Olivia raised her hands and backed into the room, followed by a security guard in a dark blue uniform with a pistol in one hand. The guard was a dark-haired woman with her hair pulled back into a tight bun and a solid, athletic physique. She gave off the vibe of someone who you didn't want to mess with.
"Step away from the keyboard," she said to Claire, and Claire complied, moving slowly and deliberately. The security guard reached for her collar and, activating her radio, mumbled a few words that were hard to make out.
Tara, who appeared to know the guard, held up both hands in a calming gesture. "Hold on a minute, Donna," she said. "Nothing to get excited about."
Donna shrugged. "I'm not excited. But you guys aren't supposed to be in here. I have a job to do."
A minute later Mimi appeared dressed in a kimono and looking annoyed. "I have two hundred guests upstairs," she said as she came into the room. "What is it that requires my attention so urgently? I don't have time--" Seeing Claire, Tara, and Olivia, she broke off in midsentence. "Oh, I see."
"You've gone too far this time, Mimi," said Tara.
"I thought you worked for me?" responded Mimi.
"You know you're in the wrong," said Claire. "Promises were made."
Looking at Claire, then over at Olivia, Mimi said, "I can understand how you feel. But those pictures were just too good to keep to myself. You've seen them, you know."
"Fair is fair," answered Olivia.
Looking suddenly exasperated, Mimi snapped, "Be that as it may, I have a signed release, if you recall. I haven't done anything illegal. You have. The sheriff is a friend of mine and if I asked him he'd be happy to arrest you for trespassing, computer espionage, and maybe one or two other things." Claire started to protest and Mimi cut her off. "But as it happens I'm in the mood to make a deal."