Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
V eronica
I didn’t stay long after we had that awkward conversation. He’d insisted on his driver taking me back to my apartment in Camden, so in the end I’d agreed. I’d told him I was going to think about quitting the club, but deep down, I knew I wasn’t financially ready to commit to something like that. I couldn’t take any money from Rupert, and I knew he would offer it to me, but this wasn’t something I was comfortable doing. The money I was earning in the club was great, so this was a very difficult decision that I couldn’t simply make on a whim.
Still, Rupert was a fantastic guy—obviously jaded, but at the same time I felt he was right for me. This whole thing was too complicated, and I was terrified of this relationship. Doubts slipped in. What if we started dating and it didn’t work out? I had a lot to consider.
After I got back, I needed a bit more time to recover, so I stayed home until Wednesday. Laura was thinking about joining Spencer and Maja on their yearly holidays in Sicily. No doubt a huge step for her, and it was obvious why she was reluctant as we’d talked about it. Things between her and her handsome boss were still undecided. He’d been clear with her that he didn’t want a relationship, and she didn’t want to ruin the family dynamic. It seemed we both couldn’t move forward.
On Tuesday evening, I had a mysterious call from someone who claimed to be an assistant of this huge Russian beauty brand, Cashmere. Apparently, their CEO, Katharina, was looking for a new brand ambassador. The call came completely out of the blue, then Yuri—her assistant—asked me to apply for the position, so I’d spent most of that evening researching them.
Later that evening, I looked at their page and the ad for brand ambassador. I nearly fell off my chair because they were offering a six-figure deal. This was completely wild and obviously a dream come true, although the list of requirements was long and tedious. I didn’t think I stood a chance, but I submitted the application anyway that same evening.
On Thursday night, I waited for my client outside the club. The usual text message had come later than usual, and for a moment I thought that maybe someone had made a mistake, but Aurora, one of the admin girls, confirmed that this was a last-minute booking. Coincidently, I happened to be in the club, so several minutes later I jumped straight into a black Mercedes as the car pulled up outside. I had no idea who the client was. Aurora had mentioned his name was James and he was pretty. Apparently, he needed me for some kind of function tonight, and since I hadn’t worked in a while, I’d agreed instantly. The driver didn’t say anything else to me apart from the usual pleasantries.
We arrived in an underground car park, and when the car stopped, the driver turned around and told me to head straight to the sixth floor. This was all very cryptic, and I wasn’t sure if I felt totally comfortable with it, but I knew how well both Matthews and Rupert vetted their clients. By the time I knocked on the door of apartment number thirty-two, my heart beat frantically. My gut feeling told me that maybe I should leave, but finally the door opened and for a second I thought this was a joke.
“Hello, Veronica, it’s been a long time,” said a familiar voice attached to a very familiar face.
I instantly recognised why I’d felt uneasy earlier on. Right in front of me stood my ex-boyfriend, Vincent. We hadn’t seen each other for years, and I had no idea why he was even here.
“Vincent? What the hell is going on? What are you doing here?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest. I hated surprises like that.
“Why don’t you come in so we can catch up and I can explain everything?” Vincent suggested with his trademark arrogant smirk.
A cold shiver crawled over my spine.
“No, thank you. I’m here to meet with a Mr. James Crawford, and clearly, you’re not him,” I said, not moving an inch.
Vincent and I had split up a few years ago after I’d told him I didn’t love him and it was time for us to go our separate ways. He hadn't taken it well, though. He’d kept following me to the point that I had to go to the police. He eventually got the message, but I wasn’t in the best place mentally back then. Vincent was the man who’d nearly ruined me financially, and I didn’t want to think about all of that now. He was part of my jaded past.
“I’m Mr. Crawford. Anyway, that’s the name I currently go by. Seriously, Veronica, I just want to talk. You can text your boss now and let him know what is going on, but I think we are both aware you don’t really want anyone to know about your past relationship with me.”
I clenched my fists. He was right. I didn’t want anyone to know I used to fuck him. Vincent was a very smart guy who’d impressed me with his stamina and brightness. He always knew how to make money and was a great businessman until he wasn’t. I’d fallen for him quickly. I was younger back then and much more na?ve, so he’d quickly taken control of my life. He’d manipulated me into doing things I didn’t want to do until he’d eventually made me go completely broke.
This was bad, but I needed to know what the hell he wanted from me, so I entered the apartment, hoping to get this conversation over with.
“You have ten minutes, then I am leaving,” I snapped.
His odd obsession with me made my skin crawl. He claimed that he was in love with me because I had great potential. We’d been together for several months, and after things ended badly, I’d done my best to forget his twisted presence in my life.
I walked straight to the open-plan kitchen and the living room. The place was very neat, modern, and there weren’t many personal items lying around. I wondered if he lived here.
I stopped by the kitchen worktop and turned around to face him, thinking he hadn’t changed much. He appeared more polished now than a few years ago, had aged a little and had longer hair than I was used to, but he was dressed well. His suit was expensive, and his flashy Rolex indicated that he had money. He was a tall guy, lean with dark-blond hair and a beard. His hazel eyes stared right through me.
“Let’s get this over with. Tell me exactly what you want so I can be on my way,” I insisted.
He smiled then went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of red wine.
“What’s the rush? I paid for the evening so we could enjoy each other. I have Mont Blanc from 1999 because I know that nowadays you enjoy the finer things in life, isn’t that right?” he asked, but it was a rhetorical question. He must have done his research on me if he knew how to find me.
I watched him as he pulled put two wine glasses from the cupboard. Damn it. He was right—he must have paid a fortune for this evening. How did he even know I was working for Emperor?
“I’m fine and I appreciate that you paid to have a nice evening with me, but wouldn’t it have been easier if you’d just reached out to me? I don’t like the way you went over my head to make sure I would be here right now,” I said, refusing to drink wine with him as though we were two good buddies catching up after some time apart.
“This wouldn’t have been as fun, but Veronica, relax a little. I don’t bite and I’m not going to ask you to service me unless you ask me to. Remember, I paid a very large sum of money to have a great evening with you, so you must entertain me the way you see fit. I remember how feisty you were in the bedroom back when we were together. No wonder you’re Emperor’s biggest paid whore,” he pointed out.
I was ready to scratch his face with my nails.
There was no way I was going to fuck him, even for old time’s sake. He was vile, and there was no attraction between us.
“Fuck you. It’s none of your business what I do and how I make money these days. Remember, you nearly made me go bankrupt a few years ago,” I snapped, breathless.
He placed the glass of wine next to me and sipped from his slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. God, why did I ever go out with him in the first place?
“It was an investment that went wrong, Veronica. I never lied to you. I was upfront that there were going to be risks,” he said, lying through his teeth.
He hadn’t told me any of this. Rather, he’d begged me to get him the money and guaranteed that we’d both be rich. Fuck, he was so pathetic, and so was I because I’d believed in all his lies.
“Vincent, I’m tired of your games. Tell me why you had to lure me in here so I can leave?” I pressed.
All he had to do was tell me what he wanted from me. He wasn’t going to spoil my upcoming weekend, and I wasn’t as stupid as I’d been a few years ago. His old tricks weren’t going to work this time. Maybe Matthews could book me with another client since I wasn’t going to be busy tomorrow and Sunday.
“Your new boss, Rupert—he has something that I need, and I know you two are close, so maybe we can help each other,” he said, still sipping his damn wine.
A tonne of bricks rolled over in my stomach. This wasn’t happening. Damn it, this guy hadn’t just asked me about Rupert. I was trying to stay calm and figure out how he even knew about him. Maybe he’d had me followed, or maybe he’d seen the video since it went viral. I should have known that the skeletons from my closet would start crawling back out once my face was all over social media. This was bad, and I had to play it cool.
“Something? Like what, exactly? Rupert is my boss and I don’t ask him for any favours, so I don’t know if I can help you in any way,” I said, grabbing the glass because I felt like I needed to have a drink. The wine was good, but my heartbeat was going a hundred miles an hour.
Vincent put his wine down and leaned over the table, his eyes narrowed. His energy suddenly shifted, growing heavy and dark.
“I started investing in properties myself, and one of Mr Banks’ pieces of land is very close to mine. I don’t want to get into too much detail, but your new billionaire boyfriend has some incriminating evidence against me that could put me behind bars for a very long time, and since you’re so close to him, then you have to help me … let’s say for old time’s sake,” he explained.
A cold shiver ran through my core. I stared at him, reminding myself to keep on breathing.
“What kind of evidence, and how do you know Rupert has it?” I questioned him.
Vincent had always been dodgy, but why would he have evidence against him?
“Some security recordings on his site indicate that it’s under development. I suspect he hasn’t done anything with it yet, or maybe he hasn’t seen it, but it’s just a matter of time before he’ll do something that could really damage my business and reputation,” Vincent continued. “I also happen to know that you like this guy very much. Mr. Banks is extremely well connected, and since you’re trying to kickstart your career in social media, this would look bad if the press suddenly found out that Rupert Banks is dating a whore. And then there is also Spencer Banks, the youngest PM of this country, who uses the club regularly, too.”
I couldn’t fucking believe it. Vincent had to have had me followed. After all, he’d always boasted about his London connections, even though he was originally from Bristol and had his business there. Shit, he knew a lot, which meant he wasn’t bluffing about this whole thing.
“What are you asking me to do, Vincent?”
“I need you to find out for me where this security tape is and what he’s done with it. Fuck him or don’t fuck him … whatever, I don’t really care,” he said, then pulled out his phone and slid it across the countertop towards me.
On the screen was a picture of me and Rupert in Paris, and then there was one of Rupert talking to his mother at some party, then one when he was playing with his niece Maja. There were more pictures of Rupert getting out of his limo, Rupert with Spencer at another event, and him talking to me outside the club. The look on Vincent’s face as he saw me understand the implications of all this was one of pure evil. I took a sharp inhale as I shuddered.
“As I said, Veronica, we could help each other. Get me that tape, and everything will go back to the way it should. You’re smart so you will figure out how to do it so you won’t get caught. Also, no one,” he paused, leaning closer, “and I mean no one will get hurt. All these innocent people… that’s a pretty girl by the way…” He pointed to the picture of Maja. “Such a waste if something were to happen to her…” Then, he slid his finger to a picture featuring Rupert. “Or him.”
“Why are you doing this to me, Vincent? Get someone else to break into his office or something? We both know I’m not very technical. I wouldn’t have a clue where to even start,” I said, folding my arms over my chest. I wondered now if Vincent was capable of doing anything more than scare me. More importantly, how could I ever betray Rupert? He was such a good, genuine person. He didn't deserve this.
Vincent's eyes darkened and he leaned in closer, so I smiled, almost gagging at the scent of his disgusting cologne that I always hated so much.
"You will do what I say or who knows what might happen to your beloved Rupert?" he said, giving me a twisted smile. My stomach churned. He kept saying this, so he must mean business. “And don’t think I won’t go through with it, if you decide to cross me.” I stopped a sob from coming out of me. I would never show him weakness. Also, there was no way I could let him hurt the man I had so many feelings for already…
"You stay away from him. He has nothing to do with this," I challenged, but my voice vibrated with untold emotions.
"I assume you would be devastated if Rupert were brutally attacked on the street by some scum after his expensive watch … or maybe his home burglarised while he’s making dinner in the kitchen," Vincent carried on talking, and in that moment, fear like no other clutched at my very soul. I stared at the man who was ready to do anything to get what he wanted, even to hurt an innocent man. "I know all sorts of people who’d do anything for money, Veronica, so I want you to listen to me very carefully because I won't keep repeating myself. I want those recordings, and you will get them for me. I don't care how, but you will—otherwise your beloved billionaire will die."
I swallowed hard, trying not to shake. My mind was racing as I tried to figure out what to do.
Fuck, this was a complete mess, one I could not get anybody else involved in. I had to find a way to ruin Vincent before he completely destroyed everything I cared for.