Mendacious (15 page)

“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.

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 his 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.

“Always best to be prepared.” I stuff the envelope into the inside pocket of my suit jacket. “Right, are we leaving?” I say to them both.

~

After parting ways with Sean and Benedict in the underground car park, I make my own way over to the offices of SB and park up.

Killing the ignition and unclipping my seat belt, I look round at the parked cars before casting my eyes up at the building with determination etched across my face.

You got this. You go and show them you are boss and nothing can touch you. Not her. Not her brother. Not anybody.

Opening the door and stepping out into the chilly air, I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I walk toward the main entrance and pull it out to check the screen for any caller-id.

It’s Kelly.

I should probably answer it, but I don’t. The call drops and adds to the three other missed calls I’ve received. It looks like Alice has been trying to get hold of me, too. But they’ll all have to wait until I have the time.

I’m on a mission.

Stepping into reception, I head for the lifts, hoping that I’m going to get through the office without any hassle. I don’t know if anything has been said to the employees yet, or if I’ve been blacklisted, but so far I’ve sailed through given the drama I caused last time I was here.

I get into the lift and hit the button for Libby’s floor. It’s empty and I manage to get all the way up without stopping off. The doors open on the familiar foyer where I find the same two girls sitting behind the reception desk. Their eyes narrow when they see me, and I see fury spitting from their glares.

“Mr. Lewis, Elizabeth isn’t here right now,” I hear snottily over my shoulder when I’ve walked past them. “If you would like to take a seat we can ask Mr. Thomas—”

“Forget it,” I snap, turning on my heel and walking back to the lift. I press the button on the wall, ignoring the seething spite I can feel burning into the back of my head.

“Well, I’m definitely shit around here,” I chuckle, when the lift arrives.

Stepping in the car again, I press for the ground floor and lean back against the glass wall with my arms folded. My phone is buzzing again in my pocket. No doubt it’s Alice, again, with some problem at work, or some bill that needs paying.

I ignore it and walk through the reception hall and out of the main doors. Heading for my car, I unlock the door and slide behind the wheel, furious that I’ve achieved nothing toward my goal.

Of course it’s bloody typical Libby isn’t here. No doubt she’s with
him,
cooking up some new little scheme; something else they can sting me with. Not that I’m bitter or anything.

Pulling the car out of the parking space, I cruise slowly past the office building with a sour taste in my mouth. It was such a waste of fucking time.

I’m still muttering in my head when I turn the corner at the end of the street and stop in front of a zebra crossing. I just happen to cast my eyes over the pedestrians walking on the opposite side of the road.

And that’s when I see her.

Walking up the path and heading right for me, a cup of coffee in one hand and her handbag on the other, is Libby.

My mouth feels instantly dry.

She’s as beautiful as ever, but she looks defeated.

A fallen angel.

The midmorning sun reflects off of her flawless skin, casting a warm glow across her cheeks and bare legs that aren’t covered by the beige coloured trench coat she’s wearing.

Without thought, I stop the car, killing the ignition and unbuckling my seat belt. The driver’s door flies open and I step into the road, not caring that I’ve abandoned my car.

“Libby,” I call, standing on the pavement in front of her. She carries on walking toward me, her sunglasses shielding her eyes from the bright sun. “Libby!” I call her louder this time.

She snaps her head in my direction and stops dead in her tracks a few metres away. She looks right at me before she says, “What are you doing here?” Her tone is cold and accusing.

“We need to talk.” I step forward and attempt to close the distance between us, but she backs up with her coffee cup outstretched before her.

“Don’t come near me,” she barks. “I have nothing to say to you. You are an arsehole, Alex.”

Sauntering forward with my hands now pushed in the front pockets of my trousers, I keep closing in. “Do you really think that shitty of me?” I arch an eyebrow. “I mean, especially since you’ve been busy plotting with your brother and all.”

I’m surprised I’ve managed to keep my cool. I half expected to rip her head off by now, but so far so good. Libby on the other hand, I wonder if she’s about to punch me.

She pushes her handbag on her shoulder, transfers her coffee cup to the other hand, and then pushes her sunglasses off her face to her forehead. There is a defiant gleam in her eyes. It’s almost like she’s daring me to push further.

“I found out about your brother, Libby. It’s time you come clean about what’s
really
going on here,” I warn.

“I don’t have a clue what you’re goin’ on about, Alex.” She forces a sigh and tries to act uninterested, but I catch her body trembling under my gaze.

I know she’s probably well aware of what’s going on, but for some reason she’s trying to play dumb. “Tell me,” I demand.

“What do you want from me?” She tries to step past, but I block her path completely. It does nothing but rile her further. “Get away from me, Alex.” Her voice rises and I sense the eyes of various passersby now focusing on our exchange.

“You heard me. I want to know what you and your brother have been up to for the last six months. I’m not leaving till you tell me.”

Libby bites her lip. “I don’t know.”

“Bullshit.”

“I’m not involved.”

I cock my head to the side and call her bluff. “Tell me the truth, Libby. Why is your brother trying to ruin me? Why do you think it’s okay to scheme against me? It kinda makes you a hypocrite, don’t you think?”

“I just told you I don’t have a part in this, and you’re still trying to argue that I’m lying!” She pulls her sunglasses over her eyes. “I don’t have to answer to you, at all. You can speak to my solicitor if you’ve got anything else to say.” She tries to move around me again, but I move with her. There’s no chance she’s getting away that easy.

“Did you know about it?”

She pauses and huffs out a breath. “So what if I did?”

“You tried to hide it, why?” My angle is to pressure her with as many questions as I can until she breaks. There is a confession hiding here, I just know it.

“I’m not discussing this anymore. I’m leaving,” she snaps.

“Like hell you are,” I mutter, grabbing hold of her arm to stop her dodging past. “We need to get to the bottom of this.”

There are more people watching me; people watching us. I spot an old lady looking at the grip I have on Libby’s arm, a scathing scowl on her face, and I realise our private conversation is no longer private.

I need to get her alone. There are too many eyes in public and people could get the wrong idea. It certainly looks like I’m some abusive prick who is manhandling his woman.