Chapter 33
JORDAN
Jordan
I need time to get money. Don’t do anything rash.
The problem is, we aren’t any closer to figuring out exactly what he’s got to back up his lame blackmail threat.
Adam says he’s successful at his job and even got a recent promotion, according to some sources he interviewed.
There’s no judgments or cases against him.
He owns a nice home and isn’t behind on any bills.
Basically, there’s no apparent financial reason Mitchell would need a quick payday.
As for what more information he might have on me, we’re at a loss there too.
Adam has dug into everything he legally can and can’t come up with anything.
Mitchell’s answer comes in while I’m working on some of the other claims on my laptop in Libby’s office. We’ve come to enjoy working quietly together. Just being near her settles me, even amidst the stress of this blackmail threat.
Mitchell
How long is it going to take?
“Lib.” I hop up from my spot on a couch in her office. “Text from Mitchell.” I lean against her desk and show her.
“See how long you can stall and give Adam time to find something.” She leans her elbows on her desk and looks up at me while I text.
Jordan
Give me a week, and I can get it all in cash.
Mitchell
I don’t have all the time in the world. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t need the money right away, bro.
I read the text to Libby.
She frowns. “Except we know that’s not true.”
“Is there any chance he’s got secret gambling debts or something we don’t know about?”
Libby shrugs. “Maybe, I guess. It doesn’t make sense based on what Adam has discovered.” She chews on her lip in thought, and I have to look away so I’m not tempted to tilt her chin up to me and meet her lips in a kiss.
Adam is going to need more time to figure this out, so I tap out a response.
Jordan
It takes time to get that much money.
Mitchell
Three days.
Jordan
I need a week.
Mitchell
You have three days or your wife finds out.
Jordan
That’s not enough time.
When Mitchell doesn’t respond after half an hour, I try again.
Jordan
At least give me five days.
Mitchell never answers my pleas.
“We’ll give Adam another day, and then we call in the big guns,” Libby says, pressing her lips into a displeased line.
I sigh in frustration. “I’m sorry about this, Libby.”
Libby bursts into a laugh, then stands and throws her arms around me. Hugging her back is automatic.
Keeping her arms on my shoulders, she leans back to look up at me.
“This is definitely not on you. This is on Mitchell Hurst. Like I said before, I’m not surprised people are coming after you for quick cash.
” She reaches up and takes my face in her hands.
All her movements seem automatic—natural gestures between two people falling in love.
I don’t know if she even realizes what she’s doing.
I won’t stop her. These are the things that remind me that she is falling, just like me.
That we have a future. “This will probably happen again. I’m sorry, Jord, for roping you into this marriage and everything that’s coming with it. ”
I rest my hands lightly on her hips, though I want to grip them and pull her closer to me. “I’m not sorry, even a little bit, about that,” I say in a low voice. “Worth it.”
“Only because you know I’ve got the cash,” she teases, but her voice is soft and her face comes closer to mine.
No kissing, no kissing, no kissing, I remind myself.
“Do you know how much a billion dollars is?” I quote her. She’s wanted to pay Mitchell all along. She laughs, and her breath feathers across my lips. “You’re killing me,” I whisper.
“I know,” she whispers back. “I’m sorry about that too.”
“Worth it,” I repeat.
She smiles, then tilts her head against my chest for a moment, taking in a long breath and then breaking away. “Okay. Back to work.”
The next night, we have date night with Ellie and Will.
Though Libby and I prefer to stay at home and hang out with each other, since we can be completely real, Ellie insists that going out is important for couples too.
Social media is already used to our usual lack of serious PDA.
We hold hands, and I put my arm around her, but nothing more.
There will always be comments about if our relationship is failing, but in general her fans come to our defense.
Libby is a total professional. She’s not going to make out with her husband for the paparazzi.
Libby almost squealed with glee when she saw that comment. It’s the exact way she wants her fans to see her, and with the first episode of Being Libby Bennet coming out in a couple weeks, she’s confident taking back the narrative on her image is a success so far.
We’re deep into a conversation of Will lamenting that Kat wants to join a dance class instead of the flag football team he wants to sign her up for, when Libby gets a text.
She flips her phone over to check who’s gotten through the Do Not Disturb setting she has on for dinner. A glance shows me Adam’s contact.
“What is it?” Ellie asks.
Libby opens her phone and reads the text. “Adam found something. It’s not big, just interesting.” She hands me the phone for me to read the text.
Adam
Managed to chat up a woman Mitchell’s been dating for a few weeks, getting an idea of his behavior.
Says he’s been texting a lot with a number not saved in his phone.
Said she got suspicious a few nights ago because she happened to see a text that said they’re not going to pay when he left his phone at the table at dinner while he went to the restroom. Pretty sure someone else is involved.
“Time to use our secret weapon,” Libby says when I hand the phone back. “I’m calling Caleb.”