“When were you going to tell me she’s gone?”
How the hell does he know already? “I... look—”
“No, you listen. I paid you handsomely to keep track of her. To take care of all that she needed. To make sure that she stayed in one place. That was too much to ask?”
“Well, how was I to know she was flighty? She was following all my orders.” Stephen dropped into his leather chair. He’d been dreading this conversation. “Cripes she was always at home or busy with—”
“You’re really not very bright, are you?”
“I’ll have you know—”
“Oh, believe me I already know. I know that you’re a Harvard grad. Your father believes you can do no wrong, although he is making you pay your own way, which you’re finding rather difficult. Oh and you have a mistress on 142—”
“How the hell do you know that?” Stephen’s left knee bounced rapidly as he listened to the man he’d been eager to meet four years before. All he’d had to do was meet this young, attractive woman and convince her to marry him. Not only was she from money but he’d be paid handsomely to keep track of her and keep her in line. It had sounded so simple and although Stephen had never been told, nor asked what the man’s relationship was to her, he’d known it had to have been a close one. It hadn’t bothered him that he didn’t know that or even the man’s name.
At the time, Stephen had been trying to prove to his father he didn’t need his money or his help to bail him out every single time he made a mistake. Stephen had decided he could look after his own problems. Besides, it hadn’t hurt bringing home a beautiful daughter-in-law. The grandson had been his security blanket. Stephen had never seen his dad so proud of him. The family money was now his to spend. If his father ever found out Tarin and Chance were gone, he was pretty sure the finances would disappear as well. And now his only source of income was going to vanish, faster than he was prepared for, leaving him with the pittance he got paid on his regular job. It didn’t even come close to meeting his needs.
“Do you really think I’d have hired you without knowing everything about you? I thought I made it clear that you weren’t to see other women.”
“I didn’t. Well, not for the longest time. But god, she was like bedding a cold fish. You can’t expect a man in his prime to have to put up with that.”
“So getting a piece of tail was more important to you than receiving the healthy cheque I sent you each month.”
“No... well... look, I’ll find her. I promise. We have a good arrangement. I’ll get her back and we can continue as it was. My life is no picnic without her, you know. I’ve missed out on some things because she’s gone. I’ve had to put up with embarrassing moments. I’ve had to make up stories.”
“Ah, but in the week or two she’s been missing, you’ve done nothing to find her, have you? I don’t do well with being taken for a ride.”
“Not true. I hired a private investigator to search for her.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. He hasn’t found anything yet. I was hoping to get her back before I had to tell you about it. Don’t worry; I’ll fix this.”
“You don’t and you’ll be swimming in the fish tank at the zoo.”
Stephen sank against the wall as he listened to the buzz indicating his caller had hung up. When he finally felt as though he had some control over his muscles, he stood and walked to the wastebasket beside his desk. He rooted around in it until he found the card of the guy he’d actually met with but had to refuse because of his exorbitant fees. It looked like he didn’t have a choice now.
That bitch has humiliated me for the last time. Dammit. Where the hell could she have gone?