Coleman’s face flushed <b>an </b>ugly red. “Give me that phonel”
the lunged toward me, but I sidestepped easily. Ils momentum carried him forward, and he stumbled. When he regained his bnce, his expression had turned truly ugly.
“My drivers outside,” he snailed. “Carlos! Get in herei
A stocky man in a ck suit appeared at the deat, his stance immediately alerting me to his training. Not military, but some kind of security background.
“This bitch is threatening me,” Coleman said. “Get her phone.”
The driver moved toward me with practiced efficiency. I maintained my casual stance, waiting until he was close enough before I moved. His first grab for my phone was predictable–1 pivoted away and used his momentum to throw him off bnce. When he came at me again, I caught his wrist in a joint lock that brought him to his knees with a surprised grunt.
“I wouldn’t.” I said calmly, applying just enough pressure to make him _____outmatched<b>.</b><b>” </b>
him wince. “You seem like a professional. You should know when you’re
Coleman stared in disbelief. “What the <b>fuck</b>?”
I released the driver, who scrambled back, rubbing his wrist and eyeing me with new wariness.
A door at the back of the shop opened, and a burly older man emerged. “What the hell is going on out here?”
“Mike,” Ss acknowledged him with obvious relief. This is Mr. <b>Coleman</b>. He was just leaving.”
Coleman straightened his jacket, attempting to regain hisposure. “Your employee has been extremely rude. And this woman my driver”
assaulted
“That’s not what happened,” I said, holding up my phone. “I have a recording of Mr. <b>Coleman </b>sexually harassing Ss and threatening his schrship if he didn’tply.”
Mike’s expression <b>hardened </b><b>as </b>he looked between us. “Is that true,
<b>Ss </b>hesitated, clearly
declined.”
Ss?”
y ufortable with the attention. “Mr. Coleman suggested we have drinks to discuss my future,” he finally said. “I
I hit y on my recording, and Coleman’s voice filled the garage: “One call from me, and that schrship disappears.”
Mike’s <b>face </b>darkened with anger. “We don’t tolerate that kind of behavior here, Mr. Coleman. I’m going to have <b>to </b>ask you to leave.”
*This is ridiculous, Coleman sputtered, “She edited that-”
“In the <bst </b>thirty seconds? Mike asked skeptically. “<b>Pay </b>your bill and go, or I’m calling the police.”
Coleman red at each of us in turn, then snatched the bill from the counter, scrawling his signature violently across the bottom. He pped down <b>a </b>credit <b>card</b>,
區
While Ss processed the payment, Coleman leaned toward me. “I don’t know who you are,” he said quietly, but you’ve made a powerful enemy today.<b>” </b>
I smiled coldly. “So have you.”
After Coleman stormed out, his driver following <b>with </b>ast wary nce at me, Mike turned to me with a grateful expression.
“Thank you for stepping in,” he said. “Ss is one of my best mechanics. Doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment.”
I shrugged. “I don’t like bullies.”
Mike nodded appreciatively. “Next time you
need you
your car serviced<b>, </be here. I’ll give you a discount.”
When Mike returned to his office, Ss approached me, wiping his hands on a shop rag. His expression was a mix of <b>gratitude </b>and wariness.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he said quietly.
“I know,” I replied.
He studied me, those intense eyes searching my face. “Why did you?”
I considered my answer carefully. “Some people think money can buy anything. Even dignity. I disagree.”
Ss nodded slowly, then <b>turned </b>away, <b>clearly </b>expecting me to leave. He wanted us to go back to being strangers who asionally crossed paths at school.
I was about to go
when I decided to <b>y </b>my card. “I’ve seen your brother,” I said casually.
Ss froze, then slowly turned <b>back </b>to face me,
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