shit out like that if you’re not going to be behind the desk.”
“Kai—”
I continued toward the back of the store for Camille’s office.
Once I crossed the threshold, I turned my nose up and frowned.
The air was stale and smelled like corn chips and stale fish grease.
I’d known Camille for many years, and she had never had an odor.
Whatever she was doing was offensive as hell.
Von came over to me with his flash drive, and I shook my head.
We were going to have to do this in the employee breakroom because I couldn’t stand another second.
“Nah. I’m not working in there. I can barely breathe. Employee lounge, and Von will set up the video.”
“This is totally unnecessary. Kairo, you should just trust my word.”
“I don’t when you put on this show and don’t have the decency to contact me when something like this goes down.
It’s my name on that door. If she decides to sue because of her treatment here today, can I take the money out of your salary?
If this video contradicts anything you told the officer, know that you are out of a job. ”
Camille’s mouth dropped open, and she tried to storm from the breakroom, but the officer blocked it.
I didn’t appreciate them being in my building, but they’d get a pass because they had been acting cordial.
I’d been waiting for the perfect moment to get rid of Camille, and it seemed like the opportunity had just presented itself.