I snicker. “How’d you guess?”
“Wow. She doesn’t seem remotely like your type. The stakes must be pretty high with your friend for you to endure someone you’re not compatible with.”
I shrug, unable to hide my smile. The idea of a holiday to the tropics that’s likely to top the million-dollar mark would blow this house-sitter’s mind if I shared it. For now, I keep it to myself.
“You have no idea.”
“Did anyone follow you?” Cross is the last to arrive for my belated birthday get together. He’s frowning and could easily pass for someone who has swallowed a lemon. Jessa pats him on the shoulder and squeezes his hand.
“Not us,” Danny says.
“Cole? Did you and Melody notice anyone?”
“Nope. Should we have been checking? Because we weren’t.”
“Sam? Wyatt?” Cross is rattled and he has my full attention. This is not the atmosphere I expected for a late birthday catch up.
“No,” Wyatt says. “Would you stop asking? We were definitely not followed. Not by paparazzi, not by the police, not even by the local kids on their bikes.”
“Okay, good, because you’re not going to like what I have to show you.”
“Can we have lunch before you ruin our good mood? I can call a contractor to start installing an electric fence if that will make you feel better, Cross.”
My efforts to lighten the mood fall on deaf ears. Cross doesn’t smile, but he does say, “That depends. What are we having?”
“Mrs McGregor made a whole spread.” I point to the dining table. “We just have to help ourselves.”
“Well, load up your plates, gents. After I share what I’ve found you’ll be off your food.”
“Bullshit. Spill now. I don’t want to wait.” Cole shakes his head and crosses his arms. “Come on, Cross. It’s obviously bothering you.”
“Okay.” He takes a deep breath and glances at Jessa, who takes the drink Melody holds out to her. “I received an email this morning with a copy of a newspaper article that’s going to print tomorrow.” He throws several pieces of paper onto the coffee table. “I printed a few.”
Each of us leans forward to take a sheet, and Sam hands one to me. It takes a moment before I realise what I’m seeing. “Oh.”
“Damn. Who wrote this?” Danny frowns and look up. “It’s pretty close to the truth.”
“It is. Especially this bit.” Cross doesn’t look at his paper, telling me he’s read and re-read the article a hundred times. “This man portrays himself as the everyman, when in fact, he sits on a pile of gold. An empire of riches. A secret stash that would make some of the richest men in the world green with envy. His accident only served to attract the others to him, and his wealth explains a lot about previous murky business dealings.”
“You okay, Merek?”
I say nothing, my eyes skating over the article that describes a decade-old demolition scandal. It delves into big chunks of my investment portfolio, as well as replicating a copy of my personal tax return, and naming several of the men in this room. “One guess how this got out.”
“Becky,” several people say together.
“Has to be. I wondered why she didn’t ask me for money to go away.” The unmasking of my personal business makes sense. She had access for several days to whatever she could find on my phone. And I did kick her out of here, yesterday. Well, Mindy did. “I’d thought that would be the first thing she did.”
Cross sighs. “It names me and Sayer, and mentions we went to school together. Can we make it go away?”
“Maybe,” Sam says. “Who do we know on the management team of that paper?”
“I have something to say before you get too far into this discussion.” Sayer raises his hand and I notice Kendra is staring at the floor. Whatever he’s about to share, she already knows about it. “This is not the first article.” He clears his throat. “I’ve kept a lid on a couple. Called in a few media industry favours.”
“What?” Everett frowns at Sayer. “What does that mean?”
“I can’t show you because everything is on my hard drive, but I can send you the details when I get home. I’ve managed to bury an article about you.” He points at Everett. “It was about the accident when you were injured.”
“The friendly fire?”
“Yep. The original article that was approved for print delved into your secret inheritance. I stopped it.”
“Shit.” Everett drops into the nearest chair.
“And Tina and Danny. There was a lovely juicy piece that never made it to print about you two and it included photos of all of us at the fundraiser.”
“I’ve seen that article.” Jessa raises her eyebrows. “That’s what started my investigation. The photos I showed you that day in our office were meant to be published with the article,” she says to Cross. “I wondered why I never saw it in the news, but by then I knew it didn’t matter.”
“So, that means we can keep this one out of the news, too, right?” Cross says, staring hard at Sayer. “If you’ve already been doing it, then we can do it again.”
“I don’t think we should.” Wyatt rubs his forehead as though he can wipe away the pressure of this unexpected conversation. “You know my views.” He raises his hands. “I’ve thought for a while we should let it take its course. Get it out there and stop living like this.”
Danny shakes his head. “We’ve gone to such trouble, though. I like my life. I like wandering down the street without any attention. I like being anonymous.”
“I’ve lived with the chasing,” Tina says. “It’s not pleasant.”
Cole shakes his head. “No, but they eventually go away. If you ignore them and go about your business, they get sick of you and move onto someone else.”
“Well, we might have no choice but to give up the anonymity. If that article didn’t pass over my desk it means something has changed. Someone wants to publish this, and they were hoping by sending it to you, Cross, that you’d tell them to shove it and they could go ahead and print. I’d have paid them and made it go away if I’d seen it.” Sayer rubs the side of his head, his shoulders slouching.
“Why didn’t you tell us this was happening?”
“The first time I figured it was a one-off. But this year they’ve come thick and fast as more and more digging was done. I’m with Wyatt. I actually think we’re fighting a losing battle.”
“And now it’s going to blow up because we’ve been so good at the secrets.”
“Probably.” Sam stares out the window, the drink in his hand forgotten. “I’m selling my business,” he says, to no one in particular.
“The fireworks?”
“Yep. I can’t miss one more special occasion. Eight years of being on hand for every New Year’s, Christmas, and any other event is enough. I have an offer and I’ll sign the contract next week if all goes well.”
“That’s likely to be published, too. As part of business news, somewhere.”
“Probably. It’s a huge contract. We got a top price because of the exclusive government events we have access to.”
Kent takes his turn to clear his throat, then looks at Danny. “If we’re sharing secrets, I have one.”
Chapter Ten - Merek
“What is this? The great confession afternoon of two thousand nineteen?” I joke. “We’re meant to be celebrating me being alive to see my next birthday.”
“Remind me later to grill you over your new-found sense of humour,” Danny says, pointing an accusing finger at me. “I’m sure I’m not the only one to notice.” The others murmur before Danny turns his attention back to Kent. “Spill.”
“I’ve decided to admit defeat.”
“Meaning?”
“I’m bowing out of the competition. Give me your bank details and tell me how much the trip will be. I'll transfer you the cash.” He points from Danny to his phone, then flops onto the nearest lounge chair, reaches down for the handle and drags the footrest up before r
eclining all the way.
The whole group looks around, stunned silence our only response.
Everett is the first to recover. “You can't give up. You still have two months to plan a date. You travel the world man. You can't tell me there's no woman who will agree to a dinner with you for Halloween.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying that when you wanted nothing to do with any of this from the start, Everett.” Kent slides his hands behind his head and closes his eyes. “It's not a lack of women. I could get a date if I really wanted one. The problem is I don't want one.”
“Why not?”
“Yeah. What's changed?” Danny picks a grape off the fruit platter on the table and throws it at Kent. He jumps when it hits him in the middle of his forehead. “Ooh, shot!” Kent frowns but keeps his eyes closed as Danny continues. “Why are you giving in when you're normally fighting off women? Or have you been making up those travel stories all these years?”
Kent sighs, finally glaring at Danny as he plucks the grape off his thigh. It disappears into his mouth, then he says, “I’ve watched you guys hook up and nothing makes me happier than seeing you happy.” He waves his hand toward the women who are clustered around the dining table filling their plates. “I have to face facts. My heart just isn't in it.”
“But why?” I can’t help but add my whiny voice to the mix. Kent doesn’t look happy with his decision, which makes no sense. Money won’t be the reason—the seven figures our trip is likely to cost is small change to my entrepreneurial friend.
He sighs again. “Because I met someone last year on New Year's and honestly, after her I need a long break to recover. It wouldn't be fair to anyone new to date me when her shadow is still hanging around.”
“Who is this woman? Why haven’t we heard about her? And why haven't you tried to make it work if you feel this way?”
Kent tugs on his ear then closes his eyes again. Danny and Tina exchange a look and then Danny moves close to Kent, clapping him on the shoulder.
“How about we track her down for you?”
“I already tried.” He runs his fingers through his hair and then sits forward, the recliner returning to the upright position with a thump. “I didn’t say much to any of you because I’m not always around. When Danny challenged us last year to take up his game, I met someone after you all left for the night. She worked the party as a waitress, or a caterer, I’m not really sure.” Kent stands and turns to look out the window, his back to all of us. “Let’s just say we did more than talk. We agreed it was fun and went our separate ways. I can’t forget her, though. And I can’t find her. The company she worked for was out of business by the time I made my enquiries and that was the end of that.” He shrugs. “So, just let me pay the money and I can put the thought of a relationship with anyone else aside. I definitely don’t want a random date for Halloween.”
“That’s so sad.” All eyes turn to Mindy standing in the doorway and she blushes a deep red. “I’m sorry.” She glances at me, her lips turned down. “The words just slipped out.”
I can’t help but laugh, my gaze shifting from Mindy, to Kent, and back again. “Everyone, this is Mindy.” I dive into the introductions, rattling off names one after the other, and ignoring the teensy burst of excitement that flared inside me when Mindy entered the room. She’s wearing another short skirt, topped with a t-shirt that hugs her curves, and she catches Jillian’s attention straight away.
Everett’s girlfriend is unable to hide her quick up and down assessment. “You’re the nurse?”
“No.” Mindy glances at me and I bite my lips together to hide my smirk. “Definitely not a nurse.”
“Jillian is a nurse,” Everett throws in, his tone confirming he’s oblivious to Mindy’s discomfort.
“Great.” Mindy smiles at Jillian and nods to me. “I just came to see if you need anything.”
“If you’re not the nurse, who are you?” Danny’s eyes sparkle with interest. Mindy glances at me and I shrug. I did warn her.
“Mindy is a friend of the nurse. Our situation is… complicated.”
Our situation. That phrase makes it sound like we have a whole different relationship than we do. Something Danny zeroes in on immediately.
He pauses, then looks at me. “You didn’t hire her to… you know?” His voice trails off and he tugs at his collar.
Mindy’s peal of laughter startles me and when I turn, she’s bent over laughing. “Please tell me you don’t think I’m an escort. Please.” She gasps for breath, her giggles filling the room. When she finally looks at me, her face is bright red, her eyes threatening tears. “Your friends think you need to pay a woman to spend time with you. Oh Lordy. That’s too funny.”
“We wondered why you’re looking so much better, Merek. I thought bedrest must have suited you, but then you said—”
“Okay, enough. You can get stuffed, Danny. I can't wait to be out of bed for more than a few hours at a time.”
“At least you have a lovely helper.” Cole waves his hand toward a still-giggling Mindy and the others laugh. “Nurse Mindy, wasn’t it?”
“She's not a nurse.”
“What is she, then?” Everett raises both eyebrows and it’s clear he’s convinced Mindy is here for more than fluffing my pillows. I can’t even joke that I might like that, since she’s standing right there.
“She's like home help. Helps me out. Keeps an eye on my blood pressure, brings me meals and whatever I need.”
“That's interesting,” Danny says. “I saw you two laughing together near the window when we arrived. She seems like a whole lot more than home help.” He looks at Mindy. “Sorry, but you do. You’re not really dressed for an assistant role.”
“You would think that Danny. Your goal in life is to match us up with a woman, but we can't all have the fairy tale. I should know. My Becky disaster is the perfect example. I promise, Mindy is a medical assistant. That’s it.”
“You were trying to rort my system and win the bet by dragging Becky into this, so that particular disaster doesn't count as an example of anything.”
I frown, waiting for my friends to leap to the next sordid thought about what having help means for me. They don’t disappoint. Of course, Danny is first with the teasing.
“Ooh, tell me you’ve appeared because it’s time for his sponge bath.”
“No, it’ll be the loo.” Sam joins in, his laughter filling the room. “I bet you can’t sit on the throne with that leg, eh?”
“One more word,” I say, holding up a finger. “Just one, and none of you are getting the heroic tale of how Mindy got my phone back from Becky yesterday.”
“What? Why wasn’t that the first thing you told us when we arrived?” Wyatt asks.
“I was saving it.” I nod to Mindy and she steps forward. “As a distraction for something like this. Now you all have to wait until we get back.” Mindy turns me around and the chair begins to move. I look toward Jillian and say over my shoulder, “Can you please educate my friends about why sponge bath jokes are inappropriate?”
Chapter Eleven - Merek
“Merek, why didn’t you change your password and get a new phone? It would have saved Becky having to come here.”
We’re helping ourselves to the lunch spread out on the table, talk of our secret on hold for now.
“I do have a new phone. But I thought she’d have access to all my sites as long as the old one was in her grip.”
“Nope. If you’d changed your social media passwords you could have logged all the other sessions out, no matter what device they were on.” Wyatt’s face tells me I should know this.
“Clearly, I’m not a technological genius, Wyatt. I build skyscrapers, not phone towers. My secretary sets up a new phone for me whenever I buy one.”
“Really?” Wyatt laughs. “I didn’t know that was a thing. You’re like a fossil when it comes to this stuff.”
“I am. Besides, I wanted my phone back for photos and notes I’ve made on it.�
��
“Don’t you have a backup?”
“No. Should I. How do I do that?”
“Oh, gees. You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope. I have no reason to know any of this. I have enough useless information in my head, without adding all that. Besides, that’s what my IT department is for.”
Wyatt shakes his head and blinks rapidly. Then he says, “When you’re back on your feet, we’re going to spend an hour together and get you up to speed. You might have helpers for everything but sometimes you need to know the basics yourself.”
I shrug. “If that will make you happy, Wyatt, knock yourself out. I’ll have plenty of free time over the next few weeks.”
“How’s the site doing without you?”
“They’re fine. I put Mal in charge.”
“He can take your place?”
“I want to say no, since I’m on site very day, but I have several guys who can manage things without me. I could be completely hands-off if it wouldn’t send me nuts to have all that time on my hands.”
“Maybe you should start another business.”
“No way. I don’t need any more money or any more headaches. I’m happy with my workload. The investigation into the accident is sure to keep me busy once they really get started. For now, we’re waiting to hear.”
“Which reminds me.” Wyatt turns to Cross. “What happened with your little problem?”
Cross and Jessa exchange looks across the table and I’d swear she’s sending him sympathy across that small space. He sighs and then turns back to Wyatt. “This week things will speed up. Frank’s fingerprint is all over the fake transactions as far as we can tell.” He sighs, again, and runs his hand over his face. “It’s in the hands of the police, but they’ll probably arrest him.”
“That serious?”
“We found a lot more once we got home and could go through the transactions one by one.” Jessa pulls out a chair and sits. “Initially, it seemed there were a handful, but we found quite a few small amounts that seem to have gone to the same account. On their own they’re nothing to attract attention. But add them all up and he’s been helping himself to a few thousand dollars each month. Long term the numbers are staggering.”
The Billionaire's Club: Secret Billionaire’s Club Book Six Page 5