Forbidden Secrets

Chapter 6 – The Meeting

Gabe’s POV

I awoke in a better mood and found myself humming some random tune as I got ready for work. Perhaps I needed last night more than I had realised. I met Archer at the car as usual.

‘You’re in a good mood this morning Mr. Mathews’ he smiled as he opened the car door.

‘No more than usual’ I retorted, giving up on him ever continuing to call me Gabe. I guess he prefers the professionalism, and I wasn’t about to argue the toss with him right now.

I could see him grinning through the side mirror as we drove to the office and wondered if he had somehow seen Viv come or go. It was no secret I had woman come and go from my apartment, the papers thrived on it, but Viv was different.

She was the only one who had ever been on multiple occasions. She was, however, an amazing escape artist, and never once had been caught on camera with me, after the first two times that is, when there was uproar in the press that she had managed to get a second night with me.

Viv was not happy about being in the papers as the possible girlfriend. I found it hilarious, she however thought it was crass. After that, she was the queen of stealth, mystery, and disguises. I chose to ignore Archer, and when we arrived at the office block, I went straight to my office to prepare for my meeting with Ms. Asher.

There was little preparation I could do; I had no idea what this meeting was about. For all intents and purposes, she was the typically wealthy heiress of her late husband’s estate. She was 42 but didn’t look a day over 30 thanks to no doubt some very extensive and expensive procedures.

Her husband, a sugar daddy, was in his late 70’s when he passed away just a few years ago, leaving her everything. When they got together, she was in her mis 20’s and he was in his early 60’s and everyone thought she was a gold digger, but looking back through their extensive relationship, unless she was a bloody good actress, I believe she really did love him.

As I sat and procrastinated about what this woman may want, time slipped away, and my phone rang. It was Amberly.

‘Mr. Mathews, Ms. Asher is here for your meeting’

‘Thank you Amberly, please send her up’

Manny, one of my security team, escorted Ms. Asher to the penthouse floor, I was in no way concerned for my safety with her, Brennan was not needed.

‘Thank you, Manny, I will call you when Ms. Asher is ready to leave’

He nodded and left us too it. As she sashayed towards my office, taking in her surroundings, I couldn’t help but take her all in. She was far more beautiful in the flesh than in pictures. Whoever her surgeon was, had done a great job.

I personally didn’t like the surgically enhanced look, but on Ms. Asher, it didn’t look fake. She was petite, but had ample full breasts, her waist sinched in accentuating them. Her deep brown eyes held an air of mystery, and her light brown skin had an almost golden glow.

I held out my hand ‘Ms. Asher’

‘It’s Meera, Mr. Mathews’ she bowed her head and dropped her eyes as she shook my hand.

When she lifted her eyes to look at me once again, I couldn’t help but get pulled into deep pools of liquid brown staring at me ‘Gabe, you can call me Gabe’

Never once had I offered my first name to a prospective customer prior to doing a deal, but something about this woman was enticing. It was like she had the art of seduction down to a fine art. But other than her husband, she had never been seen with another man, so I made the crass assumption she used her feminine charm to get what she wanted from business deals.

Deals she was very good at making, since her husband passed, and she took over the business. Everyone thought she would fail, however, Meera Asher was a successful businesswoman in her own right. I liked that she proved everyone wrong.

‘Please take a seat’ I gestured to one of the two in front of my desk and she went to take a seat, which was when I noticed for the first time her only flaw thus far. She had no ass!

‘Thank you’

‘Would you like a drink? Tea, coffee, water?’ I offered.

‘No, thank you’

‘In that case, how can I be of service to you’

‘Straight to business I see’ a wry smile played across her slim but perfectly symmetrical lips.

‘Indeed. Why not?’

‘I have a proposition for you’

‘You have a proposition for me?’

‘Yes. Don’t sound so surprised Gabe, I am quite an astute woman’

‘I am well aware of your attributes Meera, I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I didn’t know all about you prior to our meeting’

There was no point in beating about the bush anymore.

‘Yes. I thought as much. Then you know I was with my late husband for 15 years, married for 13 of them before he passed’

‘Yes, I am sorry for your loss’

‘So was I’ a sad smile curled on her delicate mouth, and she shook what ever thought it was she had from her mind ‘and you will know I have not had a relationship during or since we met’

‘It is what I believe to be true, yes’

‘You don’t sound convinced?’

‘Don’t mind me, I didn’t look that far into your martial affairs, but in my line of work, perhaps you’ll forgive me for being a little sceptical’

Her smile turned playful, as she surprised me by saying ‘I want you to look into me Gabe’

‘What? Why?’

‘Because you need me and I need you, but first, you need to know I can hold up my end of the bargain’

I furrowed my brows genuinely having no clue what this woman was talking about, and it was clear from my expression I was unable to hide, I was a little lost in this conversation, ‘I’m confused’

‘Evidently’ she was now smirking quite openly at my loss of control, which quite frankly never happened and as I tried to regain my composure, she stood and sauntered over to the large window behind my desk ‘Pretty view’ she mused, as she looked over the city, but that was not what she was referring too. I was all too aware that she knew I was looking at her, she was playing me.

She looked over her shoulder to see me staring and moved around and sat on the edge of my desk, facing me as I remained seated in my chair, powerless, it would seem to speak or move.

‘Gabe, you are a desirable young man. You are rich, powerful, and enigmatic, albeit a little lost for words right about now. You are known for your womanising ways, your ruthless business tactics, and your ability to excel in everything you do. As a bonus, you are incredibly good looking, and you are praised for all those things. Yet if you were a woman, you would be seen as an unscrupulous, power-hungry w***e’

At no point did she seem bashful or unassuming as she spoke about me quite openly in this way.

‘I on the other hand, am seen as only wealthy through inheritance, lacking in business prowess, weak and a frigid spinster. Yet, if I were male, I would be seen as rich, cunning, independent, shrewd, and savvy. Do you see the comparison?’

It was difficult not too, and as chauvinistic as it sounded, she was right. Even in the 21st century, in this industry, most woman had to work three times as hard for a job a man did and get half the recognition and pay.

‘Yes. What is your point?’ I didn’t mean to sound condescending or dismissive, but apparently it came across that way.

‘My Point!’ she lowered her tone, clenching her jaw just slightly ‘Is that rumour has it, your womanising is causing significant concern in certain circles. This is your only flaw but one that will cause you loss of business. I can help you with this significantly, but I need you to help me. It would be a special contract, but discretion is key’

‘Meera, I apologise, I didn’t mean to sound rude, if I am honest, I am just not sure where this conversation is going. Rumours about my womanising is nothing new, it has never affected my business before, so I am not entirely sure how it would now. Equally, a mutually beneficial agreement is not something I have ever considered before, I’m not sure we can help each other’

‘That is where you are wrong’ she stood and straightened the fabric on her skirt before picking up her briefcase and placing it on my desk. Slowly and meticulously, she clicked it open, with me watching her every move. She took out some photos and placed them on my desk.

‘What are these?’

‘Take a look’

I picked up the pictures and thumbed through them ‘I know this guy’ It was Mr. Smith, aka Phillip Rainer ‘Why do you have his picture?’

‘Research. If you know him, then you know his mother?’

‘No. I told him, and I am telling you, I have no idea who his mother is’

‘No doubt that’s what pissed him off enough to shout his mouth off then’

‘Who the hell is his mother?’

‘Felicity Rainer….’ I simply stared unknowingly at her ‘Was Felicity Douglas. Ring any bells?’

My eyes widened as realisation dawned on me ‘Douglas. As in Richard Douglas, Douglas Estates?’

‘The one and only’

‘Oh s**t’

‘Oh s**t is right!’

‘He has got it all wrong’

‘I am sure he has!’ she smirked triumphantly.

‘Seriously, Meera, he’s wrong!’

‘He has some pretty damming evidence, which I am sure will be on the front of tomorrows newspapers’

‘Evidence? What evidence? How did he get evidence? It was… this happened years ago’ my mind was reeling.

‘So, it did happen’

‘No, I’m not saying that’

‘Then what are you saying?’

‘Meera, what evidence?’ I tried to keep my voice on an even keel, but we both new how potentially destructive this was, and while she seemed quietly calm and confident, I could feel the temperature rise in the room and my skin start prickle.

Meera was right, if he had somehow convinced my contacts and prospective clients that I had had an affair with one of my previous clients’ wives, I was totally screwed. Worse still, if he had evidence that was even remotely convincing enough, it could be very damaging to the business, and me.

Before she went any further with her proposition, whatever that may be, I needed to know what on earth I was letting myself in for, and how much damage control I would need to do before, during and after tomorrows revelations in the news and magazines.