Page 76 of Delicious Surrender
“Mother,” he began.
“Don’tMotherme. I was afraid of this. That club is going to destroy your reputation, and by association, it will damage mine.” Her shrill voice assaulted his ears.
“I’m taking steps to get it retracted. They won’t find out who I am. And if they do, you can publicly disown me. I’m tired of sneaking around. I am who I am. That will not change just because you’re a judge.”
“Well, I may not get the appointment with this scandalous story around our necks. Who is this B Larimore, anyway? How did they get those members’ names?”
“It’s a long story and not one I want to get into with you. I have taken steps to remove her as well. She won’t be writing another word.”
“She? A woman wrote that story?”
“Yes. Look, I must go. There are members calling for my head on a platter, and some want refunds. I’ll call you on the weekend.”
“Okay, dear. Good luck. I hope to Christ you can fix this.”
“Goodbye, Mother.”
John arrived forty minutes later. He and Garrick sat down and the three of them formulated a plan that Scotland Yard would buy.
By midday, they had appeased most of the members. Two demanded to exit their contractual membership and get their fees back. Gage quietly freed up one million pounds and arranged wire transfers. The club’s bank account was buried under a numbered company, which was registered under a second numbered corporation that Gage used for investments he didn’t want tracked to his London identity or his Edinburgh venture capital firm.
Once he calmed down, he dialed Brynne. Lucky for her, it went to voicemail.
“You have crossed the wrong person, Ms. Larimore. I don’t know what you thought you would accomplish with that story, but what you’ve got instead is the obliteration of your journalism career. If you even had a career. And as far as your bullshit submissive games are concerned, you are finished in the London scene too. It’s a pity you didn’t realize how far my connections run. This may sound cliché, but mark my words, you will never work in this town again.”
He stabbed the hang-up icon. Instead of feeling better, he felt more out of sorts. He wanted to punch something.How could he have been so stupid? How could he have trusted her—fucked her?
19
Misfortune & Meltdown
Brynne almost kissed the ground when they got back to the dock. She rarely suffered from seasickness, but the channel between Skye and the Isle of Eigg was very rough and the engine of the fishing boat cut out three times, requiring Geordie to go below and tinker with it while she turned green up on the deck. He insisted on a life vest and hooked her to the railing. His excessive precautions made her nervous, but today was the only day he could take her out. Brynne was thankful when the coroner released Josie’s body for cremation yesterday morning. Now she could return to London tomorrow.
He took the fishing trawler into the middle of the channel and assured her it was the best spot because the currents were strong, and they would whisk her adventurous aunt to all the far-off places she liked to visit. Geordie didn’t strike her as the fanciful type, but she was glad to have his company when she sprinkled Josie’s ashes into the dark teal waters of the Sea of theHebrides. The winds had their own plan. As she finished shaking the urn, some ashes flew up into her face and hair. She smiled to herself—perhaps that was her aunt’s last kiss before departing.
Three layers couldn’t keep the wind from chilling her to the bone. She was looking forward to a bath and a hot toddy when she got home. As she turned into the lane, her phone started buzzing in her handbag. A signal here meant her rich new neighbor probably bumped up the cellular antennae in the area to ensure he was never without service. The vibrating and pinging didn’t stop, so she pulled to the shoulder and fished it out. The screen showed multiple missed calls and eight text messages.
What on earth?
Jared had texted all eight messages.
Jared:Bree—call me as soon as you get this.
Jared:Where are you?
Jared:All hell has broken loose. Why did you do this?
Jared:What were you thinking?
Jared:They fired me.
Jared:WTF?!
Jared:Now I’m sick with worry
Jared:Are you okay?
There was a missed call from Gage, another from Garrick, and Nigel had called four times.