Page 63 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
Lark swallowed down a smile. Candy had told her what she’d been searching for at First United Commerce Bank, but Jay had always held some information back. Now was her opportunity to find out how Sanofi Manufacturing and Analytics was using the bank.
“I don’t know, Jay, Candy has been helping me out a lot. I don’t see how she could be doing even more for me. I just need to know where to find her,” Lark said lightly.
“That’s what I’m telling you, Candy always needs direction. She’s a doer, not a leader. On the deal I’m running, I had to tell her exactly, and I meanexactlywhat to look for and where to look for it.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Almost all of Sanofi’s banking is done through Citibank, so that was why I was surprised to see these printouts with Candy’s little shitty bank on them. I knew right then that they were lining their pockets, and I could get me a piece of the action as soon as I knew how much money was involved and how they were paying themselves. As soon as I knew that I could scare the shit out of them and they’d have to cut me in on some of the action or I’d blow their whole little scheme to the company president, then where would they be?”
“And,” Lark rolled her eyes, “your plan worked so damn well, that Candy’s on the run. Tell me, Jay, did you ever make any money, or did you realize you were up against the big boys and that’s why you got rid of everything you had?”
Jay’s eyes shifted, then he glared back at Lark. “It was a damn good plan, until Candy got scared. Pathetic bitch!”
“I take that to mean you got nothing.”
“Well, I got something now,” he growled at her. “I want in on your project.”
“Why in the world would I give you a piece of my action? When you couldn’t even see through the Sanofi op?” Lark asked incredulously. Again, she choked down a smile, knowing she was damned close to getting some names from Jay.
“If you tell me what you two are up to, and make it worth my while, that might help my memory,” he wheedled.
Lark turned as if to walk away.
“Hey, where are you going?” He grabbed her shoulder and squeezed, then pulled her hard enough to bruise.
“I’m going home. You’re right, you don’t know anything, otherwise, you would have already tracked Candy down. I’m not going to waste my time.” She tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn’t loosen his grip.
“There was no need for me to track her down. I told you, I didn’t need her anymore.” He paused and gave her another once-over. “But you do, now, don’t you?”
“I’ll find her some other way.”
“Really? How?” Jay sneered. “Candy don’t have many friends. Coming to me was the best shot you had. Now you’re stuck with me, and I want in. Don’t try to kid me. You might not be dressed fancy right now, but you smell good and your hair’s pretty. You have money. So, this situation you and my kind-of-ex have worked out is probably worth something.”
Lark turned to look Jay in the eye. “What I have going on is easy money. I just need to know some information on my dying dad’s accounts so I know which way to push.” Lark paused and smiled. “I meanguidehim, as he’s divvying up everything between me and my sisters.”
“Shit, my girl sure has her fingerprints all over that fucking bank,” Jay cooed. He rubbed his hands together. “How much is dear old dad worth?”
“Well, I don’t know, now do I?” Lark asked sarcastically. “I don’t know what’s in Daddy’s accounts because Candy’s running scared, and that’s your fault. You need to call off the dogs.”
He winced. “I don’t think I can.” Jay looked worried, then he dipped his hand underneath his t-shirt and proceeded to scratch his armpit. Lark managed not to cringe.
“When all of this started, I found out that those execs were up to something that they were trying to hide, and they were hiding, funneling, or laundering the money through First United Commerce, Candy’s bank. Come on, it was a gift from God, or some such shit. I definitely was meant to deal myself in. I just had to find a way to leverage Candy and get her on board.”
“How’s that working out for you?” Lark asked sarcastically.
“Since Candy took a powder, not so good.”
“So basically, it’s in your best interest for me to track down Candy, too.” Lark surmised.
“Not on this shit, it isn’t. I got rid of all the papers I took from the office, and I deleted all the e-mails that Candy sent me on the guys. But I was counting on the cash that this operation was going to bring in. I promised my bookie I’d be able to pay him. You coming by here today is mynewgift from God.”
“Clarify your thinking for me, Jay.”
“It’s easy. You’re rich. You might be holding out forreallyrich when daddy dies and you cheat your sisters, but you have money now.”
“Maybe,” Lark said slowly, reeling him in.
“You’re like everyone else. Whether you’re scared, rich, hungry, horny, mad, or afraid like those execs, I can always smell it on you. You’re rich. I want my cut upfront.”
