The Billionaire's Scandal (The Blank Check Series Book 3) Read online

  She looked at him for a moment, picked up the phone, and made the call. She whispered so low he couldn’t hear her. When she hung the receiver up she turned back to Gareth and said, “He’ll be right up. If you’d like to take a seat, it’ll be a few minutes.”

  “Thank you.” He walked over to stand by the large stone fireplace, one he couldn’t picture ever being lit. The climate here was different levels of hot. At least it was a dry heat, unlike a tropical island where the humidity was unbearable. Overall, he had to admit, the Hendersons had pulled off one hell of a resort. They used natural resources to generate the electricity and, from what he’d seen so far, most of their food was grown or raised here as well. There wasn’t much New Hope needed the outside world for. He didn’t believe that was an accident. But why create a place for people to come if they didn’t want them here? He was missing something. As Alex entered the lobby, it seemed as though he was about to find out.

  “Hello. I’m Alex Henderson. You wanted to speak to me?”

  Gareth extended his hand. “I’m Gareth Lawson with Lawson Steel. I’m currently a guest here, but I was hoping you had time to discuss a bit of business.”

  “I don’t believe you’re one of our contractors,” Alex stated.

  “No we are not.” And I don’t think we ever will be.

  “I’m not the person you want to speak to regarding contracts. You might want to call our Boston office and ask to speak to Dean or Shaun. Either of them could assist you. I hope you didn’t travel all this way just to meet with me.”

  Gareth shook his head. “No. I wanted to get a look at the facility firsthand. It’s quite . . . impressive. It’s a hidden gem that many people don’t know about. With the right marketing, this place could easily expand.”

  “We’re pretty set with things as they are at New Hope.”

  “Really? I’d think your family would be looking at the developmental potential. When I flew in, I noticed there is another side to the island that doesn’t looked touched. If the Hendersons aren’t building there, I might know some investors who would be very interested.”

  “And they would find they are not welcome.”

  “Do you speak for the entire country?” Gareth asked. He knew it sounded rude, but he wasn’t opposed to pushing buttons to get what he wanted.

  Alex glared at him and said firmly, “We are very protective of what happens in Tabiq.”

  “And why is that?” Gareth asked.

  Alex cocked a brow. “Why do I have a feeling you’re not here to sell steel?”

  “What other reason would I have?”

  “This isn’t a conversation I’d like to have in the lobby. What do you say we discuss it over dinner?” Alex suggested.

  Gareth had plans with Brooke, but no matter how much he was looking forward to them, he’d break their date. He didn’t think he was going to get a second shot at this. “Sounds good. Where should we meet?”

  “Not here. My home is close by. I’ll let Ziva know we’re having company. That is if you don’t mind leaving the resort for a few hours.”

  Hell no. “I look forward to it. What time should I be ready?”

  “I like to eat with my family, so I’d say we leave at six, if that is convenient.”

  “It is.”

  “Gareth, this is my family home you’re being invited to. I won’t tolerate any disrespect,” Alex warned.

  “Understood.” Although he was thrilled for the invitation, he also was a bit surprised. It definitely couldn’t be something Alex did on a regular basis. It was going to be an enlightening evening. Hell, Brice couldn’t wait to get rid of us.

  Before Gareth went to his room he went back to the desk. “Would you have an envelope and paper?”

  “Of course.” She handed him the items and he picked up a pen from the desk.

  BROOKE. WILL NEED TO RESCHEDULE DINNER. HOPE YOU’RE FREE TOMORROW NIGHT. SAME TIME. GARETH

  He inserted the noted, sealed the envelope, then handed it back to the woman. “Could you please ensure Brooke receives this sometime today? Actually, the earlier the better.”

  “Certainly. If I’m correct, she is working in the main dining room today if you’d prefer to give it to her directly.”

  “I’d rather not,” Gareth replied.

  She nodded and said, “I’ll have someone take it to her right away. Will there be anything else, Mr. Lawson?”

  “No. That’s it. Thank you.” He felt like an ass not reaching out to her in person, but she was a distraction. Even the way she looked at him was enough to make him lose sight of what he was doing in Tabiq. He couldn’t afford to lose focus tonight. It was going to be hard enough for him to hold back and not ask a million questions that were running through his mind. If it was just Alex, fuck it, he’d let loose. But it wasn’t only his home he was going to, they had a little girl too. Brice would fuck anyone up for upsetting his little niece. He definitely wasn’t going to say or do anything to upset Alex’s daughter.

  The afternoon flew. Gareth spent most of it researching Alex and found he was nothing like his brothers. A murder mystery author. Not the tycoon the others are. It also might explain why Alex invited him tonight. Might be using me for the next book.

  But as he and Alex pulled up to the house and got out of the car, Gareth had second thoughts about going inside. Charisa, Alex’s daughter, came running out and Ziva was right behind her, catching her by the hand.

  “No running,” Ziva said firmly.

  “But Mommy, Daddy is home,” Charisa cried out, tugging Ziva.

  Ziva didn’t let go and said, “I see that. And Daddy has brought home a guest. Remember what I said?”

  The girl nodded, her dark ponytail bouncing in the air. “To listen and not get all excited. But Daddy is home. He’s been gone all day.”

  Alex turned to Gareth and said, “Like I said, this is my family.”

  “I hope I’m not intruding,” he replied.

  Alex opened his arms wide and Ziva let Charisa’s hand go. She rushed over to Alex, and he scooped her up, tossing her high into the air before catching her.

  “Alex, that is not helping,” Ziva snapped.

  Charisa laughed. “Again Daddy. Again.”

  After a few more times Alex said, “Okay, pumpkin. That’s enough for tonight. My arms are going to get so stretched out I’ll be stepping on my fingers when I walk.”

  She hugged her dad and said, “I’ll help you so you don’t.” Then she looked at Gareth and said, “Maybe he can help too.”

  Gareth smiled at her. “I think you’re all your daddy needs.”

  Alex said, “Come on inside. I’m sure Ziva has something delicious planned for us.” Before they entered, he did the introductions. “You met my little pumpkin. Her name is Charisa. And this lovely lady is Ziva, my wife.”

  “A pleasure to meet you,” Gareth said.

  “And the high-pitched scream you are hearing is our son, Nikko,” Alex added.

  “That’s my cue. Nice to meet you too, but it seems all this noise has woken the baby. Alex can show you around, and I’ll join you all in a few minutes.”

  When Ziva was gone, Alex added, “She’s amazing at everything she does, but when I watch her with the kids, I’m blown away. She has the patience of a saint.” He laughed. “Then again, she has to. She married me.”

  He was tempted to say he agreed, but tonight he’d play nice. This was about getting to know his cousin in a different way. Not business. Not the past either. Just the family man standing before him.

  Dinner was pretty much what he would expect at any normal household. Charisa talked about what she and Ziva had done all day. Which included being shown a slew of finger painted pictures and one that looked like she was trying to write her name.

  “I think you have your daddy’s artistic genes,” Gareth said.

  Charisa made a face. “I don’t like jeans. I like dresses.”

  Gareth laughed. “And you look very pretty in them. I have a ni
ece and her mommy puts her in dresses too.”

  “Can she come over and play?” Charisa asked.

  “She lives in New York,” Gareth replied.

  “Charisa, you know your cousins live in Boston. New York is a few hours away from there.”

  Charisa’s eyes teared up. “I want to go to Boston and play with them. Nikko is no fun. He is a baby. He can’t even walk or talk or paint or anything.” Then she turned to Gareth and asked, “Can I play with your niece?”

  “Sorry. Penelope is only a few months older than Nikko. She can’t do any of that fun stuff either.”

  Charisa crossed her arms and said, “No one wants to paint with me. I bet you don’t want to either.”

  Alex interjected. “Charisa, it’s too late to paint tonight. Maybe he can paint with you when he comes back.”

  Was Alex saying that to appease his daughter or was he really expecting to see him again? “That would be nice.”

  Charisa smiled. “Good. Maybe you know how to paint a unicorn. I want one with all the colors of the rainbow and his horn has to be gold. Real gold too.”

  “And where do you think you’re going to get real gold, pumpkin?” Alex asked.

  She tapped her chin with her finger in deep thought. Then gleefully she said, “At the end of the rainbow. That’s where all the gold is.”

  “I think Mommy has been reading to you again,” Alex said.

  “No. I learned that at school.”

  Alex turned to Gareth and explained, “We have a pre-school here now. She will tell you she has no one to play with, but there are plenty of children her age she gets to play with.”

  “But that’s only two times a week,” Charisa pouted.

  “Yes. And tomorrow is school. So why don’t you tell Mr. Lawson thank you for coming to dinner and give Daddy a kiss.”

  “Okay, Mommy.” She walked around the table and stuck her hand out to Gareth to shake. “Don’t forget to bring your pot of gold next time.”

  He bit back laughter. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Then she hugged Alex and kissed him. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you too, pumpkin.”

  Ziva scooped Nikko up in one arm and took Charisa by the hand. “Good night, gentlemen.”

  “Good night. Thank you again for dinner,” Gareth said.

  “You’re welcome any time.”

  When they were alone Alex turned to him and said, “She means it. Our door is always open.”

  Gareth leaned back in his seat and said, “Thank you. But . . . why? You don’t know me from a hole in the wall.”

  “I know enough,” Alex said.

  Cocked brow, Gareth asked, “Care to enlighten me?”

  Alex leaned his elbows on the table. “Do you really think I’d have you in my home without knowing everything there is to know first?”

  Like why I’m here? “And why do you care to know that?”

  “For the same reason you want to know all about us, cousin.” Gareth fought to keep a poker face and didn’t acknowledge their relationship. Alex continued, “It’s late and I have staff meetings tomorrow. But if you’d like, we can sit and talk.”

  “About anything specific?” Gareth asked.

  “Depends on the questions you have. I can’t promise I have all the answers, but I’ll have some. Now if you don’t mind, I’ll have my driver take you back to the resort. I try to read a story to Charisa each night.”

  “Not one of yours I hope,” Gareth teased.

  “Ziva won’t even read those,” Alex laughed. “Let me see you out.”

  It wasn’t long before Gareth was back at the resort, standing on his balcony. Brooke wasn’t joking. He could hear the karaoke party going on from there. It was a good thing singing wasn’t their day jobs, because it was comical, and a bit painful, to listen to. But he enjoyed hearing how much fun they were having.

  Gareth was one of the Lawson men who went out frequently. But this was a different type of fun. It reminded him of his younger days when they would all vacation as a family. Charles, being the oldest, didn’t always get to go. He was stuck working with their father. But the rest of the guys would do stupid shit and laugh until their ribs hurt. Gareth didn’t want to be a kid again, but he had to admit he missed that carefree feeling. Life was so simple then. Ignorance is bliss. But I can’t forget what I know.

  That type of stress made him feel one hundred instead of thirty-three. If they weren’t careful, they were going to end up just like their father. Old and beaten down by the world. That’s not going to happen. Not to me and not to any of them.

  He really hoped coming here wasn’t actually doing more damage than good. At first he’d only thought about protecting the Lawsons. After dinner, knowing Alex knew, he no longer could look at the Hendersons as anything other than . . . family.

  Gareth walked back into his room and closed the glass sliding doors to the balcony. He walked over to his laptop and turned it on. His mind was filled with questions, and he was left with only one fact. Dinner just changed everything.

  4

  Brooke knew it was only a matter of time before she bumped into Gareth. She couldn’t believe he stood her up. It made no sense since he was the one who kept asking her. Was it some kind of game to him? If so, she was done with it. Next time he asked her, even for a glass of water, she was going to let him know where he could get it himself.

  Who was she fooling? No matter what, he was a guest at the resort, and she’d never be intentionally rude. Not even to someone who deserved it. She just wished it didn’t bother her. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why it did. Many men had asked her out since she started working there. Each time she turned them down. It was really that simple. So why didn’t she just keep doing the same with Gareth? If she had, she wouldn’t be left feeling . . . stupid.

  Janet wasn’t the last person she wanted to see, but close to it right now.

  “How was dinner last night?”

  She smiled and said, “Uneventful.”

  “Really? I looked at his photo and that was the last thing I thought you’d say. I was actually questioning my judgment letting you go to dinner with him. So he’s handsome but boring?” Janet asked.

  She shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. He stood me up.”

  Janet’s eyes widened. “You’re joking, right?” Brooke shook her head. “That’s horrible. Why would someone do that?”

  “Because they’re arrogant, and it was fun to see the look on my face when I said yes?” Last night was pretty much spent tossing and turning and that was the only explanation she could come up with.

  Janet reached out and patted her on the arm. “I’m sorry. I guess you were looking forward to this date.”

  “It wasn’t a date. It was—”

  “Oh give me a break. No one has that look on their face when work cancels out on you. It’s okay. I get it. He looked charming and those type of men are hard to resist.”

  “Funny, I don’t see you having an issue,” Brooke stated.

  Janet laughed. “That’s because I already have the sexiest, most charming, and best of all, sweetest man there ever was.”

  Brooke hadn’t actually spoken to Janet’s husband, Vinny, but she did rave about him all the time. It was nice to see someone happy and in love. “We can’t all be as lucky as you are.”

  “Funny. I wasn’t looking for love when I met Vinny. Actually I had just started this job, and I was so worried about being able to keep it.”

  “And he worked here?” Brooke asked.

  “No, not at the same time I did. He had been hired to help build it. But once that was over, he decided he liked Tabiq and made it his home. Guess it’s our home now.”

  “I can’t believe you actually moved here permanently. Don’t you miss the States?” Brooke loved being on the resort, but this wasn’t long-term for her. Actually she only had about two months left on this job before it was time to head back home. That was going to be bittersweet. She mi
ssed her parents and her friends, but she loved being on a new adventure. There’ll be more.

  “One thing about working for the Hendersons, you can hop a flight with them anytime. And they travel so frequently, I can see my parents every month. If I want to, that is.” Janet gave Brooke a playful wink.

  “I know. I miss being home, but after a week of being there, I’ll be going crazy.”

  Janet looked at her and asked, “Have you ever considered taking on a permanent position here?”

  She thought Janet was joking at first, but her expression was serious. Beautiful beaches and endless sunshine. It was heavenly, but something was missing. “I don’t think it’s for me. You have Vinny. I’d be . . . alone. It’s not like we can go out and meet a local man, and policy has it that we can’t date a guest. I’m not out to get hitched, but I don’t want to be an old spinster either.”

  Janet laughed. “I think you have a few years before that happens,” she teased.

  “At least you didn’t say months,” Brooke chuckled.

  Janet said, “I’m glad you’re in a better mood. I was contemplating hunting Gareth Lawson down and giving him a piece of my mind.”

  “Please don’t. It would only make things awkward.”

  “Not for me. And it shouldn’t for you either. Mr. Lawson, on the other hand, should feel horrible.”

  “I’m sure something came up and it just slipped his mind.” That doesn’t make it hurt any less. It wasn’t the fact he stood her up, but it made her feel . . . insignificant. That she wasn’t worth remembering.

  “I say you should take the afternoon off and do something fun. Maybe spend some time on the beach, or go parasailing or diving or—”

  “Reading a book on the beach sounds wonderful right now. But I can’t leave you shorthanded.”

  “You’re not. We actually are a bit overstaffed. And don’t worry, I’m paying you for the full day. Consider this my thank you for pulling a double the other night.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  “I am. Now go and don’t look back. If you do, someone will ask you for something and you’ll never get out of here,” Janet said.