The Billionaire’s Fake Marriage

“Funny because when I talked to Miss Crane earlier she said she used the app to meet Brian Watson, and not the website. Are you sure you have the right information Miss Kitty?”

“How does it matter whether she used the app or the site? Their story is the first success of High Seas and so I can understand how some reporters like you might try to capitalize on it.” Kitty tried to play the game of bluff with Callum.

“Nice try, child! But if that is true, can you show me the logs of their interactions on the web site, or app — you know whatever they used to meet? I am sure you must have kept those logs safe and sound like the holy grail.”

Kitty knew that no logs were available because there was no interaction. Janet and Brian only created their profiles and did nothing else. But now this reporter was peeling off layer after layers of their planted story.

“I don’t have time to waste with the likes of you, and so I suggest you come to us with substantial proof if you have any. Goodbye!”

Kitty disconnected the phone and rushed out of her house.

*****

Kitty had called Janet at Rebecca’s office.

“I need to talk to you,” Janet seemed in a hurry.

“Is this about that reporter?” Kitty asked.

“He called you too?”

“Yeah! The son of a bi*ch knows everything,” the conversation was now on the speaker.

“But how is this possible?” Rebecca wondered. “Nobody other than us and Brian know about it. Not even our tech team. Then how can he know?” Rebecca took a brief pause. “Do you guys think Brian told him?”

“No!” Both Kitty and Janet said unanimously. They trusted Brian and knew that he would never do such a thing.

“Great! Then who talked? Because that reporter is telling the truth.”

“It could be possible that he is bluffing,” Kitty said.

“How did he figure out all of this then?” Janet wondered.

“It’s really simple actually.” Kitty explained. “You just need a wicked brain to put it all together. Most people believe our story because they want to. But this guy is an asshole and so he must have been looking for an angle. Unfortunately he found one.”

“And what an angle it was,” Rebecca said.

Janet pulled the focus of the group towards the priority. “Right now we need to know what we should do with him?”

“Stop all communications with him. He cannot prove anything without talking to any of us.” Rebecca advised her friends. “Next, we need to find out where he is bluffing or if he has a credible source.”

“So what, stop answering his calls?” Kitty looked at Rebecca.

“Well that won’t be possible in today’s age. He could use different numbers to call you. And there are many other ways to reach a person. So what you need to do is stick with just two words — No Comment!”

Kitty and Janet liked this advice. This way they didn’t have to worry about this British reporter sandbagging them, and they were giving an official and safe statement.

“Understood! Anything else?” Kitty asked Rebecca.

“We need to find out more about this asshole reporter, and you…” she turned to Janet, “talk to Brian, and ask him if he knows anything about this reporter.”

The ladies agreed and the meeting adjourned.

*****

Janet reached home and found Brian in the kitchen. Just one look of Janet’s face made him smile. “I am making something to eat, are you hungry Janet?”

“Brian we need to talk,” Janet said in a very serious manner and sat down on the sofa.

Brian could see Janet was really serious and so he left everything and sat beside her. “What is it Janet?”

I need to ask you something that might offend you. But please try to understand that I have good intentions behind this question.” Janet was almost in tears.

“I understand. Go ahead.”

“Did you talk to somebody about our arrangement? Especially a reporter.”

“God no!” Brian replied with disgust. “Trust me Janet, I will never make your life difficult. And just to make myself clear, no I did not talk about us to any reporter, ever!”

Though Janet was a little relieved, she was still worried.

Brian was able to see the fear on her face. “What is going on? Tell me if something or somebody is bothering you.”

“I got a call from this British reporter yesterday and he said that he knows about our arrangement. And then he called Kitty and told her exactly how we came to this arrangement. Now we are not able to understand whether he is telling the truth or just bluffing.”

Listening to Janet, Brian realized that it was a tricky problem. There was no way this reporter could have known anything about them and so Brian was almost certain he was bluffing.

“I thinks he knows nothing.” Brian made himself clear.

“Then what do we do? Rebecca has asked us to say ‘No Comment’ every time he contacts us.”

Brian liked Rebecca’s advice. “She has told you to do the right thing. Do not give him anything to trigger you. If you keep saying ‘No Comment’, he might eventually go away. Most of the frauds do because they don’t want to waste their precious time on just one mark. So whatever he says, just keep yourself calm and say ‘No Comment’! Understood?”

Janet nodded in agreement.

“And I guess we need to know a little about this reporter. Give me his number.”

Janet shared Callum’s contact details with Brian.

*****

Two days later Brian dialed a number from his phone.

“Brian!” a husky voice answered the call.

“Hey Freddie! How are you mate?” Brian asked cheerfully.

“I am good and I have some information for you,” Freddie replied.

“Please give it to me.”

“This fellow you told me about, is called Callum Holdsworth. Textbook scum, who survives by blackmailing people. Uses his profession to strong arm people into giving him what he wants.”

“Is he dangerous?” Brian wanted to know if he posed a real threat to Janet and her friends.

“Well not physically, but he had shut down some businesses. And my sources told me that not all of them deserved to be shut.”

“What an asshole!” Brian exclaimed.

“Yup. Also, he is up to his neck in debt. Guy has a gambling problem.”

And suddenly, Brian knew what to do.

“Freddie, I need you to find out the names of all the lone sharks he owes money to. I will really appreciate it.”

“You got it Brian. I will get back to you.”

“Thanks Freddie, you are a life saver.”