Page 49 of High Stakes

The silence stretches whilst she processes my words, “Yeah, that does seem odd.”

“So, it’s got me thinking, is he just after my virginity, or is something else going on?”

“Like what?” she asks.

“I don’t know,” I mutter. “Jake keeps popping into my head. Is it really a coincidence he came to the bakery every day, and then his brother turned up to rescue me from men I’ve never heard from?”

“When you say it out loud, I guess it raises suspicions. Where is Aiden now?”

“Out. He wants to cook us dinner this evening, yet I overheard a phone call where he arranged for a solicitor to come over at nine.” I stand, heading for Aiden’s room. I put the phone on loudspeaker and place it on the bed whilst I pull open Aiden’s bedside drawer. “The entire thing feels off,” I add, finding nothing in the drawer but condoms. I slam it closed, sighing and looking around. “Do you think you could come over to Tremos?” I take the phone into the walk-in wardrobe.

“Sure, why?”

“I need you to distract JP and Raff, and Aiden if he turns up too early.”

“What are you going to do?”

I pull down a box and lift the lid, rummaging through the photographs of Aiden and his brother. “I’m going to search Aiden’s office.”

“What exactly are you hoping to find?”

“I’m not sure. But if there’s a solicitor involved, maybe there’s a paper trail?”

“You could just walk away,” she suggests. “Leave and never look back.”

“I could,” I agree, “But if today is anything to go by, he’ll come and find me. I need to know why I’m suddenly so important to him.”

“Okay, I’m in,” she says. “I’ll text you when it’s safe.”

I search the apartment. Every cupboard, every drawer, even behind spaces, and I find nothing unusual. It’s another hour before Aria messages me.

“Now.”

My heart hammers in my chest as I take the elevator down to the club. I step out, to find the club empty. I push the office door and hold my breath, relieved when Aiden’s chair is empty. I go inside, closing the door quietly behind me.

I sit at his desk and have a brief look at the various letters and paperwork strewn across his desk. There’s nothing that stands out. I open his drawers and find bills and random paperwork that means nothing to me. I slouch back in his chair, huffing.Maybe I’m being paranoid.

Something catches my eye under the desk, a middle drawer, set back so it’s almost hidden. I pull it, but of course, it’s locked.Shit. I search the drawer again, this time finding a keyring with four small keys. I try each one, almost laughing in delight when the last key fits.

In the drawer is a file, I set it on the desk, staring at it. This could be nothing, or it could change everything and as I open it, I feel sick with nerves.

Pinned to the top of the inside cover, are two photographs of me. One of me leaving work and the other of me behind the counter serving a customer. My full name is scrawled in messy handwriting on the bottom of each one.

On the other side is an official looking letter from a law firm.Dobson Law & Co.

I scan my eyes over the document. It appears to be some kind of contract and when I lift the page, I see it’s been signed by three people. Aiden Tremos. Jake Tremos and Drake Dobson. I frown,Drake.The solicitor heintroduced me. I go back to the first page, staring at the bullet points that stand out.

Sexual intercourse must take place whilst Isabella is a virgin. It must take place between Aiden and Isabella.

Proof must be given by GP examination unless other means of proof can be provided. (To be discussed and agreed between Drake and Aiden).

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