Page 19 of The Player

Her glacial glare dropped the temperature in the room by five degrees. ‘It’s called private life for a reason. I don’t give a flying fig what people surmise or print or think about me. As of last night, I’m done with all the hoopla, so you and your cronies can invent a fictional story for all I care.’

The first flicker of unease soon gave way to fear. Wade never took no for an answer in the business world. But Liza’s adamant stance put a serious dent in his confidence he could woo her to Qu.

He needed her biography.

Failure wasn’t an option.

‘Look, Liza, I’m sure we can come to some type of mutually beneficial agreement—’

‘What part of you can take your offer and stick it don’t you understand?’

With that, he watched his final chance of saving his father’s legacy stride out of the door.

Chapter Nine

Liza made it to the elevator when her phone rang. Considering her hands shook with fury she wouldn’t have answered it if she hadn’t been expecting her financial adviser’s call imparting good news.

Her portfolio of investments had matured and Cindy was set for life. The figures she’d crunched for longterm ongoing medical and allied health care had terrified her, but now, after years of careful saving and investing, she could rest easy in the knowledge should anything happen to her Cindy would be financially secure.

It made every blister from impossibly high stilettos, every sacrificed chocolate mousse so not to gain weight, every artful fend-off from a groping sleaze, worth it.

Ignoring the death glare from the receptionist, she fished out her phone, checked the number on display, and hit the answer button.

‘Hey, Walden, good to hear from you. I’ve been expecting your call.’

A long silence greeted her.

‘Walden?’

A throat cleared. ‘Uh, sorry, Miss Lithgow, this is Ullric.’

Okay, so Walden’s assistant had called instead. A first, but not surprising considering Walden had a full schedule whenever she’d tried to slot in a meeting lately.

‘Hey, Ullric. I’m assuming you have good news for me about my investments?’

Again, a long pause, and this time a finger of foreboding strummed Liza’s spine.

‘About that…’ His hesitancy made her clench the phone. ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news.’

Liza’s heart stalled before kick starting with a painful wallop. ‘I don’t like the sound of that. What’s happened?’

Ullric blew out a long breath that transferred into annoying static. ‘Mr Wren has disappeared and his clients’ funds are gone.’

Liza’s legs collapsed and she sagged against the nearest wall.

This couldn’t be happening.

It had to be a delusion brought on by the shock of discovering Wade had potentially used her.

Though she wasn’t prone to delusions, and Ullric’s pronouncement underlined with regret seemed all too real.

‘What—how—?’

‘The fraud squad is investigating. His assets have been seized, but from what I’ve been told the client funds have been siphoned into offshore accounts.’

Liza swore. Several times. The only words she could form let alone articulate.

‘I’m sorry, Miss Lithgow. The police will be in touch and I’ll let you know if I hear anything—’

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