Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Marco slams a hand on the table, and everyone shuts up.
“You’ll have to excuse his rudeness, Mayve. He isn’t used to being around a lady,” Marco says apologetically.
“Well, from what I have gathered, your last accountant was suggesting you invest in assets and bank transfers, though I would only agree with half of that,” I tell them, and Marco nods.
“And what exactly would you do?” My hands hide under the table, clutching tightly together. I can feel them start to sweat with all their eyes on me. I quickly scan the area and smile as I look at Marco.
“Is this your restaurant?” I ask him.
He shakes his head, then nods sideways down the table.
“It’s my cousin’s,” Marco replies.
“I’d recommend you buy it,” I tell him.
“What? No, it’s mine,” the cousin argues.
“A restaurant brings in a good deal of cash each night, right?” I ask with a brow raised, Jeff said do whatever is best to make the client happy and to make money, and I think when it comes to certain clients, morals are out the door. When no one answers, I continue, “You can launder your money through here. You then double what you earned before, maybe a little more on a good night. It’s an effective and clean way to do it.”
Everyone goes quiet.
“The restaurant trick is old, and it doesn’t work,” one of his men says.
“It didn’t work for some because they abused it. They put themselves on the radar of the wrong people. As I said, it should double your money or maybe a little more. Others have tried this tactic and went straight to a thousand percent profit margin a night. That’s unrealistic, and how you get caught. You have to be smart about it. Think small, but you gain more.”
“I think we owe you a drink, Mayve.” Marco focuses on someone at the end of the table, who I am guessing is his cousin, and says, “You are selling me your restaurant.”
And all the man does is nod.
Shit! Who knew buying a restaurant could be that easy?
From this one meeting, I get the feeling Marco’s men will do whatever he tells them to do. He buys me drinks most of the night, and I drink them. Despite my early worries, I feel okay and reasonably safe. Which is so unlike me. Who is this person? I reach for my new favorite drink—a margarita, thanks to Kenzo—and the glint of the diamond holds my gaze.
“That is a beautiful ring,” the older gentleman beside me says, noting the ring. “Your husband did well.” I smile as he leans in closer. “Would you mind me giving it a closer look? I used to work in the diamond business.”
I want to say no because it’s fake, but I agree.
Letting go of my drink, I slide it off my finger and hand it to him. The minute it’s off, my finger feels naked. How is that even possible?
He studies the stone for a few moments, then says, “It’s a natural black diamond, which is rare. Most black diamonds these days are superheated or irradiated.”
“It’s real?” I ask, surprised, as he hands it back.
He gives me a small nod and replies simply, “Yes, very much so.”
“How much? I mean, I know I shouldn’t want to know. But it’s been bugging me. How much do you think it’s worth?” I ask as I slide it back on my finger. I haven’t been careful with this diamond, and now I feel bad.
I thought it was fake.
How wrong I was.
He chuckles. “I won’t give you an exact figure, but I’d say easily over twenty thousand.”
My mouth hangs open in shock. I own nothing worth that price. Nothing. And here I am, walking around with a real diamond on my finger.
It’s real.
Holy shit.
“Okay, time to take this party elsewhere. It’s time to celebrate you, Mayve. I can see us going places, and I am happy to have someone like you on my team.” Marco stands, and I look up from my ring. “Would your husband mind if we took you somewhere?”
“I…” I was about to say I don’t have a husband, but then the ring on my finger says otherwise. “He’s away for work, so I’m sure he won’t mind.” I smile and push my chair back, and the minute I stand, I can feel the alcohol hit my system.
“Good. I have to drop a few of my men off at a private club up the road, and then we can go to the Four Seasons and drink to our hearts’ content. I’ll get you a room on me.” He winks. Marco is attractive, there is no denying that, but when he winks at me, I feel nothing. Not like I do when Kenzo is around me. “You have your own car waiting out front. It will follow us.” I smile as Marco escorts me outside.