Forbidden Secrets

Chapter 7 – The Proposition

Gabe’s POV

She sat in the leather chair facing my desk, as I paced back a fourth against the City skyline. She was very much enjoying me sweat, and I’m not sure why, but the air of power that radiated from her was undeniably attractive.

I shook my head; this was not the time for that ‘Well?’

She pursed her lips ‘Honestly…. I couldn’t find that out! But it was lucrative enough for him to convince several of the men from gentlemen’s club in Richmond to question your integrity’

The gentleman’s club was exclusive, and only the richest of the rich frequented that place, I did good business there, and many of my clients and prospective clients were members.

‘And you know this how?’

As a woman, she would not have been privy to that conversation had it been held in the club. Old fashioned and chauvinistic as it was, the club still had a gentleman only section, even if it had opened its doors to woman, and many men still only patronised that area!

‘I have my sources and believe me when I say they are solid!’ she stated with conviction, softened only mildly by her sultry demeanour.

I didn’t doubt her, but she was keeping her cards close to her chest. I couldn’t blame her, she wanted something from me, and if I was her, I would have done the same thing.

‘What’s the deal?’

She looked at me with reservation ‘Down to business so soon, I thought you would at least deny it a little longer’ she glanced at me, no doubt observing my body language, which usually I was good at controlling, but with her, not so much.

‘I didn’t say I was going to accept. I need to weigh my options, before I decide if it’s worth it. I can’t do that if I don’t know what the deal is’ I had managed to gain back a little composure.

‘Ok. I will make you reputable, dependable, and get you out of the hot seat. All you have to do, is stop sleeping around and commit, at least until you are clear of the rumours’

‘Commit to what? What do you get from this?’

She stood and began walking towards me, a smile playing on the corner of her lips ‘Well that’s easy, you commit to being in a ‘’relationship’’ with me Gabe, and those men won’t fear for their wives. Your reputation is restored, and you look like an honest and committed reformed young man. Me? I get to attend all your business dinners and parties, make connections, and hopefully get taken seriously. None of which I am currently managing to do on my own!’ She sounded quite bitter at the last part.

‘You want me to get people to take you seriously, and your prepared to do this for s*x?’ I raised my eyebrows, eyes widening a little, in utter shock. Was she serious!

‘I didn’t say you had to sleep with me Gabe, I am not prostitute. But you can’t sleep with anyone else. And before you ask, yes. I am deadly serious. I have a contract written up, get your lawyer to check over it, make any amendments you see fit and come back to me with your decision. Your problem isn’t going to go away anytime soon, and this is an easy out for you. What have you got to lose?’

She went to her briefcase that was still on my desk, pulled out the documents and left them on my desk before leaning over me, she brushed her body against mine, whispering in my ear ‘you don’t have long’

She wants to play with the big boys, using seduction as a weapon, two can play that game. With her mouth dangerously close to mine, her eyes holding my gaze, she went to turn, but I grabbed her ass, pulled her towards me, lifting her slightly and I kissed her, long and hard.

I stepped back, and while she got her breath back, I asked, ‘Is that all for now Ms. Asher?’

She cleared her throat, ‘For now, Mr. Mathews’ she turned to pick up her brief case and thinking I couldn’t see, she touched her lips innocently. It was both sweet and erotic. I needed her to leave now, she had my heart racing, and that would only cloud my judgement.

‘Manny, Ms. Asher is ready’ I placed down the receiver and sat back in my chair ‘I will be in touch’

She nodded, and walked towards the lift, she didn’t look back as the lift opened and she stepped inside. As the doors closed, she turned to face them, and all I saw was a flash of deep red, from the fitted dress suit she had worn.

I picked up the contract and flicked through it. I was going to need help with this, but first, I needed to find out what Phillip Rainer had on me that could possibly link me to Felicity. I had been so careful. I had made one mistake, a pretty big one, but how did he get hands on the evidence? Only felicity and I had that, and I’m almost certain she didn’t give it to him.

The phone rang, making me jump a little, I had been lost in thought.

‘Mr. Mathews’

‘Amberly, how may I help you?’

‘Would you like me to send you up some lunch?’

I looked at my watch, it was 2pm already, and Amberly knew if she didn’t send up food, I was unlikely to eat. She was one of my favourite members of staff, always happy, thoughtful, and considerate.

‘Thank you Amberly, always going above and beyond! What would I do without you?’

‘Smooth talker. I’ll send it up with Manny, he’s loitering and I’m busy’ she laughed.

I had a feeling Manny and Amberly were dating, but it was against company policy. I decided it wasn’t doing anyone any harm and I didn’t want to lose either of them, so unless it became a problem, I ignored my suspicions.

‘Can’t have him distracting you now, can we’ I teased ‘Send him up, thanks again’

Manny turned up a few minutes later with a sandwich and placed it on my desk, he looked hilarious as a server, he was a large man, broad and well defined, in his security uniform he looked intimidating, but I knew he was a big softy at heart.

‘Service with a smile’ he said cheekily.

‘Thanks Manny’ he left me too it, seeing I was busy, and I went back to my computer.

I spent the next few hours looking into Phillip Rainer. Turns out he works for a bank. My bank to be exact. This meant only one thing, the ‘’evidence’’ he had, had to be statements and would have been gained illegally. I just wasn’t sure how much he was prepared to give up in the process of destroying me.

He would lose his job for sure, but newspaper and magazine deals would pay him a lot for his exclusive, even though I could sue them, they would already have unscrupulously damaged and most likely ruined my reputation and made millions in the process. They wouldn’t care.

He could end up in jail, could he possibly harbour such ill feelings on what he thought had happened that he would be willing to go to jail to destroy me? Surely not? It was almost 7 years ago! I needed to speak to him, maybe I could just explain, and we could resolve this without any further action.

I made some calls and managed to contact him.

‘Mr. Mathews’ his sneer was obnoxious.

‘Mr. Rainer’ I remained calm.

‘How can I help you?’

‘Will you meet with me?’

‘You want to meet me now?’ he spat.

‘You have given me little choice’

‘You always had choices Gabreil, you just chose destroying my family over morals’

‘Will you meet with me or not?’ I was not going to get into this over the phone.

‘No need. I want a quarter of a billion wired into my account in the next 24 hours or I am going to the press. I’ll send you the bank details’

‘How do I know you won’t go to them anyway?’

‘You don’t. But if I did, I would have no one to come to if I need more, would I’ his vulgarity knocked me sick.

‘I wouldn’t allow that to happen Phillip’ I was cold and calculating and spoke clearly so he understood exactly what was being said ‘IF, I agree to your preposterous demands, you will come here, and in front of our lawyers, sign a contract that states not only will you not release the information now or ever but you will be entitled to nothing more from me. Do I make myself clear?’

Through gritted teeth he replied ‘Perfectly’

‘Does your mother know what you are doing?’

He took a long slow inhale of breath before saying with as much bitterness as he could muster ‘She’s dead’

I shook my head, I liked felicity, she deserved a better life and a better son ‘She would turn in her grave if she knew what you were doing’ I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I hung up.

I didn’t have much time to waste. I needed to see Zeke. My lawyers where some of the best money could buy, but I didn’t trust them as much as Zeke with this kind of contractual deal. Although it wasn’t his expertise, or what he practiced law in, I knew he would make sure it was sound, and as my brother, I needed his advice.

Whatever choice I made, Phillip or Meera, and I would make one, it didn’t seem like much of one from where I was sitting. It was one hell of a commitment. What started out as such a promising day, was slowly turning into a s**t shower.

‘Archer’

‘Mr. Mathews’

‘Get the car ready, we are going on a road trip’

‘Yes Sir’

I packed up my desk, secured Meera’s contract in my briefcase, grabbed my laptop and made my way to reception. As I reached the reception desk, Amberly was on the phone. I waited until she was done.

She looked up and smiled ‘Mr. Mathew’s, leaving already?’

‘I have an unexpected meeting out of town. I won’t be back until tomorrow. Could you please transfer anything urgent to my mobile? And everyone else can call back. I’ll be in meeting until late tonight, so I may not return calls immediately’

‘No problem, Mr. Mathews, have a good evening’

‘Thanks, Amberly, see you tomorrow’

I swiftly left through the large double glass doors and was met by Archer, who was waiting by the car. The door opened, and as I went to step inside, a photographer took a snap. I may have been paranoid, they took pictures all the time, but with everything happening, it put me on edge.

I took my seat in the car and Archer got in and started the engine ‘Where too Mr. Mathews?’

‘Oxford’

‘Oxford?’ he questioned.

‘Yes, address is in the Sat Nav, under Zeke’

‘Your brother?’ he asked curiously.

‘Yes Archer’ I was a little more aggressive than intended. Highly stressed, and anxious to get moving was not a combination of emotions settling me.

‘Sorry Sir, yes Sir’ he pressed start on the navigation and started the hour long drive.

After 20 minutes of silence, I spoke ‘I’m sorry Archer. Stressful day’

‘No problem’ he looked in his review mirror, and then his side’s ‘uh, Gabe’

He hadn’t called me that since our meal at the Caribbean place with Jada ‘Yeah?’

‘Someone is following us’

‘Seriously?’

‘Yep. I am just letting you know so when we go off course in a minute, I need you to trust me’

‘Archer, I trust you. Go for it’

‘Put your laptop away and seat belt on’

I didn’t argue, but I was intrigued.

Archer took the next exit. The car followed maybe two behind. As we reached the slip road and the roundabout, the car was only one behind us, the glass tinted, and the driver disguised. The light went green, and Archer made his move.

He took the first left, down a country road, and as the car followed, Archer gained speed. We took a sharp right bend in the road, but he didn’t slow, the G force setting me back against the leather of the seat.

‘Holy f**k’

‘Sorry, hold on’

I had no intention of doing anything but!