Claimed for the Master's Pleasure (Guilty Pleasures #5)(5)
“Think of it as an unpaid check.”
“Are you saying my father owed you money?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying, Ms. Constantine.”
It was a shock to discover her father was a gambler, and even worse that he’d left a debt behind. So Jake Benetti wanted it settled. Her father had left her a significant amount of money in his will, along with the family home they’d all shared with her mother, until she’d died five years ago. Lia was the only beneficiary, making her legally responsible for any outstanding debts. It might put the plans for growing her personal trainer business on hold for a little while longer, but she’d always been taught by her parents, and especially her father, to pay her way in the world. Lia glanced at her watch. “I need to be going, Mr. Benetti. Unlike you, I have to work for a living. If you can show me legal documentation proving how much my father owed you, then perhaps we can settle this small matter once and for all.”
Jake Benetti shuffled the papers on his desk, and cleared his throat. He lifted his gaze to hers. His ice-cold eyes drilled into her. “The amount owed is significant.”
“Mr. Benetti, quit the small talk. Are we talking hundreds, or even a few thousand dollars?”
His eyes fixed on hers, like cold chips of ice. “When your father died, he left an unpaid casino marker of almost 1.3 million dollars.” He flicked through the paperwork on his desk once more. “One million, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. To be precise.”
Like a fish lying on a riverbank, her mouth opened and closed several times as she gasped for air. Had she heard correctly? More to the point, had her father lost his mind? What on earth had possessed him to lose more than a million dollars in a place like this? Like a bolt from the blue the answer came to her. The therapy course her father had paid for when she couldn’t cope after the death of her fiancé, Joe. The bill for that would have run into thousands, possibly even tens of thousands. But the thought of almost 1.3 million bucks left her speechless. He’d left her a little over two hundred thousand dollars in his will. What the hell had happened to the rest?
She looked across the desk. Jake Benetti sat there as calm as anything. “You must take some of the responsibility. Why didn’t you stop him?”
“Everyone who enters a casino is an adult, Ms Constantine. People make choices, some good, some bad.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m sorry for your loss. On a personal level, your father was a great guy. On a professional level, I have to think of my profits. I have shareholders to satisfy. I simply can’t write off a debt that large. Believe me when I say it’s nothing personal, but Arabian Nights Casino will be claiming against your father’s estate.”
“But…that’s everything gone.” Her mouth felt dry as a bone, and her heart beat erratically. Just when things were beginning to ease financially for her, this parasite had thrown her a curveball. In order to honor her father’s debts, she’d have to sell the family home, and hand over all the cash her father had left her. Even then she’d still come up a few hundred thousand dollars short. There’d be nothing left. She’d be homeless.
“I’m sorry to be the bearer of such bad news.”
“No you’re not, you’re enjoying every minute of it,” she answered almost hysterically. Perspiration covered her brow, and she felt like she might vomit. “This is an everyday occurrence for you. Taking decent people and bringing them down to your level.”
“You’re entitled to your point of view, Ms. Constantine. May I get you a glass of water? You don’t look too well.”
“Glass of water? Glass of water? How about you write it all off. You must have made millions out of my father over the years.”
“That’s not how this business works, but out of respect for your father, I can reduce the debt by thirty percent, taking the total owing to less than a million bucks. In this business that sort of generosity is unheard of.”
“A million dollars. You say it as though it were nothing. The total value of my father’s estate might not even be worth that much, so your generosity is as genuine as you are.” Her lip trembled in indignation. Lia stood abruptly, and turned toward the door. The whole room swayed around her, darkening by the second. “I’m not willing to pay a two-bit hustler like you a single dime. I’ll see you in court,” she finally managed to blurt out.
Chapter Four
Jake watched Lia stagger and then drop to the floor unconscious. Quickly, he moved around his desk and scooped her submissive body into his arms. As he looked down into her beautiful face, he couldn’t help but be reminded of his dead wife. Lia was so much like her.
Jake closed his eyes, feeling the pain all over again. He’d loved Hannah deeply. How he wished the beautiful young woman lying in his arms was Hannah. He breathed in, trying to rein in his emotions. He’d shut them away for so long now, yet they were still as raw as ever. They cut like a knife directly into his heart. A heart he’d thought had died with her.
When he carefully laid Lia on the couch, her silken hair drifted over his wrist. Without thinking he took a handful in his fist. It was soft and feminine. The strands flowed freely through his fingers, reminding him even more. Jake gritted his teeth and moved purposefully away. Like an electric current, Lia Constantine’s presence unnerved him. For three years he’d not looked at another woman. Jake knew he was taking far too much interest in her. He didn’t want to be alone with Lia, yet he felt drawn to her. She reminded him so much of what he’d lost.