A desperate pact

(JARED'S POV)

I turned around with the bottle of wine in my hands and found Tiana looking at me with knowing eyes. She'd caught me staring, and I had to avert my gaze quickly.

Much later in the day, the sailor turned the yacht around for the beach house. We didn't encounter the other yacht on the way back. I kept hoping we'd run into them at some point so I could see Arielle again. But that didn't happen, so I decided to call her The phone rang for a while without an answer until she finally picked up.

"Hello. Arielle?" I said tentatively.

"Hello, little brother," Dwayne's voice came through the speaker. I felt my blood boil with anger at the sound of his voice.

"Where's Arielle? Why are you answering her phone?" I demanded.

"Relax. She's having a swell time with the others. It's her birthday tomorrow so we're treating her to a nice time," he said. I could hear the smile in his voice. "Did you forget it was her birthday, little brother?"

Of course! I mentally face-palmed myself. I didn't exactly forget about Arielle's birthday. But I'd been so busy with work lately, coupled with the coincidence of Tiana's brother having the same birthday as Arielle. I figured it made sense that the two families asked for a meeting on the same day as well. Arielle had mentioned sometime in the past that the Harrisons were one of her biggest sponsors. It all made sense that she'd be on their yacht but nothing explained why Dwayne was there with her.

I shook off the surprise. "Give the phone to Arielle," I said. But the line clicked as Dwayne ended the call.

The bastard! I cursed under my breath. I tried dialing the number a couple of times, but it went straight to voicemail.

I was overwhelmed with frustration and it took all the restraint in me to keep from thrashing around inside the room. I sat on my bed, deep in thought. I had to get to Arielle as soon as possible. We had to have some serious conversations. The housekeeper had said the yacht belonged to the Harrisons...

I instantly remembered I had contact with the Monarch's son, Matt Harrison. I had a business deal with him once and vowed never to again. He was some greedy, money-thirsty man who squandered a lot more than he made, and wouldn't hesitate to do anything to make more. If he was still as covetous and materialistic as I remembered him to be, then getting on with my plan wouldn't be a problem.

I took out my phone to search for his number hoping I still had it. Luckily, after typing the first few letters

ring, I put a possible explanation for my mom and the Langleys together in my

phone rang, and on the first ring, a gruff and annoying

Jared Smith, the one and only, calling my phone. You still have my number, man," Matt said, his

deciding it was a bad idea. But then, my need to see Arielle overwhelmed me, so I stifled the urge. I took a deep breath and let my anger

I

can't believe a day like this would come, Jared. What's up, Dude?" He inquired, the tone of

my eyes, irritation clamping hard on my guts. "You know me by now; I didn't call to chit-chat with you. I

my help, you mean?" He said sarcastically, and

it was really getting to me. I clenched my jaw, trying to play cool. "Whatever

You know I'm always

thinks there's something in it for him. But I didn't say that aloud, instead, went straight

conversation.

need you to get me into your family

and he didn't attempt to mask it. "That's strange,

family rented out, but I need to get on board the one your family is in; it's important," I grumbled, displeased by the fact that I had to

that it was I who rented it to the Langleys. I needed some cash, and they needed a yacht to celebrate their son's birthday, so I

are, you charged them more than usual," I said, recalling Mr. Langley's remark about the outrageous cost of renting the yacht. "Come on, don't fault me. Not all of us are

because most of us chose to be money-wise and not live unnecessary

didn't call me to rub my

if you do

help you. But, you know I don't do anything for free," he said expectantly, and I knew instantly that he was

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