Web Of Lies (The Lies Trilogy Book 1)

by J. G. Sumner

  “Anything.”

  “Why did you come to work for us?”

  She looks out the window before answering. “My mom and I aren’t very well off. She works a few different jobs to make ends meet. I’ve always been the poor girl in school who’s never been able to afford even one nice outfit. I was home alone every day after school. Sometimes my mom wouldn’t come home until after I went to bed. When my mom told me about this opportunity, I couldn’t pass it up. The chance to go work for a rich family and not be alone all the time was so appealing. I’ve never asked anything from you, but you’ve given me a car, spending money to buy nice things…” Beth turns and looks at me. “Most importantly, you gave me your trust and love. It’s been far more than I could’ve ever asked for.”

  “Did Parker try to set you up with me?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Did Parker ask you to seduce me?”

  Tears flow from the corners of her eyes causing them to sparkle like a freshly polished gold coins. “Why would you ask me that?”

  “Just answer the question.”

  “No, of course not. I came to work for you for the opportunity to better my life, to not be alone all the time.”

  “Does bettering your life include seducing me and blackmailing me for money?”

  Her forehead cringes and she almost doubles over in pain. “Of course not! I love you. I’d never do anything to hurt you. If I was trying to blackmail you, I could’ve done it a long time ago. Trent, I’ve stood by your side when Parker has neglected you. I’ve waited patiently while you work through this and decide who you want to be with. I’m the one who is here with you right now supporting you while you grieve over your father. Where is she?”

  I put my arm around her shoulder and pull her in close to me. Beth is genuine. There are no lies. No agenda. I feel guilty for throwing out her clothes. I tossed them away as if they were nothing. To her, they were months of work caring for my kids. When did I stop appreciating the struggles of those less fortunate? When did I become this guy? I’ve tried all my life to prevent it, to appreciate the small things and not rely on the money. Unfortunately, I’m still the privileged guy I was raised as. “I’m sorry. I just had to know the truth.”

  “It’s okay. I’m sure you have a reason for it.”

  That right there is the difference between Beth and Parker. She loves me for me. Doesn’t care why I’m doing something and will wait until I’m ready to talk about that. Parker has never been that way. If I don’t give her answers right away, she gives me the silent treatment for a week.

  The car comes to a stop in front of the bank. I hand a hundred to the driver. “Wait here with the lady. I’ll be back shortly and then we’ll need to get to JFK.” I squeeze Beth’s hand when she looks at me questioningly. “It’s going to be okay.”

  I rush out of the car and grab the suitcase from the trunk, mentally preparing . for a long visit. Banks don’t take kindly to it when you pull a large sum of money out. Most don’t carry huge amounts. However, this bank is a major hub and happens to have an underground vault holding up to a billion dollars at any given time.

  I walk in and am immediately greeted by a lady standing next to two security guards at the door.

  “Hello, sir. How may I help you?”

  “I need to speak with the bank manager. I need to withdraw a large sum of money.”

  “Right this way, sir.” She leads me to a leather chair in an isolated part of the bank.

  It doesn’t take long before a heavyset balding man approaches me. His suit is crisp and he walks with an air of confidence. “Mr. Davis, I’ve been expecting you.”

  The man extends his hand. I stand up to shake it. I don’t recognize him. “I’m sorry. I don’t believe we met.”

  “No, sir. We haven’t. I’m Arnold Jacoby, the new bank manager. Nathaniel retired a couple of months ago. Anyway, please come with me. I have a few forms for you to sign before we can release the cash to you. I see you have an adequate carrying case.”

  Something tells me my father is behind this also. I silently follow the man to his desk and sit down.

  “I’m glad you’ve chosen not to completely shut down your account,” he says. “I hope you’ll consider us for your banking needs in the future.”

  “Yes, sir. Your bank has been very accommodating. I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

  “I’ve taken the liberty to highlight where you need to sign. If you wouldn’t mind, I need to see your identification.”

  I pull the driver’s license out of my wallet before signing the multiple lines. When I finish, he reviews the documents.

  “Everything looks adequate. Please follow me to the secure room.”

  I get up from my chair and grab Beth’s suitcase, every move I make mechanical. I feel like a robot. We reach a steel door. Arnold uses his fingerprint and enters a code to open the door. After it shuts behind us he nods at the camera in front of us. I glance around and note six others. Another door opens and we move into a smaller room, also filled with cameras. There’s a window with metal bars and what I assume is bulletproof glass. A man appears behind it. He has a cart with stacks of one-hundred dollar bills. He takes them off the cart and pushes them through a small slot. Arnold counts the money as he does so.

  Counting fifty million dollars doesn’t take as long as I would expect. My suitcase couldn’t hold it all, so Arnold produced another.

  “That must be one heck of an island you’re buying,” he remarks.

  When I look at him puzzled, he explains, “Your father said you were buying an island. Do you plan to live there?”

  “Uh, no. I want to develop it into a resort,” I lie.

  “You’re definitely living the dream.”

  “Yes, I am. Thank you for your time.”

  If only he knew. I head out of the room and out through the steel doors. There’s a guard waiting for me.

  “Mr. Shetfield will escort you to your car. It was a pleasure doing business with you.” I shake Arnold’s hand before following the guard out of the bank.

  Once outside, I move swiftly toward the cab. I’m relieved it’s still waiting with Beth inside. Just as I’m about to load the suitcases in the trunk, I hear a voice calling a name I vaguely recognize.

  “Mr. Demetriato?”

  It’s a very tall, stout man in a black suit approaching me. “Mr. Demetriato, I’ve been instructed to take you to the airport.”

  I hesitate a moment. Did my father arrange this? Or is it someone else? My father is the only one who knows about this passport besides the person who made it. I decide to put my trust in him. He hasn’t led me wrong this far. I nod and open the door for Beth.

  “Come with me.” She complies and I hand another couple hundred dollars to the driver. “Thank you for waiting. I no longer need your services.”

  I instruct Beth to roll her suitcase to the car and I take the other. The driver opens the trunk, I place them inside, and Beth and I get into the back.

  “We need to go to JFK,” I announce as the tall man pulls away from the curb.

  He glances at me through the rearview mirror. “I’m sorry, sir. I’ve been instructed to take you elsewhere.”

  Chapter 19

  Parker

  I’m stuck in this house with my kids. I love them, but this place is massive. Besides, they aren’t up after nine at night. There’s no one to talk to and I’m left alone with the demons who remind me on a constant basis that I’m the biggest disappointment of a wife. I don’t know how I can ever expect Trent to forgive me when I can’t forgive myself.

  It’s after ten, and I haven’t heard from Trent all day. I thought for sure I would have after he identified his father. Perhaps he’s drowning his sorrows in some expensive scotch. I don’t think I could blame him. Lord knows I’ve been guilty of the same lately, and I haven’t lost a loved one. Not yet anyway.

  I pour myself a glass of wine and sit on the sofa, debating whether or not to turn
on the television. I settle for some music. I sip my wine, reflecting on my life. It’s been charmed. I’ve had the best of everything and have never had to work hard for anything. I’m one of the lucky ones who was born into the right family.

  Then why I am I so miserable?

  My family has been tight knit forever. My mother bent over backward to ensure my father’s every need was met. She doted on us kids as though that were the only things in life that made her happy. When she became a grandma, her eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. Mom was always happy and her zest for life spilled over onto everyone else. Except for Dad.

  He was always focused on business and creating new ways to become even wealthier. He wanted what the Davis’ had. Even though we had a prominent name in the community and an exorbitant amount of wealth, we weren’t regarded as highly as Jonathon Davis and his family. The rest of the family was okay with that, but not Dad. He wanted the Matthews name at the top of every guest list. Something that I never quite understood.

  I was never privy to his business dealings, but my understanding is that some were shady. He wanted to be powerful, and so he associated himself with less than savory people. Ones that could do favors that might not otherwise be legal.

  That is how he found out about my rebelliousness. I had been working at a club. I didn’t need a job, but I wanted to do something, anything. I was a sophomore in college and I felt like my life was already planned out. I hated it. I wanted to have my own say and freedom to make my own decisions. I loved being with Trent, but I didn’t want to marry him and never get to experience the world.

  That’s when I met this girl, Delia. She was in one of my classes and we became fast friends. One night when we went out I drank a few too many shots of tequila and began spouting off at the mouth, telling her all about my life of privilege and how I just wanted to be naughty for once. One thing led to another and next thing I know she’s kissing me. I liked it. A lot. It was different from kissing a man. She was soft and sensual. It was as if she was inside my body and knew exactly how I liked to be touched. She led me out of the bar and next thing I know we’re back at her apartment. She poured some wine for us and we sat on the couch and continued to talk for a while. The entire time I had hoped for her to kiss me again. It was all I could think about, having her soft, fruity flavored lips against mine. I guess she sensed my desire because she told me how beautiful I was before kissing me deeply. She pressed up against me, caressing my breasts. It was so hot and sexy. I’d never been so turned on in my life. The sex was better than any I’d had in my life.

  I spent the next few months “studying” with her. We became best friends in the bedroom and outside. We were inseparable, and even moved in together as a cover to spend more time with each other. Busy with studying and applying to various law schools, Trent didn’t have a lot of time for me and we had put our relationship on hold.

  One day Delia confided in me about how she was paying for her tuition. She had been working at an upscale strip club. The men who came there were all very wealthy. She had to sign a nondisclosure form to work there because the men had to remain discreet due to their status in the community. She was bringing home several hundred dollars a shift. Delia explained that they were looking for another girl and she thought I’d be perfect.

  At first I wasn’t sure. Someone from my heritage didn’t do things like that. Then I started thinking it might be fun. It was a way to earn my own money and it might be just thing I was looking for to spread my wings. Before I knew it, I was one of the regulars.

  I quickly got promoted to special events where I danced privately in a room with up to five men. The price was much higher and I was paid more to give each man individual attention. I loved the power over them, the way they looked at me, and the desire in their eyes. It was the type of rush that junkies search for. I was my own woman controlling my body and these men. I’d never had such power in my entire life. It was liberating.

  One night a handsome business man came to the club. He was young looking, maybe early thirties. He was sexy as hell with his dark hair slicked back and his blue eyes illuminating the room. The woodiness of his cologne and the strength he emanated was alluring. I knew when I entered that room, it was going to be hard to resist him. What made it even harder is that he requested Delia and me to dance together for him.

  The room was hot and smelled of sex. Delia was grinding up against me, her breasts exposed and her nipples peaked. They were screaming for my attention. I took one into my mouth and began to suck on it. The man moaned, rubbing the growing erection in his pants. Delia pulled my lips to hers and we continued to dance and touch each other. I was more alive than I’d ever been. Every touch was like electricity igniting my skin. I had to work hard to keep focus on the man who was now breathing heavily as he freed his cock from his pants. I almost lost my mind. I’d never seen a cock that big. I wanted it. I want him to fill me with it.

  I asked Delia if she would mind if we played with him, and she agreed. When I whispered threesome in his ear, it didn’t take long before he was completely nude. I got down on my knees and started sucking on his manhood while Delia kissed him. It was so erotic, like nothing I’d ever experienced. He lifted me from my knees and turned me around. Delia sat on the couch and spread her legs. I instantly put my mouth to Delia’s pussy and began to pleasure her.

  The man pushed inside of me from behind. The girth of his cock stretched me and I braced myself as he sunk himself entirely into me. I continued with Delia, trying to concentrate on my task at hand as the man thrusted inside of me. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. The man was just about to unravel inside me when the door flew open.

  “What the hell is going on in here?”

  My father was standing in the doorway next to my boss. I tried to cover up, but my dad had been given more than an eyeful. That was when I found out my father owned a high end strip club.

  My father threw his jacket over me and escorted me out. A night that started out so thrilling and hot turned out to be the embarrassment of my life. My father made sure I knew what a little slut I’d become as he drove me back to the dorms. That was pretty much the night that ended my freedom and forced the move in with Trent. My father felt I needed some supervision and Trent was the only one capable of doing so. Needless to say, I’m not sure if Trent would have asked me to marry him if our families hadn’t pushed us together.

  My phone rings, bringing me back from the past. I sigh, sad that I hadn’t spoken to Delia in years. Not until a few months ago when I reached out to her. At first it was phone calls. As weeks went by, we had secret rendezvous. We’ve been intimate ever since. That’s why I haven’t had sex with Trent. That’s why I’m so torn. I’m in love with Delia and always have been. The thought of destroying my children’s sense of family is hard for me to take. Plus, I do love Trent. I’m just not in love with him and I’m not sure I ever have been. My heart sinks when I see who is calling.

  “Hello, Daddy.”

  “Parker, where is your husband?”

  “I presume he’s still in New York making funeral arrangements for his father.”

  “Then why don’t you explain to me why he removed most of the money from his trust fund?”

  I drop my glass of wine, the red liquid making an abstract art pattern on the white carpet. My heart begins to thump loudly in my chest, my mind swirling like a tornado with rogue thoughts spinning around. Trent had promised me long ago he was never going to touch it. All that money was going to go to the boys when they were of age. Something must have happened.

  “I don’t know, Daddy. This is the first time I’ve heard of it. How did you know?”

  “Because I keep track of my kids’ interests. Fortunately your joint bank account has remained untouched. However, you may want to move that money into your personal account to protect yourself. I don’t know what he’s up to, but I have a feeling it’s no good.”

  The first thing that comes to mind is that t
his is my father’s fault. He had something to do with this. “What did you do? Is Trent okay? You promised he wouldn’t get hurt.”

  “I haven’t done anything to him. Have you talked to him since he left?”

  “No, but I didn’t expect to. This has been hard on him. I’m sure I’ll hear something soon.”

  “You can’t just stand by while he’s pulling money from accounts. You need to protect yourself. First thing in the morning you go down to the bank and withdraw all the funds from your joint account. I don’t want you left with nothing.”

  “Daddy, I’m a Matthews. I’ll hardly be left with nothing. I don’t need Trent's money. Besides, I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt me like that.”

  My dad laughs into the phone. “You’ve been making bad choices all of your adult life. Do I need to come down there and drive you to the bank? Get it done or else.” He hangs up the phone. Part of me hates that man. The other knows he’s just trying to protect me. I don’t need protection from Trent. He’d never hurt me. Me, on the other hand, I’ve about destroyed him. My stomach in knots, I think about what I’ve done to Trent over the past year. Horrible things. He has every right to divorce me. I’ve been spying on him, deceiving him, and cheating on him. Everything possible to destroy any trust he could have in me.

  I go into the office and check the bank balance. Trent’s smell lingers and I feel his presence in the room. This is his spot where he thinks and ponders his family and life. This is where he has time to just be himself without any pressures. His private space. And here I am snooping into his world.

  I log into the bank account. No activity today, but he did take out three hundred dollars at the airport ATM yesterday. Nothing unusual. I’d expect him to get some cash before traveling. I check our savings account. Trent transferred fifty thousand dollars in it about a week ago, but there haven’t been any withdrawals.

  Clearly Dad is overreacting. Trent probably just took the funds out of his trust fund because of something that had to do with his dad.