by Selena Black
“Blackmail,” Alain said quietly.
“Yes, blackmail, Jack replied. “He’s supposedly in the midst of a messy divorce as well. We could also threaten to give the footage to his wife as an extra incentive to make him pay up. I’m sure it wouldn’t look good being played in court at a divorce hearing. You’re always saying that you want to make some big money. Well, so do I and this is a real chance.”
“Why didn’t you just do it then?” Alain asked. “Why tell me?”
“I’m not exactly a faithful boyfriend,” Jack answered. “But I don’t know any hookers that I could get to do this. We need someone we can trust to keep quiet afterwards and I guessed that with your contacts, you might know someone we can use.”
Alain was quiet for a short while, but a smile finally spread across his face.
“Yeah, I know someone I think would be up for it,” he said. “And she’ll even be able to supply the little something we need to slip in the drink. For the right price she’ll do whatever we want, so I can guarantee we’ll get some nasty and compromising footage of your boy with a hooker. It will definitely be something he doesn’t want his wife to get her hands on or be broadcast to the masses.”
“How much do you think we should shake him for?” Jack asked and rubbed his hands together.
“Let’s just get ourselves in a position where we have something on him,” Alain replied. “Once we have that we can worry about the money. Let me get in touch with Candice and see if she will definitely do what we want.”
“OK,” Jack said.
“When that is sorted,” Alain went on. “It will be up to you to get Mark Godfrey to your apartment and in a room with her where we can film them in action.”
“I can do that,” Jack said. “I have the spy-hole camera equipment already that we can use.”
“Fucking pervert,” Alain mocked and laughed. “Does Gloria know you’ve been making porn movies with her?”
“I have not ….”
Alain put up his hand to stop the words.
“I don’t give two shits what you get up to with your girlfriend or how you treat her,” he said. “Just make sure that things are set up properly and that you don’t fuck it up when Candice is at your apartment.”
Jack got to his feet and let a smile spread across his face when he replied.
“I’m not going to fuck anything up and you’re going to get a lot more than the fifty dollars I owe you out of this.”
Chapter 4
Mark stood up to shake the client’s hand as the meeting came to an end.
“I’ll have our best people come up with the copy for your ad campaign within the next week and pass it through to you,” he said. “We can meet again after that to see where we go from there in terms of finalizing it for you and making it live.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” the client replied. “And thanks for understanding our urgency to get it completed.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Mark told him then turned to his personal assistant. “Can you show our guest out to the elevators please?”
Hayley nodded her head then got to her feet to show the way. Mark clenched his fist and let out a quiet yes when he was alone in the meeting room. He was more than happy to put together the ad campaign quickly considering the money that was being offered to do it. His hope was that doing a good job would lead to a lot more work.
Picking up Hayley’s notes, he put them together with his own and walked out of the meeting room to return to his office. A few minutes later his personal assistant appeared at the door and stepped inside.
“Get these typed up,” Mark said and handed her the notes he was looking through when she moved across to the desk.
“Do you want them tonight?” she asked.
Mark looked at his watch to see that it was now just after six in the evening. The manager he wanted to lead the campaign was likely gone already, so he shook his head.
“No,” he said. “First thing tomorrow morning is fine. I know who I want to head up this job. If you have the typed up details on my desk by nine, I’ll get things moving then.”
“Sure thing,” she said. “Is there anything else you need tonight?”
“Nope,” he said as he got to his feet and a grin passed across his face. “Well, not unless you can conjure up a couple of whiskies from your pocket to celebrate us sealing this contract.”
“Not really my drink,” Hayley replied immediately. “I prefer wine and I could do with a glass after today.”
“Enjoy it when you get home,” he said.
“I will,” she replied and walked out of the office.
Mark suspected she would likely do the typing straight away even after he told her he didn’t need it until the morning. It was the reason she was such an excellent PA and he knew he was lucky to have her. He suddenly wished he hadn’t joked about alcohol because the thought of it was now stuck in his head and making him consider going somewhere to get it. Another glance at his watch showed it was ten minutes after six and he knew that he could get to the Reynaud Jazz Club by seven. It was a night when the Dandies were playing and he sat debating whether it was a smart move to go.
In truth he knew it wasn’t, but his craving for a drink after a long day at the office made up his mind. There was nothing he could really do about the job he just promised would be ready in a week until the following morning anyway and there was no other work on his agenda that urgently needed his attention.
“Just have a couple of drinks, listen to the music and go home,” he told himself as he got to his feet.
There was no need to take his briefcase, so he used a foot to slide it under the desk then walked out of his office. He saw Hayley sitting at her computer working when he passed her door and stopped.
“I told you I need those typed notes tomorrow morning,” he said.
She looked up and smiled.
“I’ll only be a few more minutes,” she replied.
“Make sure you are,” Mark told her. “You’re making me feel like a slave driver.”
“But you are,” Hayley replied with a grin then carried on working.
A rueful smile passed over Mark’s face and he shook his head before setting off towards the elevators to ride one all the way down to the ground floor. Walking out of the building, he moved to the side of the street and managed to hail the first cab that drove past.
“Reynaud Jazz Club,” he said when he opened the door to get in and the driver rejoined the traffic straight away.
The journey lasted around twenty minutes and it was almost quarter to seven when he walked inside the club. He looked around to see there was a healthy crowd as was usual when the Dandies were playing, but caught sight of a couple of empty tables and moved to sit at one. He caught the attention of a waitress that served the tables and she smiled when she came across.
“Whisky cider cocktail,” Mark ordered.
The pretty girl nodded then headed off in the direction of the bar. The drink was in front of him a minute or so later and he savored the taste of the whisky as he enjoyed his first sip. It went down too well and he was already on his second when the curtains opened to reveal the Dandies. He relaxed in his seat to just enjoy the music and was unaware that he was being so closely watched by a couple sitting nearby.
“That’s him,” Alain said and motioned his head in the direction of a table.
He and Candice had been at the club every time the Dandies played in the week since his meeting with Jack and there was some relief that Mark finally showed his face to let them try and carry through with the blackmail plan.
“He’s cute,” she replied as she glanced quickly then returned her attention to the man sitting beside her. “This is going to be more fun than I thought.” There was a pause before she spoke again. “Half now,” she went on. “That was the agreement.”
Alain picked up his glass to take a drink and slipped his hand in his pocket afterwards. The money exchange was carried out discretely under
the table and Candice went to get to her feet.
“Not yet,” he hissed gruffly. “Just sit and relax. Wait until Jack is at the table. You can make your move to join them then.”
“Whatever you say,” Candice replied with a smirk. “You’re the boss.”
She crossed her legs and the short skirt she was wearing hitched higher up her smooth thighs. Alain couldn’t stop himself looking and watched as vivid red fingernails slid up dark, toned skin.
“You like what you see honey?” Candice said quietly and laughed.
Alain brought his gaze up to her pretty face. Dark curls framed it, with the sparkle in her brown eyes showing just how much she enjoyed the attention of men.
“As long as Mark Godfrey likes it,” he replied.
“Oh …, he’ll like what he gets from me,” Candice replied. “He’ll be in fucking love with me and begging for more when I’m finished with him tonight.”
“Just remember that everything has to be done on the bed,” Alain told her. “Jack set up the camera in the spare bedroom of his apartment to point at that. Don’t get in there and let him fuck you over the dressing table.”
“Don’t worry boss,” Candice said. “You’ll get your show. I’ve got my Mardi Gras mask to cover my face, but you’ll see more than just my long legs on the footage. I promise you that.”
Alain unconsciously licked his lips as he dropped his gaze and knew that Candice was toying with him when she uncrossed her legs and parted them slightly to give a glimpse under her short skirt.
“Mardi Gras isn’t for months,” he told her.
“Yeah, well Mark Godfrey will think all his Mardi Gras fun has come at once when he’s in that bedroom with me.”
The smile spread across Alain’s face as he turned his attention to the man they were talking about.
Mark was sitting nursing his second drink and trying to make it last. His plan to have just a couple of drinks was already unraveling and the urge to get a third was playing heavily on his mind. He checked his watch to see it was now quarter to eight and there was still forty five minutes of music to go. The temptation was eventually too much to resist and he was looking around for the waitress almost as soon as he put his empty glass down on the table. He ordered another whisky cider when she came to the table and vowed to make it last when it was served. The surprise was that he actually managed to stick to that and the jazz music came to an end before he finished his drink. He took a minute or two to savor the last of the alcohol and was getting ready to leave when the voice stopped him.
“You’ll have another?”
He turned his head to see Jack standing beside the table.
“No,” Mark said. “Not tonight. I need to get going.”
The cold panic trickled down Jack’s spine. It was more than a week since he last saw Mark and as soon as he did that evening, he set the wheels in motion for the party. He told the other members of the Dandies about it even before they started playing, as well as a few others in the club. His story was that it was an open house and that they were welcome to bring their friends along to his apartment after eight thirty. As he moved to sit down at the table the words of Alain about not fucking things up flashed through his mind and his anxiety grew that Mark was talking about leaving.
“Just have one here,” he encouraged. “I’m having a few friends around to my apartment later on for a jazz evening. You’re welcome to join us. The Dandies are coming and we might even play some more.”
The invitation made Mark hesitate although he was in two minds as he sat considering it. He really needed to keep his head fresh to be ready to get the new project going the following morning. On the other hand, it was a chance to see the Dandies in action close up and enjoy some more jazz music and chat. It was probably a chance that didn’t come along all that often and in the end he decided that he didn’t want to miss out.
“Yeah sure,” he eventually said. “Thanks for inviting me.”
Jack almost let out a sigh of relief, but held it in and looked around for a waitress. He managed to catch the attention of the nearest one and ordered a couple of cocktails when the girl came up to him.
“So did you enjoy …,” he started to say, but saw that Mark was looking past him. The sudden presence of someone at his shoulder made him think about Gloria, but it wasn’t her he saw when he glanced up. “Oh, hey Candice,” he said in feigned surprise. “I haven’t seen you around here for a long time.”
“I’ve been out of town,” she lied. “I just got home a couple of days ago. How are you?”
“Fine, fine,” Jack replied. “Do you want a drink?”
“No, I don’t want to disturb you,” she replied. “I just saw you sitting here and wanted to say hello.”
“Oh, come on,” Jack insisted. “It’s been ages since I saw you. Sit down and have a drink with us.” He looked at the man sitting opposite him. “You don’t mind do you?”
“Not at all,” Mark answered.
“OK …, well, thanks,” Candice went on and sat down on a seat between the two men. “I’ll have a mint julep.”
She crossed her legs and noticed the glances of both men at the way the hem of her skirt slid higher up her lithe legs. It brought a smile to her face and she settled a hand on her thigh and stroked her thumb back and forth across smooth skin. Jack pulled his gaze away from the pretty sight to make the introductions.
“Mark, this is Candice Collins,” he said then turned his gaze on the woman beside him. “Candice, this is Mark Godfrey.”
“Nice to meet you Mark,” she said and smiled.
“Likewise,” he replied when they shook hands.
Jack ordered a mint julep when the waitress returned and waited until it was served before making a toast.
“Well …, here’s to a fun evening,” he said and lifted his drink.
The glasses clinked together over the center of the table, with all three of them taking a sip afterwards.
“Is there anything special happening?” Candice asked.
“I’m having a few people around to my place,” Jack said. “You should come. It will give us a chance to catch up.”
“Sure,” Candice agreed straight away. “Who else is going?”
“The rest of the Dandies will be there, so you’ll get a chance to meet up with them,” Jack replied. “A few others from the club and Mark is coming along too.”
“Are you new to the club?” Candice asked. “I don’t remember seeing you around before.”
“Kind of,” Mark replied. “I’ve been coming in to listen to the music for a few weeks now I guess.”
“Are you a musician?” she went on.
Mark laughed as he shook his head.
“If only,” he replied.
“I thought those were a jazz musician’s lips,” Candice said and smiled as she reached out a hand to stroke her fingertips on them.
Mark was slightly taken aback at what seemed like an obvious come on by someone he just met. He hadn’t been with a woman in the seven months since he split up with Karen and wasn’t even sure he wanted to be. His intention was to get the divorce finalized and out of the way before he even thought about moving on, but that could mean a long wait considering things might now drag on for another year.
He watched as Candice turned away from him to stroke her fingertips across Jack’s lips and wondered if he was just imagining that her attention was a come on towards him. He could see she was a bit of a flirt as the conversation went on, but didn’t really have a problem with that. It was the first time in a long while that he’d been in the presence of a pretty, teasing woman and it was certainly preferable to what he’d endured over the last couple of years. Arguments with Karen were the norm as his marriage broke down and fell apart, with work and drink being his solace from that.
“So …, shall we go?” Jack said when he glanced at his watch to see that it was almost eight. He drained the last of his drink then watched as the other two followed his lead.
“Let’s have some fun,” Candice said when she put her glass down.
She accidentally on purpose stumbled when she got to her feet and put out a hand towards Mark.
“Steady,” he said with a smile as he helped her retain her balance.
“First drink in a while has gone to my head,” she lied and laughed. “And alcohol and stiletto heels don’t really go well together. You don’t mind do you?”
“No, it’s fine,” Mark said as she linked her arm with his and they set off in the direction of the exit.
Jack glanced across to where Alain was still sitting. He saw the other man nod his head and did the same before following after Mark and Candice. It was him that led the way to the apartment and the likely annoyance of his girlfriend. Gloria was the one person he didn’t tell about the party and he hoped he got to the apartment before anyone else showed up. The irritated expression on her face when she opened the door showed that wasn’t the case.