Mark: BWWM Romance (Members From Money Book 11)

by Katie Dowe

  "Sorry you were kept waiting." She said without looking up. "I don't start until nine so I wasn't in the office to get started the second you arrived."

  "Are you Carla Romaine?"

  "You got that right."

  Carla put her bag down on the desk and fired up her computer. Then she glanced at the steaming mug sat near the edge of her desk without a coaster. Evidently her boss had given the woman a drink, probably while leering down her cleavage, which Carla noticed was on heavy display.

  The woman seated in one of her two leather chairs was in her early twenties and slender the way a model is slender. She wore a black pants suit that had to have cost at least two-grand right off the rack. Her blonde hair was kept up on her head in a tidy and stylish bun, pulled away from a beautiful face, tanned to perfection with exquisite make-up.

  She looked like a businesswoman, a rich woman. This might come to something after all.

  Carla took a seat and sat back, lacing her fingers across her stomach.

  "So, what are you here for, Miss...?"

  "Oldham. Joanie Oldham." Joanie's mouth twisted in slight annoyance. "I told my reasons for hiring a PI to your boss."

  "Yeah, well, he and I don't often cross paths unless I want a lecherous old man undressing me with his eyes so you're going to have to do a little bit of retracing your steps."

  Joanie didn't look happy at having to repeat herself but folded her hands in her lap, her back straight, and stared at Carla unblinkingly.

  "My former boss is a criminal and I want him locked up."

  Carla blinked. She seemed to have no emotion on her face when she made this statement. It sounded rehearsed, impersonal.

  "You say former boss." She said slowly. "I take it this was recent."

  "I was fired." Joanie's mouth twisted in more annoyance. "Because I got too close to the truth."

  "And what truth would that be?"

  "He's in league with the mob. He launders their money and takes a hefty cut when it's divided up. Then he hides the money in his company and no one's any the wiser."

  Carla hadn't been expecting that. In the five years since she had got her PI license she had heard a lot of things and most of them were run-of-the-mill. She was often given the cheating husbands cases. But this one was more than a little surprising.

  "That's a strong accusation, Miss Oldham." She said. "And it's a criminal offense. Why don't you go to the police about it?"

  "Because I don't have any proof and police need proof to start an investigation or make an arrest."

  Now Carla was reading between the lines.

  "So you believe he's involved with the mob and you want me to find the proof."

  Joanie nodded.

  "You've got the resources. You can get things most people can't." Her expression darkened; her first proper emotion since Carla had entered her office. "I got close enough to touch the evidence with my own two hands but then I was caught and thrown out with the false excuse that I was a lazy bitch."

  "I hardly think they'd call you a lazy bitch."

  "Something along those lines." Joanie muttered.

  Carla picked up a pen and began twirling it between her fingers.

  "Are you sure you're not doing this to get back at your boss for firing you?" She asked. "Because if you are, I don't want to be involved in your squabbles and lawsuits."

  "One of his big clients is Jesse Taga."

  That had Carla's attention.

  "The mob boss?"

  Jesse Taga was the biggest drug lord who had tormented Miami for several years, carrying on from his former boss Griselda Blanco, who now rotted in a Colombian grave. Evidently he was branching out into other avenues now that the police were clamping down on drugs.

  "My boss went to school with Jesse's daughter Diana. His other daughter Danielle is his personal assistant. You can't get any closer than that to the mob."

  Connections to the mob could be hazardous for anyone, whether it was to their advantage or not. But sometimes it was entirely innocent. Carla, herself, had lived and gone to school in Pinellas County. She had been a few years behind Ashley Humphrey, the woman who had murdered her husband Tracey's ex-girlfriend on their wedding night so she wouldn't testify at Tracey's rape trial.

  Carla had known Ashley as teenagers but that didn't mean she was guilty of murder as well.

  "There could be a perfectly reasonable explanation for that."

  "Like he's in Taga's pocket." Joanie sneered.

  Carla sighed. It was clear she wasn't going to get anywhere with the woman. She would have to go with the case and see if the speculation and rumors were true. From the way the woman was dressed she must be worth a lot of money and Carla was willing to take what she could get. Her boss liked it when high-paying clients came to them for services.

  "I'll see what I can do." She pulled her diary towards her and opened it, crossing out any unnecessary appointments. "I can't promise anything, though. Taga's a slippery bugger and I don't want to get on his bad side. This will have to be done on the QT. No press or anything."

  "QT?"

  "Secretly. On the quiet." Carla tapped her pen on her diary. "He's got influential friends and if he finds out someone is spying on him I could get shut down very fast."

  "I understand."

  From the look on her face Joanie didn't understand. Carla made a mental note to make sure Faye told Joanie the repercussions of blurting anything to the press.

  "What's your boss' name and what's his business?"

  "Jason Liu." Joanie virtually spat out the name. "He runs the biggest publishing house in Miami."

  Carla froze. Jason Liu. It couldn't be...

  Could it? The name wasn't that common but...

  Carla turned to her computer and typed Jason's name in. It came up with several entries, including pictures. The man who stared back with that devastating smile was the same man who had rescued her from Patrick Pisani in the park.

  "I know him." She murmured. Then she realized that Joanie was staring at her. "I know of him, I mean. I've read interviews. While he's not the most personable person to interview he doesn't seem the type to be involved in anything illegal."

  Not after his gallant rescue of her that morning. Carla knew she was being biased but a part of her was refusing to believe that he was involved in anything at all.

  Joanie snorted. Clearly she didn't believe her.

  "I wouldn't be surprised if his publishing company is built on that money he gets a cut of."

  Carla wasn't going to argue that now. She needed to get going on this case and find out which Jason Liu she should believe: the one she met on the jogging path or the one Joanie knew.

  "Leave it with me, Miss Oldham. If you leave your name, number and address with Faye at the desk out front I'll give you regular updates on what is happening. She'll also settle your fee, half now and half on completion or a refund if you're not satisfied."

  "Fine by me." Joanie stood, brushing an invisible speck of dust from her trousers. She slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder and fixed Carla with a steely look. "I hope you put the bastard where he belongs."

  Carla was still staring after her as Joanie left, her heels click-clacking down the hall. That woman was on a mission; that much was clear. Maybe it was a vendetta for getting fired the way she did. It was going to come back and bite her if she wasn't careful.

  Jason Liu was a man you couldn't get close to that easily. Carla was going to have to get a little creative. And she knew the person to call for that.

  Putting her favorite person on speed-dial, Carla sat back and waited for the woman to answer.

  "Hi, Amy. I need a favor."

  Chapter 2

  Jason ducked under a swing aimed at his head and came back with a jab to the ribs. His opponent grunted and kept going, still aiming for Jason's head. He raised his arms and covered himself as he was forced back into the corner of the ring and pinned there as his opponent kept hitting him.

  Fina
lly he managed to duck out and held up a hand to halt the fight, ripping off his head guard.

  "That's it." He gasped, taking out his gum shield. "I'm done."

  "Come on! We've barely started."

  "We've been at it for nearly an hour."

  Jason pointed at the clock, trying not to show his relief. He had been off his game and wouldn't have lasted much longer after a grueling boxing session. But he didn't quit, even when he had been knocked on his ass.

  "I've gotta go anyway." He ducked under the ropes and climbed down on shaking legs to sit on the edge of the ring. "I've got a lunch meeting."

  Richard Stevens snorted as he leaned on the ropes and took out his gum shield. Sweat dripped off him, soaking his t-shirt and splashing onto the floor.

  "You're just ducking out because you were losing."

  "Never." Jason picked up his water bottle and chugged it down. He wiped at his mouth with his wrist. "But I do need to be at this meeting."

  "You're the boss. You don't need to be on time for meetings." Richard climbed out of the ring and jumped down, his thick muscles flexing as he moved. Shorter and stockier than Jason, he looked more like an MMA fighter than a financial genius who wore a suit all day. He pulled his head guard off and wiped at his forehead. "Can't someone else go in your place?"

  "It's specifically for me so I can't get out of it." Jason leaned his elbows on his knees and pressed his bottle to his forehead. It felt cold against his steaming skin. "And I don't think anyone else could pass themselves off as me, as it is."

  Richard chuckled. He went to his gym bag by the wall and picked up his towel, rubbing the sweat off his face.

  "Who's it with?"

  "A journalist. She wants to talk to me about being a wealthy Asian man in charge of a major business."

  "Doesn't she know you're Chinese-American? Which only makes you half-Asian?"

  "I'm still part of the Asian community, Rick, no matter what the other half is." Jason sat back and leaned against the ropes. The thumping in his head had lessened. "But it will mean a lot of coverage for the company so I'd better do it and be nice."

  Richard shrugged. Then he grinned. "Bang her if she's hot."

  Jason felt his cheeks flaming. "No!"

  If Richard had made that comment before three days ago Jason would have taken the woman to bed and given her a couple of hours rolling between the sheets before walking away leaving her satisfied. That was how Jason lived his life with regards to women. He hadn't found one who didn't want something from him and that was usually his money. So he just used them for basic needs and dropped them once he was done with them. Very few women lasted beyond a few weeks.

  His mother had scolded him on this issue on many occasions but Jason wasn't prepared to change himself simply to satisfy her, much as he loved his mother. It would have to take a very special woman to make him reconsider.

  Like that woman he had rescued in the park on Monday, trying to get away from an Italian man who looked like a European Hulk. She had had something about her that drew Jason in, something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. She hadn't called him and Jason had been wondering about that. There had been no wedding or engagement ring. Maybe she was with a boyfriend? Jason didn't think so. He had a knack of knowing who was single or attached.

  He could still see her now. Four inches shorter than him with short black hair that curled around her head like a cap. Mahogany skin as smooth as marble with a big, soft mouth and big eyes that held a sassy glint. She was slim and sinewy like a gymnast with definite muscle tone. A genuine athlete.

  If she crossed his path again Jason wouldn't be letting her set the pace. He was going after her.

  Richard raised his eyebrows at Jason's sudden quietness. Then his expression cleared when he realized.

  "You've had another conquest, haven't you?" And when Jason remained silent: "Damn it, I thought so! I recognize the glint in your eye." He nudged Jason's shoulder with a grin. "So, who is she?"

  Jason groaned. He didn't want to talk about the woman to Richard. While he wanted to do more with her, he didn't want to share her with anyone else. Hell, he didn't even know her name.

  "Just a jogger I saw on a new route I took on Monday." He said airily, trying to brush it off. "I probably won't see her again."

  "Not unless you take the same route." Richard reminded him. "Which one is she? Black? White? Asian? Other?"

  Jason winced. He wished Richard wasn't so crude.

  "Black. About my age." And sassy. Jason liked sassy. He stood up. "But, like I said already, it won't happen. Because chances are I won't see her again."

  "If she knows who you are, you're definitely going to see her again." Richard picked up his gym bag and tossed Jason's at him. "Because she wants to bang a man with cash."

  "You're an idiot." Jason scowled.

  Richard laughed and gave him a little wave as he went to the changing rooms.

  "Have fun."

  Jason rolled his eyes and went the other way. His office had a separate en-suite bathroom and he preferred to use it instead of the one in the gym. They were both in his office building but Jason liked his privacy instead of having his employees gawking at him as he changed. It was bad enough that they did it when he was working out without watching him in the showers.

  It didn't take him long to shower and dress in a navy suit, deciding to forego a tie. He had the money and was the CEO; he could dress how he wanted. The woman would have to lump it if she wanted him to wear a tie.

  His driver Tony dropped him off outside the restaurant he had arranged to meet the journalist at and went in. The maître d' knew him on sight and hurried over to greet him as Jason entered.

  "Good morning, Mr Liu."

  "Morning, Eric." Jason shook hands with the older man. "I'm here to meet a Carla Romaine? She said she's reserved a table."

  "Of course. She's already here." Eric indicated for Jason to follow him. "Right this way."

  They went onto a separate tier and Eric led Jason to a table by the window overlooking the beach. Jason knew as soon as he saw the woman which table was his. Short curly black hair and smooth dark brown skin, dressed in a white pants suit that was a startling contrast to her dark complexion. She sat back in her chair, tapping away furiously on an iPad, a frown between her pretty eyes.

  Eric hovered nearby as Jason approached and leaned on the vacant chair.

  "Well, well. We meet again."

  Carla looked up. Her eyes widened and Jason heard the sharp intake of breath. But then she recovered quickly and she schooled her expression into a pleasant smile as she stood and held out a hand.

  "Mr Liu."

  "Jason, please." Jason took her hand, still smiling, and raised her hand to his lips. "If you don't mind me calling you Carla?"

  He heard an audible swallow.

  "Not at all."

  This was going to be a lot of fun.

  *****

  "More wine, Carla?"

  Carla laid a hand over the top of her glass as Jason reached for the wine bottle, vigorously shaking her head. The little she had drunk tasted foul despite being an excellent vintage and she wasn't prepared to drink more to get rid of the taste.

  "One is my limit, thanks." She lied. "I like to be in control of what's happening."

  "All the time?"

  Jason's eyes glinted. Carla felt a fluttering in her belly. The damn man had been charming throughout their meeting, answering her questions smoothly and pleasantly. They had even gone into some banter which Carla had enjoyed. Jason Liu was an attractive specimen.

  And that was dangerous seeing as he was a potential criminal.

  "Cheeky." She deflected. She sighed. "Actually, the one and only time I've been drunk was at university. I was pressured into drinking too much by people I thought were my friends and ended up in hospital in a coma for three weeks. I nearly died." She gulped as she remembered the memories she had suppressed. "While I do have a bit of alcohol on social occasions to fit in, I
prefer not to drink at all."

  This, Carla hadn't been expecting. She didn't often divulge things from her past. Her friend Amy knew about what happened to her, as did one or two other very select people. But she didn't blurt out things like this to complete strangers. And Jason was a complete stranger.

  What had just happened that she needed to tell him this?

  Jason was staring at her.

  "Why didn't you tell me before I ordered the wine?" He demanded. "I wouldn't have tried to ply you with it." He smirked. "I would've plied you with some steak instead."

  Carla laughed and eyed the red and bloody meat on Jason's plate, now mostly eaten along with his fries and salad. Her pasta was still half-eaten, showing that she had spent too much time focusing on the man and not on the assignment. Now her stomach was growling at the mention of more food.

  "If it's well and truly dead, I'll go for it."

  "What's wrong with rare?"

  Carla snorted.

  "That is most certainly not rare. I'm amazed it hasn't walked off the plate."

  Jason chuckled and cut another piece, which he popped into his mouth.

  "I like it bloody."

  "And still mooing when you cut into it."

  "Each to their own."

  They held each other's gaze for a second too long. Carla could see the intensity in Jason's eyes and swallowed. Struggling to find her composure, she looked away and tapped at her notepad with her pen, her phone recording their conversation placed beside it.

  "Mr Liu, we are meant to be having an interview."

  "This could be added in, if you like." Jason picked up a fry. "With you talking about alcohol-induced comas and steak with legs."

  "With legs?" Carla couldn't help laughing. "That's a thought."

  The imagery of a cow sitting on Jason's plate was too comical. Jason sat back and surveyed her as she laughed. Carla found it unsettling and stopped abruptly. Sitting like that, no tie and his shirt collar open, his jacket now on the back of his chair and his sleeves rolled up, the man looked like a model. Even the imperfections she had noticed before she didn't notice now. He looked far too handsome for his own good.