Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
My mouth opens and closes, I’m so shocked.
“The CEO?” I manage in a hoarse voice.
Paul nods.
“Yep. Justin is the big kahuna himself. You know, the man.”
I shake my head, utterly confused.
“But why didn’t he tell me? Why would he feel the need to lie about that?”
Paul shrugs.
“My cousin is a very modest guy. He doesn’t like to call attention to himself, and in fact, still shops at Walmart sometimes. He just wanted you to feel comfortable with him, Marley. I’m sure he was going to tell you in time.”
I shake my head, remembering the beat-up truck and scuffed sneakers.
“Who would have guessed?” I whisper to myself. But then my chin jerks up. “But he’s missing. Tell me about his last job.”
Paul holds up his hands.
“This is an ugly business, Marley.”
“Just tell me,” I say insistently.
Paul shakes his head again.
“Justin went on a job in East New York. There was nothing to suggest that anything was different about this roundup. But something must have happened because the entire neighborhood claims to have seen nothing, although his truck was parked nearby.”
I narrow my eyes, my heart beating like a drum.
“Who lives in that apartment?”
Paul shoots me a long look.
“Are you sure you don’t want to leave this to the police?”
I almost scream at him in return, my eyes shooting daggers.
“Who lives there?”
He sighs again.
“A man named Simon Marzakian. We did some digging, and he has a couple aliases, of which one is Henry Marx. We were supposed to take anything of value from the apartment, but when we talked to the neighbors, they said that the place is unoccupied. Whoever “Simon” is, well, they don’t live there, that’s for sure.”
“And the name doesn’t ring any bells?”
Paul looks tired all of a sudden.
“No. I’ve never heard of the guy, and neither has anyone else at NYC Repo, although maybe Justin knows more. I don’t know.” Then, the younger man rubs his temples, like he has a migraine. “Fuck. This is such a disaster. NYPD won’t do anything and no one knows anything. I’m thinking about hiring a private investigator, just to get to the bottom of this.”
But I pop up, suddenly determined.
“I’m going to find this Simon Marzakian.”
Paul’s eyes open a sliver.
“What? How? Don’t get involved because these people are clearly dangerous,” he says. “Justin is a grown man, and they made him disappear.”
But what Paul doesn’t realize is that I have my methods. Determined, I get up and swing my purse over my shoulder. My limbs are shaky but I force myself to stand straight.
“Thanks Paul,” I say. “Don’t worry about me. You just take care of yourself.”
The handsome man casts me a dumbfounded look as I stride from the lobby.
“But what are you going to do? Aren’t you a yoga teacher or something? Shit, I’ve been running my mouth and now you know too much. Justin will kill me if you get hurt. Marley, don’t!”
Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how dangerous this mission is. Justin is my man, I love him, and I’m going to help him using all of my resources.
9
Marley
I haven’t been on a date through City Girls in ages, ever since I met Justin actually. It didn’t feel right to see clients while I was dating the handsome alpha male, but now, I’m getting back in the game, but for a nefarious purpose. I’m going to meet Simon Marzakian, and figure out what they’ve done with my boyfriend.
Like all men, I’m sure Simon’s charmed by beautiful women, so it’s imperative that I look my best, and I’ve been prepping all day. I started early this morning with a waxing session, a mani/pedi, and a blowout so that my curls are shiny and bouncy. Then I left the salon and went straight to the mall in search of the perfect outfit.
This golden shimmer dress is perfect with its thin spaghetti straps, plunging neckline, and a long provocative split up the side that lets my leg slip through. Sitting with my legs crossed presents the perfect tease because actually, I’m not wearing panties. Plus, I found a long, elegant necklace to pair with the dress and the gold chain dangles down the line between my breasts, pulling the eye into that shadowy, tantalizing vee. With my mile-high shiny gold stilettos, I look like I’m asking for it. And I am because tonight, I’m going to get Simon Marzakian to take me home with him.
I know it’s a crazy plan, but I have to try. I told my bosses at City Girls about what happened to Justin. I told them that I wanted to meet Simon undercover so I could figure out what he’s done with my boyfriend.
At first, they said no. City Girls is a dating agency, and not the NYPD. But I begged, and my boss, Leona, relented. She’s had some man trouble herself in the past, so she knows what it’s like to be out of options.