Mendacious

by Beth Ashworth

  My temperature starts to soar and I’m about ready to put my hands around that son of a bitch’s throat. I want to kill the little fucker.

  And her.

  I growl out loud and grab hold of my hair. Pulling it tightly in my hands, I allow the pain to try and take my mind away. I’m furious and also confused. My brain is in overload and I feel like I’m going to self-destruct any second.

  I should try and calm down, but I’m too angry to do anything. I’m thinking of a million questions and answers in my head, trying to fathom through the fog about why Dale is out for my blood.

  What would he have to do with his sister’s ex-husband?

  I mean, I haven’t seen nor spoke to the bloke in seven years. And it can’t be because of the deal with Libby’s company. We had been having problems with Oakley six months before the deal with Libby’s company had gone through.

  It doesn’t sit right with me. Unless... The penny drops and the realisation smacks me in the face. The fucker is out for revenge, just like me.

  That’s it.

  I mean, I’d do the same for Alice, right? Yes. It has to be the logical explanation. The bastard wants my head on a platter over the divorce. There’s no other reason. But surely he knows his sister was the one who left me? Or is there something else?

  I need answers and I fucking need them yesterday. Nobody is going to get away with this. I don’t take shit from anybody, and especially not a limp dick like Dale. The bloke is a weed. Five foot nothing and about nine stone. I’d knock him flat on his arse with my little finger. But of course, given the chance I’d make my blows count. And I’d start by ramming my fist down his fucking throat.

  I hear the buzzer for the main door. Flicking open the security camera on my laptop, I spot Benedict hovering outside.

  “That was quick,” I murmur.

  I’m assuming he was already on his way, because there is no chance he has driven across Birmingham, regardless of the late time, in less than ten minutes.

  I buzz him through and wait for the knock on my office door which appears a few minutes later.

  “Come in,” I say, watching when he pushes the door open slightly and takes in the random swivel chair to his left.

  “How are you doing?” He stuffs one hand in his pocket and leaves the other rubbing at the greying beard on his chin.

  “How do you think I’m doing?” I bark, walking back over to the window.

  “It was a shock for both of us, but we wanted to wait till our suspicions were concrete before telling you. I actually received word from our contact just as I was pulling in downstairs.”

  I turn toward him and glare. “How did this happen? How the fuck did we get caught out by him? It’s not on. I’m bloody livid we let something like this carry-on undetected.”

  “I understand, Alex. I’m angry too. But these things can’t be helped. People aren’t mind readers. If Ryan has been leading the company forward, who would suspect a sleeping partner who isn’t actually sleeping in terms of the business? Nobody would.” Benedict lowers his hand and drops it by his side. He shifts on the balls of his feet, his stance growing seemingly more uncomfortable by the second.

  “What do we do now?” I arch an eyebrow and wait for the next epic and mind-blowing bag of shit to come out of Benedict’s mouth.

  But he stares at me, blankly.

  Thankfully, the buzzer sounds off again, and one glance at the laptop tells me it’s Sean. I buzz him through and wait for him to join us.

  He pokes his head round the door a few seconds later and gauges my mood. “I’m better off going home, aren’t I?” he asks, noting the discarded swivel chair.

  I shake my head and beckon him inside. “We’ve got shit to sort out. Bring the chair back over with you,” I mutter.

  Sean picks up the chair and puts it behind me. He takes a seat on the other side of my desk as does Benedict, but I don’t. I’m pacing back and forth behind my desk, trying to work out what I’m going to do next.

  “Do you want me to put in a counter?” Benedict asks a couple of minutes later. “If we can get proof, then Libby’s case wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.”

  Sean murmurs his agreement. “I think we need to do something. If she thinks she can get away with this then she’s got another thing coming.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not just Libby,” I remind them. “We have Dale involved here, too. We can’t put all of the blame on Libby’s shoulders. I’m pissed as hell, but until I’ve spoken to her, I’m not jumping to conclusions.”

  Both men look at each other before turning back to me. “Are you sure?” they both ask in unison.

  Am I sure? Good question. I don’t know.

  I’ve had my meltdown and now I’m trying to think like a businessman. There is a lot at stake for me. My company and my livelihood being the main interests I want to protect here.

  “I want eyes on both of them at all times. From when they leave their house in the morning, till when they get home at night, I want to be watching. Get it sorted,” I demand, glancing between them both. “We need to tread carefully here. If we don’t have proof then we have no argument. Eyes will trail them both and eventually give us what we need. It would be dangerous to go in guns blazing after she has made a case against us. Who will they believe? Certainly not us.”

  I watch Sean.

  He screws up his face and I know he doesn’t agree with what I’m saying. But knowing him, his way would lead us down the wrong path.

  And it isn’t his decision to make.

  “Sean, mate, I know you don’t agree, but we need to do what’s best for the company. We are better off keeping quiet for now and calculating the best way to hit them,” I say, rounding the desk and patting him on the shoulder.

  He sighs heavily. “I just want to know what that fucker wants. It’s pretty shady.”

  “And we weren’t?” I scoff.

  “But you said you weren’t going to go through with it anyway,” Sean counters.

  “It doesn’t matter what I said. We still had the original intention. And besides, Libby doesn’t know I’ve had second thoughts on the plan anyway,” I reply dismissively.

  Benedict stands from his seat. “Let’s call it a night. Alex, I’ll get eyes on both of them from tomorrow.”

  I nod and Sean stands as well.

  ~

  Striding into my office the next morning, I take Kelly completely by surprise.

  “I wasn’t expecting you back till tomorrow.” She gets up from her desk and hurries to take the paperwork from my hands. “I’ll run out and get you a coffee now,” she says, throwing the paper down on her desk and grabbing her coat.

  “Thanks,” I reply, unbuttoning my suit jacket, heading into my office and flicking on the light.

  There is a brown envelope waiting for me.

  Sitting down, I set up my laptop and don’t waste any time in diving into the package. I pull out a series of A4 sized colour photographs which I spread out on the desk.

  I instantly recognise Dale. He hasn’t changed much over the years and still looks the same weedy prick he always was. He’s just wearing fancier suits now.

  The time stamp on the photo says two hours ago, which would be seven in the morning, so I have to give Benedict props for getting his shit together.

  A photo on the far corner of my desk catches my eye and I’m immediately drawn to it. It’s a picture of Libby coming out of an apartment building this morning, her arm linked with Daniel, but her face expressionless.

  “What do we have here, then?” I grab the photo and study it closely. I’m intrigued by her body language. She’s with that bastard, but she doesn’t look happy. She looks ... sad. I’m trying my hardest not to care, but it’s hard. “So you ran to him and played the victim while you were screwing me over?” I crumple the picture in my hands.

  I will never let this woman win.

  Ever.

  My laptop pings and I’m treated to an e-mail from an unknown sender.
The e-mail contains multiple photo attachments which I leisurely flick through. There are pictures of Dale heading for coffee; Dale arriving at the gym; Libby and Daniel arriving at the offices of SB. Nothing out of the ordinary, or anything that catches my eye.

  Knock. Knock.

  My eyes drift toward the door where Jack, one of my main managers, is loitering outside. I nod and gesture for him to come in.

  “Sorry to disrupt you, Alex, but I couldn’t see Kelly. Have you got a spare minute?” He stands uncertainly in the doorway like I’m some sort of ticking time bomb.

  “You can sit down.” I point to a chair that he sits in. “What can I do for you, Jack?” I lean back, crossing one leg over the other and bridging my fingers.

  “I’ve just been on the phone to Steve at Imagine Things and he mentioned a phone call from a Ryan James at Oakley Finance.”

  “Interesting.” My body stiffens internally. “So what did he have to say?” I’m trying to play it down, not wanting to alert Jack to the growing problems we are facing with these bastards.

  “He said they have a proposal for him, but he didn’t let on what.” Jack starts to fidget in his chair. “This is ridiculous though, Alex. The ink is barely dry on our contract and they are in there for our business. We work hard for our leads and it just seems like they are poaching business by throwing as much money at them as they can.”

  Shaking my head, I lean forward in my chair and drop my hands to my desk. “Jack, it will come round to bite them in the arse at some point. They won’t survive if they aren’t profitable.”

  He is quick to respond. “I have a friend that knows Ryan James. It turns out he is a trust fund baby, and used his parents’ money to start up the business. He has a lot of cash, Alex. I don’t see him going anywhere for a long time. They’ve been in the background for quite a few years, but now they want to make themselves real competition it appears.”

  This information is useful. I had been wondering where Dale had found the capital to start this business, and now I know they are relying on funds from his partner’s rich parents, it makes it all that much sweeter. Here I was thinking that Dale had actually put the blood, sweat and tears into doing it himself.

  But how did Dale stumble across Ryan?

  That was fate if I ever saw it.

  “I’ll make sure Benedict and Sean know. It isn’t anything for you to be concerned about at the moment. But if you do hear from any of our clients about phone calls, then let me know.” I turn back to my laptop and bring up a new e-mail that I’m sending to Sean and Benedict. My fingers are on fire as I tap out my response. I hear Jack murmuring in the background before the door closes and I’m left alone to think once again.

  It’s dangerous, though. My mind wanders into unchartered territory when I’ve got the chance to sit and ponder. I think about Libby yet again. The devil in disguise who thinks she has me wrapped around her little finger.

  Well, not anymore.

  I hit send on my seething e-mail and stare into space, my mind awash with all things revenge related. The spark of fire lights in my eyes once more, and I find I’m unable to stop the rampant thoughts running amok in my head.

  Revenge.

  Punishment.

  Retribution.

  Regret.

  “Alex, here is your coffee,” Kelly chirps, disrupting me mid-thought. I didn’t hear her knock so I’m taken back by her suddenly in front of me. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to make you jump. I knocked and you didn’t answer.”

  “Then you don’t come in,” I mutter, taking the coffee from her outstretched hand. “Did Alice get that cheque the other day?”

  Kelly mutters something under her breath and gives me a curt, “Yes.” She heads out of my office and shuts the door a little louder than usual.

  I ignore it.

  “Bloody women,” I say with a sigh.

  I’ve not be able to keep any of them happy lately; my mother, sister, assistant or ex-wife.

  I’m better off by myself.

  “Kelly, I’m leaving,” I say into the intercom a few minutes later. “I’ve got stuff I can do at home instead.” Releasing the button, I quickly pack my stuff and get the hell out of my office and away from the overflow of hormones around me.

  TWELVE

  I have barely slept in forty-eight hours. I am beyond tired and very irritable, but I can’t sleep. I’m focused on the pictures I’ve printed and spread out on the coffee table in my living room.

  Over the last few days, the eyes Benedict hired have been sending me non-stop photos. I’ve become obsessed; my life revolving around the hourly e-mail that has flipped me into an overnight detective. I haven’t left my apartment, I haven’t gone to the office, and I’ve barely made contact with anyone but the man I’ve called Eyes and a few business associates to keep deals moving.

  I’ve turned into a personal stalker.

  I’m in lockdown.

  Photos of Libby, Daniel, Dale and Ryan are now burned onto my brain, infecting my thoughts. I’ve analysed their every move over the last few days.

  What time they leave their house.

  When they eat and where they shop.

  The people they meet.

  My own world is consumed by the need I feel to know where they are at all times. Are they meeting each other? Are they plotting to attack again?

  You’ve lost it, Alex.

  I have. My subconscious is right ... Ace is right. He thinks I’m a pussy. The guy whose letting everything slip through his fingers piece by piece. Everything I’ve worked for is disintegrating in a short space of time.

  You are letting these bastards win. You’re weak. Useless.

  Slumping back against the sofa, I stare at the clock on the wall. I’ve been sat cross-legged in this same spot for almost an hour, and it’s time for this morning’s next batch of photos, but I’m that exhausted I can barely move toward my laptop.

  The buzzer for the front door sounds.

  Grabbing my phone, I switch on my security app and pull-up the camera for the door, feeling too lazy to get up. The feed filters through and a groan escapes my lips.

  “Alex, open this door!” Sean hammers with his fist while Benedict eyes the camera suspiciously as if he can see my lazy arse from where he is stood. “We know you are in there. Stop being a hermit.”

  I roll my eyes and push-up from where I’m sat on the floor between the sofa and coffee table.

  Pulling the dark grey hoody over my head, I buzz them both in and head into the kitchen to get a drink. “Make this quick,” I snap, pouring a glass of cold water and bringing it to my lips. I hadn’t realised how thirsty I was until the welcome liquid gushes down my throat.

  “You look like shit, mate,” Sean says, noting my hoody and basketball shorts. “Jeffery says you haven’t left this place in two days. It doesn’t look like you’re sleeping either.” He walks up to the island in the middle of my kitchen and sits on a bar stool. “What gives? We tell you to work from home for a couple of days, which you do, and then you come back briefly and bail on us for two days?”

  “Why are you here?” I shrug.

  “To sort you out,” he replies, gesturing at the scattered photos on the coffee table. “This shit isn’t healthy. It’s been two days and you haven’t had the proof you’ve been waiting for. How do you know Libby is actually involved here?”

  I bring the glass down hard on my granite countertop. “How could she not be?” My tone is brutal and I stare him down. “I’ve got a picture of her in the car with Dale!”

  “I’ve seen it. There is no way you can prove that’s Libby. You can just about make out the person is female!” Sean argues back. “And you’re talking as if it’s a crime for the girl to be out with her brother. They’re family, Alex.”

  “What Sean is trying to say,” Benedict interrupts, “is that you can’t jump to conclusions and hole away waiting for something definitive to happen.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Sean argues. He points h
is finger at me and looks me deadly in the eye. “Where is your fight? I haven’t seen this side of you since your divorce. You’ve turned into a wimpy ball of shit in the last week. You need to pull up your big girl knickers and get on with it. You want to know if she’s involved, go fucking ask her!”

  Benedict stiffens. “Sean—”

  “Watch your fucking tone,” I growl at him. “You tell me to go and speak to her like it’s the easiest thing to do. Well it’s not. How am I supposed to approach something like this?”

  Sean sighs, clearly exasperated. “I can’t believe we’re having this discussion right now.” He holds out his hand, palm up, and hits it with the underside of his other hand to make his point. “Alex, you need to get your head out your arse. Go and see her for fuck’s sake. And then you can start moving forward. Then we can all start moving forward. This shit is draining all of us.”

  “Okay, now this is getting silly—” Benedict starts.

  I lower my eyes and shake my head. “No, he’s right. If I need to know then I should go confront her. I’m just being a pussy about it all.”

  I need to do this.

  I have to do this.

  Confidence slithers into my bones.

  Pushing off my hood, I rub my hand over the thick and overgrown stubble on my chin, a smirk pulling at my lips.

  “I know that look.” Sean rounds the island and slaps me on the back. “My boy looks like he’s back in business. Welcome back, Alex.”

  Rolling my sleeve up to reveal my watch, I see it’s almost eleven in the morning. And it’s a Friday. If I’m going to make a move then it has to be today. The weekend will fuck this up otherwise.

  “I’m going,” I murmur.

  Sean arches an eyebrow. “You’re going?”

  I nod and head for my bedroom to get changed.

  After throwing on a light grey suit and pale blue shirt, I adjust my tie in the mirror till I’m satisfied.

  “Let’s do this,” I mutter, dusting off my sleeves and walking back to my living room.

  “Why are you taking those?” Benedict asks when I pick-up the photos from the coffee table and shove them into an envelope.