"If you do we'll talk and I'll get distracted, which I can't afford right now." She shrugged. "Maybe some other time?"
"Okay." He dug into his pocket and withdrew a slim white card, which he held out. "Here's my card. Give me a call sometime."
Carla took the card, swallowing back a gasp as their fingers touched and her whole hand tingled. She glanced at the card. Jason Liu, CEO.
CEO. Which meant she wasn't even anywhere near his league. But Carla kept those thoughts to herself and gave him a polite smile.
"I will do."
But she knew as she jogged away that she would never see the man again.
*****
This brief, and somewhat pleasant, interlude resulted in Carla getting behind in her schedule. Instead of having the bath she had planned on having she switched to a shower and dressed quickly, tugging a brush through her hair. No matter how much she washed it and kept it in good condition her hair kept getting tangled. Either that or her brush had taken a personal dislike towards her.
Dressing in a black t-shirt and navy jeggings, her hair tied back in a simple ponytail, Carla charged across town to her office. It was a miracle she didn't get caught by a police car breaking the speed limit. While that might have been a decent excuse for being late with any other employee, her boss didn't accept it. He wasn't a fan of lateness, even when the reason was legitimate.
Carla couldn't wait for the day when she had earned enough to go out on her own and start her own private agency business. At least she could keep her own hours and not have to run her life like a military schedule.
By skimming the traffic laws and cutting out on a few luxuries - breakfast being one of them - Carla arrived five minutes early, her stomach growling at her. There was a box of brownies in the bottom drawer her boss hadn't found yet so Carla was intending on sneaking a few when she made her first coffee of the day.
Grabbing her purse and barely remembering to lock up, Carla hurried across the parking lot into the lobby that was the front for the private investigation services she worked for. The girl behind the desk looked up as Carla came charging in and nearly got the sleeve of her coat caught on the door handle.
"Morning, Faye."
"Morning."
Faye didn't blink at Carla's whirlwind entrance. Despite having only worked at the business since September to fill her hours while studying at the University of Miami and pay for her fees, the nineteen-year-old seemed unflappable and calm in a crisis. Born with dwarfism, the pixie-cut brunette had a big attitude that came out in contrast to her stoic persona. Carla liked the girl on sight and the feeling was mutual.
"Nothing on my calendar come in?"
"You've got a client waiting in your office."
"Already?" Carla glanced at her watch and saw she did have the right time. She wasn't seeing things. "But I don't start for another five minutes. My office should be locked."
"The Boss had to unlock it. The woman didn't want to wait in the lobby."
Carla grunted. They did come across those who wanted things their way, including going into Carla's office when she wasn't there. It was an unwritten rule that no one was to go in there unless she allowed them.
She was going to have a word with that old man she called an employer. Next time the client could wait in the corridor if she didn't like the lobby.
"Let's hope she hasn't found the secret stash of brownies in my bottom drawer." She muttered, burrowing into her bag for her phone.
Faye gasped.
"You've got brownies and you didn't tell me?"
Carla winked.
"I'll send a few out once I've got rid of this client."
"I'll hold you to that."
Carla's office was near the back next to the big boss. Carla didn't know if that was deliberate or because there hadn't been any other space. She didn't like being that close to the Boss, who liked to leer at her breasts when he thought she wasn't looking.
Another reason for leaving when she could. She didn't let men outside of work treat her like she was there for their visual enjoyment so why should she let men in her workplace treat her that way?
Carla pushed into her office and kept walking to her desk, still searching for her phone.
"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 schoo
l 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.
Finally 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 w
hen 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."
Never Let Go (Brothers From Money Book 9) Page 16
