Fowler sat down on the sofa, taking a chair across from him. “Well, I asked you here to talk about your import-export business.”
“What about it?”
“I just wondered if we could do business. I know some of the things you do are, let’s say, a bit sketchy…”
“Oh, really? Where did you hear that?” Grey narrowed his eyes and leaned back.
Fowler paled. “I’m not sure. Was the information wrong about you?”
“Not necessarily. I just don’t like rumors to build about me because then people start to look my way and get more interested in me and my businesses. What kind of business are you talking about?”
“I need certain things exported.”
“What?”
“I can’t tell you until we make a deal.”
“And I won’t make a deal until you tell me.” He went to stand as if to leave.
“No, wait,” Fowler said. He opened his mouth and then looked toward another doorway. “Ah, my precious, come meet my friend.”
He turned to Grey with a slimy grin. “This is my beautiful slave, Emily.”
Grey watched the woman go stand beside the sofa and flinch when Fowler grabbed her arm. She was in what looked like thin lingerie that barely covered her tits and ass, and it showcased all the bruises on her body.
“You love serving me, don’t you, precious?”
She forced a fake smile. “Oh, yes.”
“How about you go get us some refreshments?”
Emily nodded without looking at him and walked out.
“A slave?” Grey asked with a raised brow.
“Yes. That’s part of the business I’m talking about.”
“You’re into human trafficking?” It took all his strength not to break the man’s neck right then and act like he was interested instead of horrified.
“Yes,” Fowler said and slapped his hands together. “But we go beyond just slaves. We train them before they’re sent overseas. Some people like to break them in themselves, but others like them already trained when they get there.”
“That’s amazing.” This guy was an idiot. Did he not consider the fact he could be a cop?
Emily walked back in holding a large tray. Grey could tell it was hard for her to carry because she was shaking, and her grip was tight on the handles. It took even more emotional strength on his end not to reach out to help her instead of frowning at her in distaste.
She never once made eye contact with him
“Oh, good,” Fowler said as he grabbed a cookie from the tray. “Get him some coffee,” Fowler told Emily as she stood off to the side with her hands gripped in front of her and her head down.
She jumped and rushed over.
“I’m not here to socialize, Fowler.”
“But it’s always…”
“Sir, a representative from Darian Marsh’s office, wants to speak to you,” a man said from the side.
“Can’t you tell him I’ll call him back?”