Silence Reveals Hidden Answers’ by Michael Anderson novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Harvey Prescott.

“You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”

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I don’t bother taking my hands out of my pockets as I walk away from Jennifer’s villa. Baxter is still standing there, staring at her door like some loyal knight guarding a tower. Eventually, he starts walking beside me.

“No,” he says finally. “It’s the way you’re acting like her boyfriend. Jennifer is confused. She’s experimenting with you and that’s the problem. You’re too dark for her to be playing games she doesn’t understand.”

We stop.

I face him.

I’ve been Jennifer’s best friend for years. Years. He met her what…yesterday and suddenly thinks he understands her better than I ever could?

“Don’t tell me you bought her a new phone too.” I chuckle at the small bag clenched in his hand. Baxter tightens his grip on it and that answers my question. Yeah. I beat him to it. That’s what the anger is about…

“When I brought Jen to Italy, you were the last thing on my mind. I didn’t think I’d be arguing with a groom over the girl he rejected four years ago. So tell me, Baxter….are you in love with her, or are you just obsessed with everything I touch?”

“Both, brother.”

I scoff. “Yeah. That tracks.”

“If you actually cared about her, shouldn’t you have beaten the hell out of the idiot taking pictures of her? Or was he one of your enemies?” His lips curl. “I heard him mention a she. Did a vengeful ex send the dude?”

I don’t answer.

“Harvey?” Nisha calls my name as she walks towards the both of us. “Can I speak to you… alone?”

“I’m not Baxter, Nisha.” I say flatly, just in case she’s confused.

“Of…of…of…course, you’re not.” she replies quickly, then changes her tone. Smart. Anyone with half a brain would. I can see her weighing her words because my stare alone is enough to make people rethink their lives.

“I just… wanted to ask if you were with Jennifer last night. In your office.”

“Yes. Why?”

“Hmm, nothing-”

“Why did you take Jennifer to your office!?” Baxter chokes.

12:39 Wed, Feb 4 M…

Chapter 26

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Wait, now that I think about it. Did Baxter see us coming down? How else would he have followed us to the park?

“Guess, big brother. What do adults usually do when they’re alone?”

Baxter’s expression tightens.

“A girl like her, in a freaking club office!?”

“What do you mean, a girl like her?” Nisha asks. “She’s not the princess of Scotland, and it’s a ten-star club. Why are you so pressed-”

“Can you just shut up, Nisha?” Baxter snaps at her, then turns back to me. “Harvey, I’m asking-”

“What can I say? She wanted it. I gave her what she wanted. Don’t get all worked up like your fiancée said. And, thanks for booking my club again. You’re a fine customer.”

I leave them there and head back to my villa. Time for a workout before the Saints club opens tonight. The manager said Baxter booked it for his bachelor party. Bridal shower on the eighth floor, his on the tenth. He asked for strippers, entertainers… the whole show. His money’s still good, whether he likes that the club’s mine or not.

“Harvey!” David’s voice cuts through the gym. He’s holding out my phone, mouthing words that I don’t understand. “It’s the suitcase owner. Rick.”

I take the phone, still breathing hard from the weights. “Harvey of Kings Casino speaking.”

“I just found out you’re a Prescott. Francis Prescott’s bastard. That right?” The voice on the other end is tight.

“Yeah.” I say, refusing to respond to the stupid thing he said. “If this is about your suitcase…or briefcase? I’m working on it-”

“Don’t bullshit me! That case had blackmail papers on your brother. If I’d known you were related, I’d never have walked into your casino. Good game. You and your brother played me well.”

The line goes dead.

I stare at the phone. What the hell?

“So Baxter hired J to steal the suitcase.” David says, voicing the exact thought forming in my head, “and the client thinks it was all planned.”

That makes no sense.

“What could he be hiding?” Nate asks.

“No idea.” I mutter. “What’s so important that my father can’t find out?”

David snaps his fingers. “His marriage. You said it was a contract, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but…” I stop and think.

12:39 Wed, Feb 4 M..

Chapter 26

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66

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To me, it means nothing. To our father, it would mean everything. Evidence of a contract marriage would destroy Baxter’s image, and Baxter is only getting married for one reason. Inheritance.

I exhale sharply.

So that’s what was in the suitcase.

I went through all that trouble with questioning and burning some old man’s store for some damn blackmail papers. I exhale. At the end, a payment is still a payment. You don’t steal from my casino and walk away clean. I still do not care about the mess.

After finishing my workout, I head to the club. The manager shows me the setup for tonight. According to the plan, there’ll be press. Baxter announced the event online.

After finishing my workout for the day, I head to the club to inspect what the manager has done for the set up tonight. According to the planner, there’ll be press tonight. Baxter announced the bachelorette online, so reporters will be crawling everywhere.

High-profile guests. Italy’s biggest influencers. A few hundred names on the list. All eyes on my club.

“The AC-” I start, glancing up from the chart on my tablet.

The doors open before my sentence finishes and the strippers Baxter asked for all walk in. They’re in uniform which is skimpy, sparkling panties and bras that leave nothing to imagination. The bouncers by the velvet ropes let out low whistles as the girls move toward the central stage.

Almost all of them glance my way, murmuring a soft hey, boss.

Running clubs comes with sights like this, but temptation has never had a grip on me. Not ass, not tits. Especially not when Jennifer exists. Compared to her, everything else fades into background noise. Besides, this is work. They’re here to do a job, and I respect that.

I just make sure they get paid and protected.

As if to prove how ready they are, one of them drops into a deep squat and begins to twerk. It draws a roar from the nearby security and they eat it up.

“I asked if the AC has been checked.” I repeat.

“Ch-checked, sir.”

“Holy moly.” Davis mutters beside me in his ridiculous Hawaiian shirt as he looks at the girls.

“Put more armed security on the women’s floor where the shower will be and double the men at the entrance.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The DJ?”

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