Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
But Nina Banks, sweet fiancée to JT Malone, likely wouldn’t even remember his full name.
Jordy had the arrogance to look annoyed. “Jordan Burton. We met earlier this week.”
She gave him what she hoped was a flustered smile. “Sorry. This week has been a whirlwind. That first morning was difficult. Jet lag and all.”
“Must not travel a lot,” Jordy said with a superior smile. “My body is perfectly used to going from time zone to time zone, but that’s because I’ve trained it well. Proper nutrition and excellent DNA. I recently returned from Nepal. I was going to try Everest, but it’s gotten so touristy, you know.”
She nodded, her brain churning because maybe his dossier didn’t tell the whole truth. Any real climber would know Everest’s summit was only accessible in April and May, depending on the weather. If he recently returned from Nepal, he hadn’t been attempting to summit Everest.
“I prefer K2,” Jordy continued. “It’s actually tougher. Says more about the climber, you know.”
“Have you traveled extensively through Asia? It’s a part of the world I’ve always wanted to see.” As long as she was here, she might as well start asking some subtle questions. If she could find a way to narrow down their suspects, they could focus in. Keeping eyes on one or two suspects would be far easier than three. She was already starting to discount Deanna. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe the woman capable of murder. She seemed cold enough, but she also had shown loyalty to her employer. Maybe it was about wanting JT on a personal level, but women didn’t tend to stab the men they wanted in the back. At least not until they’d been rejected. If Deanna still had hopes of her goal, she doubted the woman would risk blowing it all up.
But the man in front of her was a different animal altogether.
“I’ve been everywhere,” Jordy bragged. “I could show you all the best places in Asia. They’ve got casinos there that make Vegas look like a church preschool.”
“I bet,” she replied with a smile. “Like I said, I’ve always wanted to visit. I have a friend who lives in Busan. She transferred there a few months ago, but I haven’t had the chance to see her new place.”
“Ah, yes, Korea. I’ve been several times. I’ve got friends in all the right places, if you know what I mean.”
“I don’t.”
He lowered his voice and leaned in. “I know people in the consulate, if you want to go. They can get you into any place you want. You and JT should think about it for your honeymoon.”
Well, she would certainly think about it. If he had contacts with the South Korean embassy, she wanted to connect those dots and see who else they connected to. “Why don’t you tell me about your friends? I’ve got a couple of friends at the British consulate.”
“Oh, I’m in good with all the politicos. If there was one thing my dad taught me, it was to be cool with both sides of the spectrum,” Jordy replied. “I donate to everyone so they’re all in my pocket. It’s why I keep up all these board positions. I don’t need to work at all, but it’s important to keep friends in high places.”
She would be surprised if this man could keep a secret long enough to be an effective spy. “Yes, I can see where that would be helpful.”
She glanced up and saw a familiar face walking her way. Charlotte Taggart did not look like a woman who had recently had a baby. She wore a killer sheath that clung to her every curve, her strawberry blonde hair in curls around her shoulders.
“Ms. Banks,” she said with a smile on her face. “It’s good to see you again.”
Jordy took a step back, as though he wouldn’t get too close to the gorgeous redhead. “Mrs. Taggart, I wasn’t aware you knew JT’s fiancée. That’s surprising since none of the rest of us did.”
“It’s not surprising at all,” Charlotte replied smoothly. “Who do you think vetted her when she started dating JT? Do you honestly believe JT wouldn’t run a check on someone he’s getting serious about? My husband was in England a few months ago. He was there to ensure that Ms. Banks is exactly who she says she is. A man in JT’s position can never be too careful. Haven’t you learned that?”
Jordy huffed and turned away, walking toward a small group of men in suits with tumblers of Scotch in their hands.
Charlotte leaned in. “He got taken by a con artist a couple of years back. Wiped out his trust fund. Lucky for him his dad had more money than god and bailed him out. In the last few years his father has had a couple of cancer treatments, and Jordy has taken over the board seats. I fear what happens when the dad dies and he gets control of that cash.”