The Pretend Girlfriend (A Billionaire Love Story #1)(105)

Although that might have been because Samuel resembled a young Jack Nicholson with more hair. Beatrice could be rather shallow about who she found attractive.

As soon as he heard B's voice through the intercom, he buzzed them up. Even Aiden was impressed by that condo. He greeted them at the door holding a dry martini with a single olive bobbing around within.


Both Aiden and Gwen were less impressed about Samuel's knowledge of their relationship. Gwen felt quite glad that this guy was B's friend, and not someone who would come knocking a few months down the line with some blackmail in mind.

"I didn't know that these were your friends, Beeb," he said, "How fascinating!"

Beatrice hooked her arm through his when he offered it, and Gwen and Aiden followed the two of them into the condo.

"There's all sorts you don't know about me," Beatrice said, "But I think we need to save that for another time."

Samuel led them into an expansive living room. They sat at a sectional couch set into a sunken part of the floor.

"A business call, is it? Even more fascinating!" Samuel said, lazing back on the couch like some decadent Roman Emperor. "So what is it you need?"

Beatrice explained the situation without going into too much detail, leaving it at they wanted something to use against Henry so that the happy young couple could get back to enjoying their relationship. She didn't mention anything about the girlfriend contract.

Samuel sipped at his martini, then licked his lips while he watched them. Gwen could practically see the gears turning over in his head, the balances tipping one way or the other.

This guy definitely gave her the creeps. The plush, expensive sofa they sat on felt somehow dirty. Skeezy. And she wished they'd come up with some other way to go about this whole thing.

"Henry Manning, eh? Now there's a clever silver fox. He thinks he's so smart, covering himself the way he does."

"So you're saying you have nothing?" Aiden broke in.

That earned him another measuring look while Samuel sipped at his drink. "No, that is not what I said at all. I said that your father thinks he has his tracks covered very well. And I'm going to let you in on a little secret here..." Samuel leaned closer, "The ones who think they have all their dirty laundry locked up tight? They're the easiest ones to find something on."

"So you do have something," Gwen said, leaning back. She'd leaned in when Samuel had, eager to hear what he had to say.

From the large square mahogany coffee table, Samuel pulled an iPad. He unlocked it and they watched him for a few moments while he found whatever it was he sought. "I do."

Immediately, Aiden reached into his jacket and produced a checkbook. The same one from which he'd given Gwen that first check for her signing the contract. He also pulled out a pen, poising it in his fingers to begin scrawling on the paper. "How much?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Samuel said, "Let's not talk price yet. First, I have to make sure you really want to know this. Because once you do, you can't un-know it."

"So?" Aiden said.

Samuel sighed like he'd given this same bit of advice time and again. The sigh also said that no one ever heeded it.

That just made Gwen want to know this big secret all the more. Beatrice leaned in so far that her butt almost slipped off the couch, and she had to hastily scoot backwards. She never could resist a good morsel of gossip. Of course, the way Samuel couched it, this sounded more like a five-course meal of gossip.

Gwen figured it might be some sale tactic, designed to draw the mark into a guaranteed deal. But some feeling within told her it was a genuine warning.

"I do have something," Samuel began, "And it will definitely get daddy dearest off your backs. But this sort of thing... If it comes out, well, daddy's going into the slammer. And that family business of yours? Into the penny stocks overnight, if not outright bankruptcy."

What could possibly be so juicy? Gwen wondered. Was it corporate espionage? Bribery of public officials? Cover-ups? Maybe... Maybe Henry has had rivals assassinated or something? Anticipation and suspense tingled up and down her spine.

Samuel and Aiden entered some sort of staring contest. The air between them crackled, and the hairs on the back of Gwen's neck stood, making the skin tickle and itch simultaneously. Just do it! She sent the thought towards Aiden, urging him to action. It was he, after all, who had the checkbook. And that made the final decision his.

The thing was, Aiden actually gave it some serious thought. Someone more rash and impulsive might have just jumped in and demanded to know right away. Someone more cowardly might have heeded the warning, tucked tail, and retreated back to the hotel.

"I want the information," he said.

His voice sounded so loud, but Gwen realized that the room had grown awfully quiet during that little contest of wills. And she also realized she'd been holding her breath, and let it out slowly.

"Sweet..." Beatrice breathed. She lived for this sort of thing.

"Name your price," Aiden said.

Samuel pulled a coaster from a dispenser hidden under the coffee table, then set his martini down on that coaster. He opened his mouth, but then his eyes darted to the two women. "Perhaps we should discuss such matters elsewhere? Please, follow me."

Aiden accompanied him to another room, Gwen and Beatrice watching over the couch as the two men disappeared around a corner.