Free Wicked Game by Mercy Celeste Page B

be plenty of money to cover one month’s worth of bills. Really? I deposited that back in early May. Yes, I bought a car, and my trip to France was luxurious. The jewelry was returned. I don’t see how that’s any of your business. Miss Pendleton says she has yet to receive a single deposit. Of course I believe her.” He looked at her, then fire lit his golden eyes. She knew him well enough by now to know that she was grateful she wasn’t in this Cam guy’s shoes.
    “Of course Miss Pendleton doesn’t have access to that account; only you and I have access, and I know for a fact that I haven’t spent two million dollars since the first of May. Cam, do you really think I’m so stupid as to put all of my money into one account. I’m not broke, son, but I’m sure the money will turn up before the audit my lawyer is preparing as we speak. Of course, Cam. I understand. Expect a call within the hour. Sure thing, and you take care too.”
    He pressed a button and started speaking again. “Did you get that Mitch?, Yeah, today. No, Cameron and Associates only handles my fun money.” He paused, looking through an address index and rattling off four different accounting firms. “Cam only has access to a couple at a time. No, I don’t trust him. I don’t trust any of them, that’s why. It might be only a couple of million, but it’s my couple of million. I’m the one wrecking my body for that money, not some fat bald accountant. Do what you have to—some jail time if it comes to that. Yeah, man, and sorry to stick you with this so early in the morning. You too.”
    She waited this time for him to put the phone down. “Is there a problem?”
    “Not really, thanks to you. Oh and here.” He handed her a check for an obscene amount of money. “Sorry it’s so late.”
    “I, ah, okay. Jaime?” She had no idea what she wanted to say to him or hear from him.
    He turned quizzical eyes on her and waited for her to say something. When she didn’t, he rose from the chair and walked around. “I’m late. I’m going to be up in Davie all day today if you need me. And don’t forget that you start at the Boys and Girls Club this afternoon.” He looked as if he wanted to say more—and did she imagine that he reached for her arm, but pulled back as if she might burn him? “And Pepper, you look nice this morning.”
    Before she could reply, he was gone. She sat in his chair, which was still warm from his presence, and just as she reached for the phone, it rang. Sam had grown impatient and couldn’t wait to tell someone that the trip to New York needed to be extended because he got Jaime a Nike deal. She told him to call Jaime on his cell so he could tell him himself.
    She checked Jaime’s schedule, noticed that he had already initialed the daily calendar so he didn’t need her to text him today. Feeling at loose ends, she started to leave the office when the phone rang again.
    “Hey, did you hear? Sam got me a Nike deal. We’ve been after one for three years. Guess that finally means I’m somebody, huh? Pepper, are you there?”
    “Yeah, Jaime, that’s great. How long are you going to be in New York so I can change your ticket?”
    “A week, maybe a couple days longer, I don’t know right now, Sam said he’ll call tonight with a final schedule. And Pepper, I … ah … get yourself a ticket too. I’m going to be gone too long; I might need you.”
    “You want me to go to New York with you?” Why did her heart rate just spike?
    “Yeah, who else would I take? And Pepper … time to pull out those boutique clothes, and don’t forget a cocktail dress. There’s a reception at The Plaza. And…”
    “I don’t have anything nice enough to wear to The Plaza and … and … wouldn’t you rather take a date or one of your girlfriends? Why me?”
    “Why not you? If you think you don’t have anything nice enough, then go shopping. Get something blue. I like the way your eyes look in blue.” He hung up on her.