by Jani Kay
“More coffee?” Beckham asked, as he waved to the waitress.
I shook my head. “Not for me. I’m taking this file and paying Jake a visit.” I pushed to my feet. I knew what I had to do. “I’ll call you when I’m done.”
Without a backward glance, I left the coffee shop with the file tucked tightly under my arm. Man, Jake was in for a surprise.
*****
Before I reached my car, my phone rang and I took the call. “Wilson?”
“It’s as you thought, boss. Jake’s fingerprints are all over the place pointing to him as the one responsible for the flooding of Miss Marx’s apartment.”
“Hold on. Jake’s been to Montana’s apartment on a previous occasion and the prints could be from back then. That means there has to be clear evidence he tampered with the water pipes or something else that indicates he did it. Fingerprints in her living area aren’t good enough.”
Wilson sounded proud and self-assured. “Are his prints on the walls around the water pipes enough, or are you referencing the calling card he left in the form of a cigarette butt in the basement?”
“I didn’t know he smoked . . . You’re sure it’s Jake’s? The prints and the cigarette?”
“One hundred percent. It’s been DNA tested. We paid a premium to have it done over the weekend, but since the results are positive, I guess it’s worth it.”
I stopped in my tracks. Something I’d glanced over in the file sprang to mind. With shaking hands, I opened the file to the report and searched for the part I was looking for.
Trainee plumber.
That was what had been written under occupation. I’d thought it a little odd when I’d first seen it, but then what the hell did I care what job Jacqui’d had before she became Jake the Snake? Now it made all the sense in the world.
“Thanks, Wilson.” I hung up and jumped into my car.
Time to confront Jake and tell him to back the fuck off.
I had enough information to bury his career forever. It wasn’t something I’d choose to do deliberately, but when someone fucked with the woman I loved, I was going to do whatever it took to keep her safe.
Normally I’d need an appointment to see Jake at the studio. He was due to start his afternoon section in under an hour, so I didn’t have time to waste. I’d have to use a few tricks to get to him, rattle his gilded cage and warn him to leave Montana alone.
I looked sharp, and confidence oozed from every pore in my body as I entered the lobby of ABN. The place must have been refurbished because it was even fancier than I remembered when I’d last been there for an interview a few months earlier.
The receptionist gave me a salacious grin and eye-fucked me as I approached her with my best mega-watt smile. Tracy obviously remembered me.
“Mr. Barrington,” she cooed, rising from her chair and cornering the desk between us to greet me. “Did you have an interview today that I wasn’t aware of?” The small frown that had appeared between her brows disappeared the moment I leaned forward and took hold of her arm.
“Hello, Tracy. You look lovely so early in the morning,” I said, smiling into her eyes as she lay her hand in mine. Tracy had been flirting with me for as long as I could remember, but today was the first time I’d turned on the charm to full throttle. Flattery was a winner every time. The blush that crept over her cheeks was cute and the way her eyelashes fluttered gave me hope that I hadn’t lost my touch with flirting, especially since I hadn’t used it much since meeting Montana.
She exhaled sharply as I brushed my fingers over her knuckles.
“Tracy, I need you to do me a huge favor. I urgently need to see Jake Monroe. I have something to show him that can’t wait.” I pressed the file under my arm closer to my body. “Can you get me to his dressing room before he goes on air?” I was still holding her hand, and she didn’t make any attempt to remove it.
“It must be important if you’re asking so nicely,” she said, taking a step closer to me so that her perfume snaked its way to my consciousness. Her breath hitched. “What’s in it for me, Levi? You know I’ve been dying to go on a date with you forever.”
“I’ll think of something special to thank you, I promise.”
“Yeah?” She leaned in and her tits were practically brushing up against me as she whispered into my ear, “I’m free tonight. All night long. I can’t wait to see what you have for me.”
Huh? “It’s a surprise,” I said, somewhat caught off guard. I’d been talking a huge bunch of flowers and chocolates and she’d been talking sex. But if I told her the truth, I may not get to Jake.
“Oooh, I love surprises.” She wrapped her fingers around mine and pulled me toward the hallway. “Don’t disappoint me, Levi.”
I closed my eyes and shot up a prayer. When would women like Tracy learn that men liked to be the hunters and that they should leave the chasing up to us? If a man wasn’t interested, no amount of flirting or innuendo was going to change his mind.
“Is this the way to Jake’s?” I wasn’t going to lie to her but neither was I telling her the truth for the moment. Let her believe what she wanted. I was on a mission and that was my sole focus.
We stopped several yards later in front of a large wooden door. A gold plate nailed to the wood with Jake’s name embossed on it made me smile. I’d made it this far.
“Tracy, you’re a star,” I said, hoping flattery would pay off once more.
She rapped her knuckles on the heavy door, then turned and pushed her tits up against me. She’d caught me unaware because in my eagerness I’d stepped too close to her, waiting for Jake to answer the door.
“Remember, you owe me.” The way she beamed I assumed she was getting off on it that she had this much power over me.
My mouth was dry, but I gave her a megawatt smile and pretended I didn’t need her to get past that door. I smacked her ass hard and moved her to the side, and before she could react, I’d turned the doorknob without waiting for someone to open it. I stepped inside to face my nemesis.
“Fuck,” she said under her breath, awe in her voice. I think she liked the rough way I handled her.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, relief flooding me when my eyes locked with Jake’s.
“Fuck,” Jake said out loud, his eyes wide with shock.
Pretty boy was obviously not expecting me. His makeup artist was blending some brownish cream into his forehead and she frowned at the intrusion. So that was how his face always looked so tanned. Tricks and lies. His pretty face was as fake as he was.
“Morning Jake,” I said with a satisfied grin.
“What do you want, Barrington?” Jake asked with an air of superiority.
“I have something important to discuss with you,” I said, taking a few steps closer to where he sat in front of a mirror that was lit up like a circus tent with big naked globes.
Jake grimaced. “I’m getting ready for my show in thirty minutes, so you better be quick.”
I patted the yellow file under my arm so he became aware of it. “Um . . . I have sensitive documents and pictures. You sure you want everyone here to see it?”
Tracy had followed me into the room and settled herself against the backrest of a sofa, her arms folded over her chest, pushing her tits up. The makeup artist was muttering in German so I couldn’t understand her, but she clearly wasn’t pleased.
Jake plucked the white bib from around his neck, crumbled it in his long fingers and threw it at the woman, dismissing her. “I’ve told you before that the yellowish tone makes me look sick.”
The German woman swore at Jake in her mother tongue and stormed out of the room with no further encouragement. There wasn’t any love lost between her and her client—that much was obvious.
Jake turned to Tracy, who made no show of moving and was clearly burning to know what was in the file. “Give us some privacy.” He glared at her, then as an afterthought, added in an irate voice, “Please.”
Tracy looked to me for guidance. Fo
r some reason she seemed to think she was entitled to listen just because she had brought me there.
I winked at her playfully. “You heard the man. I’ll catch up with you later, sweetheart,” I said as I escorted her to the door, swatting her ass with the file as she left. I closed the door behind her, locking it in case she turned back.
“What do you want to talk about that can’t wait till after the show?” Jake’s eyes were on the file, and he held out a hand as if I’d merely pass it over to him. Instead I put it back under my arm and pinched it against my jacket stubbornly. This discussion would go my way, not his.
“I’ve come to warn you to stay away from Montana. I know what you’ve been up to, Jake, and I’m not liking it one bit.” My voice was frosty and didn’t invite argument.
Jake crossed his arms over his chest and huffed like he was the big bad wolf who wanted to blow my little house down. We’d see about that. The more he challenged me, the more I loved getting back at him. This was almost fun.
I pulled an empty chair inches away from Jake, facing him head-on. I deliberately took my time to sit, slowly undid the buttons of my jacket and got comfortable on the plush seat, leaning back as I appraised Jake’s reaction to the news.
Stunned, Jake just sat there gaping at me.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’ve come to tell you that Montana and I are officially a couple and she wants nothing to do with you.”
Jake tilted his head and glared at me with daggers in his eyes. “You think you’re pretty goddamn special, don’t you?” he said, with unmistakable snark in his voice. “Just because Montana has been fucking you doesn’t mean she loves you.”
I flinched. He was right. Fucker.
His eyebrows raised as he smirked. “Not so damn cocky anymore, are you, Levi Barrington?” He pointed a well-manicured finger at me and poked it into my chest. “Just because you come from a wealthy family and run a billion-dollar empire doesn’t mean she’ll love you any more than she would another guy. Montana’s not like most women; you should’ve noticed by now.”
This was going to be tougher than I’d thought. Jake wasn’t going down without a fight.
“Since you know Montana so well, you’ll also know she doesn’t stand for bullshit, and the stuff you’ve been pulling is off-the-charts fucked up. You can’t manipulate people into liking you, Jake. It just doesn’t work like that.”
“As if you don’t manipulate people . . . governments, other countries. Don’t try to fool me, Mr. Smartass Barrington. I know about the China deal you’re working on. You may believe it’s for the greater good, but I know better. It is and always will be about money. Greed. Power. Winning at all costs. And if you can’t do it on your own, you get a few other people involved . . . even your goddamn rivals because you can’t stand to lose.”
My nostrils flared. What the fuck did Jake know? I pulled at the collar of my shirt, my neck so heated I thought I’d fry. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“No? I have my spies, just like any good reporter should. I know there’s shit going on behind closed doors that you don’t want leaked. You don’t hold all the cards, Levi.”
I laced my hands behind my head and leaned back. “Jake, we’re making a public announcement about our dealings with the Chinese within the next few days. Your so-called information is nothing but rumors. We have nothing to hide. Nothing at all.” I couldn’t keep the smirk and self-satisfaction from my tone even if I tried. “Unlike you.”
Was it my imagination or was Jake right? The yellowish undertone of the base the makeup artist used on his face did indeed make him look sick.
“I think you’d be interested to see the file I’ve brought to show you. I know all about your past, Jake. I know what makes you tick, and I sure as hell know your M.O.” I appraised Jake calmly, watching for his reaction.
“Whatever is in that file”—he glared at me as he paused for a few seconds—“I’ll sue you for slander.” His lips drew to a thin line as he pointed a finger at me, shaking it accusingly. Jake was good at acting. He should’ve gone to Hollywood rather than New York, then none of this shit would have happened.
“You can stop bluffing. Nothing you say can scare me. You can try to intimidate me, but that BS is a waste of time.”
Jake’s confidence was unravelling fast. Nothing was going to stop me from exposing him for the kind of person he was and making the fucker pay for what he’d done. His gaze shifted to the file I had tucked under my arm.
“Life is all about choices. And the consequences of those choices.” I let my words sink in while Jake grimaced. He really wasn’t at all attractive when he pulled a face like that. I patted the file. “Even if we believe we escaped the effects because there was no immediate reaction, karma has a way of dealing with crap and balancing the score. Karma has caught up with you, Jake. Or shall I call you Jaqueline instead?”
I’d never seen anyone’s face go from beetroot red to marble white in an instant.
“What the fuck is in that file?” Jake’s hands trembled as they lay limp in his lap.
“I see I finally have your full attention. I’m going to leave the file here so you can peruse it once I leave. But just so you know, this is simply a copy, and I have all the originals safely locked in a safe. Just in case you stupidly think destroying the file will make this go away.”
“What do you want from me?” he hissed.
I quirked an eyebrow at him and gave him a shit-eating grin. “I thought you’d never ask.” I set the file in front of him, daring him to open it in my presence. His knuckles turned white the way he was gripping the armrests of his chair.
“For starters I want you to resign and disappear to some place far far away. Unless you’d prefer to have a stint in jail?” I sneered. “Maybe I should let the cops deal with you first,” I said, scratching my chin, “let them lock you up for a few years. I heard the inmates love pretty boys like you . . .”
I leaned forward in my chair, my face close to his. The strong cologne he wore assaulted my nostrils and I pulled back a fraction.
“I’m only going to say this once more, Jake, so listen up. Stay the fuck away from Montana. For-fucking-ever. My lawyer is getting a restraining order on you regardless, but I don’t want you near her or contacting her in any way.”
“And what if I don’t?” He crossed his arms and huffed like a stubborn child.
“Then all hell breaks loose.” I gritted my teeth and narrowed my eyes at him, my fists balled by my sides. “The consequences of your past actions catch up with you and your fucking world as you know it ceases to exist.” I leaned in so our noses nearly touched. “Vandalism together with breaking and entering is a criminal offence. You’re just fucking lucky Montana didn’t come to any harm or else you wouldn’t be breathing right now.” My eyes grew cold and hard. “In other words, you’re fucked for the rest of your life because I will leak the photos and information in that file to the press. Sharks, who—just like you—are out for blood.” I leaned right back, as far away from him as I could, and crossed my arms. “I’ve heard you’ve made a few enemies over the years and boy, do they want to see you bleed.”
Jake exhaled sharply. “This is blackmail.” His hand ran through his hair, pushing it back off his face.
I smirked. “You think?” I rose to my feet and towered over him. “If you think I’m kidding, I dare you to test me. Trust me, I have friends in high places, including the media, and they’d tear you up like a pack of hungry wolves. Is that what you want, Jake? For the whole of the world to know what you’ve done?”
He swallowed hard, his eyes on the offending file. “You can’t come into my space unannounced and threaten me like this. I’ll—”
“What, Jake? What will you do?” My voice was low and menacing. I’d had enough of this prick’s attitude and rage swelled in my belly. Montana’s safety was not negotiable. “I swear to God, you touch one hair on Montana’s head or hurt her in any way, you will wish you wer
e never fucking born.”
I picked up the file and took five long steps toward the door and unlocked it. I pivoted on my heels and turned to Jake. “I’m tired of playing Mr. Nice Guy.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” Panic was evident in his voice as he bolted out of his chair and stormed toward me, winding me with his shoulder in my stomach while trying to grab the file from my hand. My jaw clenched as I watched the papers in the file go flying all over the floor.
“Christ! Where did you get these?” Jake’s eyes bugged out of his ugly contorted face as he scrambled to pick them up. I couldn’t care less; these copies were disposable anyway.
“That’s beside the point. The media frenzy these photos will cause is going to be almost as much fun as hearing your resignation live on television.”
“You wouldn’t do such a thing. That’ll mean the end of my career.”
“Exactly. As I said, karma’s a bitch, and you never know when she’s going to pay you a visit. Seems your day has come, and she’s not going to be half as nice to you as what I’ve been.”
I glanced at my watch. It was nearly time for Jake to go live. He was so shaken that I doubted he’d be able to perform at all. As I turned the doorknob and opened the door to leave, I nearly bumped into one of the staff members. Half of the papers and photographs were still strewn over the floor.
Jake lurched forward and slammed the door shut inches from where I stood. It rattled in the doorframe and then I heard a click.
“Jake,” the gofer called out, “you’re on in ten minutes.”
“Fuck off and leave me alone,” Jake yelled in a high-pitched voice.
The man looked to me. I gave him a grin and shrugged. “I think he’s having a bad hair day.”
Chapter 37 —Montana
My cheeks were flushed and my eyes wide as I listened to Red, Beckham and Levi tell me how they’d worked together to bring Jake down. I couldn’t believe they’d gone to all that trouble to get him to leave me alone.
Levi dived into a generous steak while I scratched around in my salad, mixed emotions tearing through me. We were at the same restaurant he’d used the Kegel balls to drive me wild and I had to fight hard for flashes of that night not to distract me.
