Revenge for Hire (The Get Even Agency) (19 page)

While still on the phone, Jude walked over to his fax machine
and picked up the paper that came across.

He winced. Damn.

The picture looked real. Marcus must have hired a professional
photographer to come up with something that authentic looking.

“Man, where did you lift that mug shot of me?”

Marcus’ image wasn’t clear and could have been anyone. Jude’s
image was unmistakable, though.

“Jude, get with the program. This isn’t a joke. If I hadn’t
spotted it on the newsstands this morning, I might have thought so, too.”

“Good one, dude.” Jude grinned as he read the ridiculous claims
in the paper. He and Marcus secretly in love since rooming together in college
when they’d first given in to their passion for each other after drinking too
much at a fraternity party? A rap on his door had him looking up. Simon. “Got
to go.”

“Wait,” Marcus said. “There’s more.”

“I’ll call later,
Sugarbottoms
.” He
couldn’t resist adding the endearment. What a riot. “You can tell me all about
your unholy obsession with me then.”

Smiling, Jude flipped his cell closed and nodded acknowledgment
to his boss. His boss who was not smiling.

“What the hell is going on?”

Jude frowned. Surely Marcus hadn’t sent a copy to Simon? Simon
didn’t have that good of a sense of humor and was so anti-homosexuality he’d
take high offense at the thought of his magazine being used to promote men who
liked men rather than the luscious babes on display.

Jude waved the fax. “If you’re talking about this, it’s a
joke.”

Simon’s gaze went to the fax, but his scowl didn’t lighten. He
dropped a stack of papers on Jude’s desk.

“No, I’m talking about this. Explain. Now.”

Five minutes later, Jude still scanned the papers Simon handed
him. A tense Simon stood over him, re-demanding to know what the hell was going
on. From the information on the sheets, it wasn’t hard to figure out.

“I can’t explain because this is the first I’ve seen of any of
it.” But he’d find out who the mole was. He’d personally stick a boot up their
ass. “I’ll check into this and see to it that the person is punished.”

Simon shook his head. The older man paced across Jude’s office,
ran his finger over a nude sculpture an artist friend had given Jude when he’d
taken over as editor-in-chief of Playhouse. Simon looked torn, upset, betrayed.

What the hell was going on?

Jude turned his attention back to the paper, searching for
clues as to who might have done this.

“Not good enough.”

Jude looked up. “What?”

Simon’s jaw set in a hard line. “Never thought I’d be doing
this,” he shook his head and took a deep breath, “but you’re fired.”

“Fired?” What
the
? “Because someone’s
selling information about the magazine? Hell, it pisses me off, too, but I’m
not threatening to quit. I’ll find out who did this and they’ll pay.”

“Save the theatrics, Jude.” Simon sighed, looking every one of
his sixty years. “I know it was you.”

“Me?” Jude’s eyes widened with disbelief. “You think I did
this?”

Simon nodded.

Un-believable.

“Why the hell would you think that?”

“I know about the deposits.”

“The deposits? What deposits?”

Simon pursed his lips and turned to face Jude. “Direct deposits
into your account from Hustled Magazine. I know all about what you’ve been
doing.”

“That makes one of us then, because I don’t know what you’re
talking about.”
     

“It makes me sick.” Simon began pacing again. “I trusted you,
had you picked out as my son-in-law, the father of my grandchildren, and now
you’ve betrayed me for a few measly thousand dollars. Why would you do that
when you could have had it all?”

A sick feeling gurgled in Jude’s stomach. Just how many pranks
were being pulled on him today? Why was he getting the feeling the joke was on
him?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Simon snorted.

“Don’t take me for a fool, boy. I’ve already checked this out. I
never would have confronted you if I didn’t know this to be fact. I even dirtied
myself by speaking with someone at Hustled who verified they’ve offered you a
cushy position.” Simon’s eyes darkened. His face became thunderous. “What I
want to know is was it worth it?”

Jude stared blankly at his boss—former boss. “If I knew what
you were talking about I might answer, but I have never leaked information to
Hustled, nor have I ever accepted any money from them. Not for anything.” Jude
leaned back in his chair, eyeing Simon. “I can’t believe you’d question my
loyalty.”

“Question you? I’ve already handed all the information over to
my lawyer to see if I can press criminal charges.”

Criminal charges?

“You’re finished in the publishing industry. If Hustled has any
sense, they’ll scrub you before you even get started. Who wants a known traitor
amongst them?”

This was real. All of it.

“I want a copy of everything.” His mind raced, trying to sort
out what was going on.

“What?” Simon’s dyed brows dipped into a scowl.

“You’re making wild accusations that
can not
be based on fact because I have never lied to you or done anything to
intentionally hurt Playhouse in any way.”

“I expected better from you. At the least, I thought you’d own
up to what you’ve done when you’ve been caught so indisputably. Have to say,
I’m disappointed.” Simon blew out a frustrated breath. “In more ways than one.”

“As your faith in me leaves me disappointed,” Jude replied. Had
someone asked him, he’d have said Simon would stand behind him. How naïve. Even
after he got this mess straightened out his respect for Simon was destroyed. How
could the older man doubt him?

“Enough. I won’t let you turn this on me. You screwed the
company,” his gaze dropped to where Marcus’ fax lay on Jude’s desk, “your best
friend, my daughter, half our centerfolds, and yourself.” Simon waved his hand,
gesturing to the office. “You have twenty minutes to pack your things and be
out. Security is standing outside your office and will escort you from the
building. You’ll be hearing from my lawyers.”

His expression full of pained betrayal, Simon turned to leave.

Jude stared at the man’s rigid back. “You’re making a mistake,
Simon. You know I wouldn’t do this. Someone’s set me up.”

Simon paused a moment, shook his head, then left the office.

Jude’s gaze dropped to Simon’s papers. To the fax.

What the hell was going on?

* * *

Avery clicked the tiny screen on her watch to shut off her view
of what was happening in Jude’s office. Thanks to Brutus the burly guard
stationed outside the office doorway, she’d had to sneak into the bathroom to
watch the byplay.

Her heart hitched at the look of denial, disbelief, and hurt on
Jude’s face when Simon left his office.

Appearing stunned, Jude stared at the closed door and didn’t
move.

She hit a button on her watch to change to a different camera,
one where she could see his face closer up.

Jude’s teeth clenched tight, his eyes looked dazed, and he had
a determined set to his expression.

Taking a jump-drive from a desk drawer, he stuck it into his
computer and did a back-up of his system. Slipping the rectangular piece into
its protective cap, he did a quick once over of the office, gave a disgusted
look, and didn’t pack a single thing.

With a roll of his jaw, he frowned, slipped the jump-drive into
the pocket of his black slacks so it was hidden from sight, then walked out of
the office empty-handed except for the stack of papers Simon left on his desk.

Avery slumped against the stall. She’d done it. Ruined Jude’s
career at Playhouse.

Technically, Randi had done it with her fab-o computer skills,
but Avery had given the go-ahead. Given the go-ahead for destroying more than
just his Playhouse job, but his reputation. His life.

Nausea gripped her. Sweat beaded on her forehead. What had she
done?

She turned, clutched her churning stomach, and heaved her
breakfast into the toilet.

* * *

“What do you mean, my account is closed?” Jude demanded of the
wide-eyed bank teller. “I need a copy of the last six months transactions.”

“Access to your account has been denied.” The teller gave him
an apologetic smile and an interested once-over. “Apparently, there were some
problems with the account. It’s been frozen until whatever the glitch is can be
corrected. It’s an official override, so I can’t reopen the account.”

“You’re saying I have no access to my account?”

Another apologetic smile. “I’m sure the bank will get this
issue corrected in a timely fashion.”

“My debit card?”

“All your funds through this account are frozen until further
notice.”

What the hell was going on?

“This is the only bank account I have.” Jude fought to keep
from losing his cool. It wasn’t the teller’s fault he was having a bad day. A
day that made him feel trapped inside a bad movie where things were spinning
out of his control faster and faster. As if someone was screwing with his life.

Someone was screwing with his life.

“Perhaps you’d like to speak to the bank manager?” the woman
offered with a hopeful smile.

“Hey, aren’t you that gay editor for that men’s porn magazine?”
A cheeky faced woman pointed her chubby finger at him. “The one who was in
today’s paper?”

Jude shook his head, but he saw the light dawn in several of
the other customers’ eyes.

“I am not,” he caught himself saying in his defense despite
knowing better than to give in to the confrontation.

“Nothing wrong with being gay,” another man smirked with a
shake of his lean body and his nose in the air.

“Nor do I work for a porn magazine,” Jude added as a woman
grabbed the hands of her little girl and stalked to the teller the farthest
from him. “Not
any more
.”

More comments were made, but he bit his tongue. What good could
it possibly do to get into a verbal battle with a bunch of bank customers?

He turned back to the teller and gave her an appreciative smile.
“Yes, I’d like to speak to the manager. Now works for me.”

Jude leaned against the counter and did a quick inventory of
what he knew from the morning’s events.

He’d been fired from his job for reportedly selling secrets to
Playhouse’s biggest competitor. His bank account was frozen. His image and name
were splashed all over the New York press as the gay editor of America’s
largest porn magazine. Marcus was pissed.

He hadn’t been able to get a message to Angela prior to being
escorted from Playhouse. He’d tried calling his office, but she hadn’t answered
the phone. He supposed they’d let her go home after he’d left.

What had they told her? She probably thought he was the biggest
loser to ever walk the face of the earth.

“Mr.
Kilbeck
will see you now,” the
teller said, running her gaze appreciatively over Jude.

“Great.” Grateful for an excuse to leave the curious eyes of
the other customers Jude pushed off the counter and followed the petite woman
to a row of offices toward the back of the bank.

“In here.” She smiled. “Good luck and if there’s anything I can
do to help, dinner or…” her voice trailed off, but her eyes remained full of
invitation. “Unless you really are gay.”

“I am not gay,” he repeated, louder than he’d meant. Several
people turned in their direction.

“There’s nothing wrong with being gay,” the woman pointed out,
her shoulders lifting high.

Thirty minutes later, frustration oozed from every pore on
Jude’s body.

Apparently, there was nothing he could do to unlock his account
and neither could the bank manager. Supposedly the freeze was government-issue
and orders to unlock the account would have to come from them. Until that time
there was nothing anyone at the bank could do.

Who the hell did one contact for something like that? The
banker couldn’t tell him as the information was “classified”.

It was time to contact a lawyer. Marcus.

Chapter Sixteen

Mandy Sims patted her father’s shoulder. “It’ll be alright,
Daddy.”

Her father shrugged off her hand. Mandy bit back the bile
rising in her throat at having to be nice to a man who was never nice to her. Perhaps
she should hire the revenge agency to wreck a bit of havoc in her father’s life.
He deserved it every bit as much as Jude did.

She smiled. When she’d come in to work today and heard that
pretty boy Jude had been fired, that his face was splashed over the papers with
headlines such as “Straight Man Porn King Is Gay”, she’d wanted to jump with
joy. Finally the fickle prick was getting what he deserved. About time.

“I’ll take over Jude’s role as editor-in-chief and make you
proud.” She didn’t believe a word she said. How could she? Her father had never
been proud of anything she’d done with the exception of when she’d been screwing
Jude. Now that, her father had thought brilliant. Sick man.

He’d even hinted she should get herself pregnant since Jude was
an honorable man who’d insist upon marrying the mother of his child. Mandy
considered it, but she hadn’t wanted to lose her figure. Nor did she want to
deal with a snotty-nosed brat. Mainly, she just hadn’t wanted to mess up her
body, though. She’d worked too hard and paid too much money to look this good
to ruin her efforts with pregnancy.

Besides, even when she’d told Jude she was on the pill, he’d
insisted upon using a condom each and every time they’d had sex. Insisted he
didn’t have sex without a condom. Ever.

Damn his good sense and honor.

Honor
schmoner
. He wasn’t too
honorable today. He was a traitor. Reportedly gay and having an
elicit
affair with a formerly married man. A loser in her
father’s eyes. This was worth every cent of the hefty figure she’d paid that
agency.

“We both know you aren’t qualified to do Jude’s job.”

Her father’s words stung.

“I could learn.”

“Hell, you can’t even learn how to do the made-up job you’ve
got, much less deal with the things the editor-in-chief does.” Simon brushed
her away. “Give it up, because you heading this company is not going to
happen.”

“Jude is gone. Open your eyes. I have been doing a good job in
public relations. You’ll have to find a replacement for Jude. One who can
immediately deal with the negative press he’s created for the magazine.” She
turned imploring eyes upon him. “Why not me?”

“Because you haven’t got the brain of a pea.”

Ooooh
. She seethed
inside, allowing her dislike of Jude to fester and her disillusionment with her
daddy to blossom. How could such a brilliant man as her father be so blind?

“You have no idea what I’m capable of,” she warned, thinking
she’d definitely contact the agency again and teach her father a thing or two
about just what she could do.

His gaze lifted, stared at her with suspicion. “I’d hate to
think you had anything to do with what’s happened this morning.”

“What’s happened this morning? Ha. Jude sold you out to the
highest bidder and was lining his pockets at your expense. All the while he was
making a mockery of both of us by sleeping with a man. Your boy wonder wasn’t
so wondrous.”

Her father exhaled. “So it would seem.”

He looked as if he wasn’t sure. Great.

“Why not let me step into the position? At least until you find
someone to take Jude’s place?” she suggested. “It’ll be temporary, until you
hire the person you believe can do the title of editor-in-chief justice. That
way you won’t have to rush and possibly hire the wrong person.”

If she could just get him to give her a chance, she knew she’d
convince him to keep her in the position. His expression weakened. She resisted
the urge to smile.

“I could go public, make a statement to the press about how
disillusioned we are with Jude, about how betrayed we are, me in particular as
his former lover. Imagine the free publicity we’ll get for the magazine. The
sympathy of the media will be ours. With me being the one making the
statements, my broken heart on my sleeve, the magazine’s image will improve.” She
smiled, seeing the wheels click in her father’s head. He was an astute business
man if nothing else. “I could even go public with the fact he only slept with
me to convince me to take off my clothes for the December issue and that he has
notoriously used women.”

Her father didn’t look happy about his decision, but he nodded.
“Fine. You take Jude’s spot until I hire a replacement. Make a public statement
and make it good. Let the PR department and my lawyer look over your statement
before you go public, though.”

Mandy smiled.

“But,” her father’s scowl deepened, “don’t get too comfortable
in the position, because I will be hiring a replacement.”

Despite his reminder, elation filled her. She was replacing
Jude as editor-in-chief. This day just kept getting better and better.

“You won’t regret your decision,” she promised, kissing her
father’s temple.

She started to say more, but her cell phone rang from within
her purse. She excused herself and once outside her father’s office, answered
the call.

“Everything you’ve asked for has been done. The job is
finished,” an unfamiliar female voice said.

“You’re good. When I heard what happened, I could have creamed
in my panties.” She giggled, waved at her father’s assistant and kept walking
toward what would be her new office. “My father just agreed to let me take
Jude’s place at the magazine. As it should have been all along.”

“Congratulations,” the voice said, without sounding as if she
meant it.

“Can I keep you on retainer?” Mandy asked, thinking this gal
knew her stuff and would be handy to have around. Who knew when she’d want to
kick some other man in his nards? Her father’s in particular.

“That’s not how I operate.”

“Well, I don’t know how you did it and it doesn’t matter, but
I’m so glad that lady told me about your services. I thought it impossible to
penetrate the mighty Jude Layman, but damn if you didn’t do it and
marvelously.”

“The point is the job is done. You won’t be having any more contact
with us and as a reminder, be careful who and what you say anything about our
agency to. We prefer to keep a low profile.” The woman’s voice lowered. “Revenge
isn’t just for the opposite sex, if you get my drift.”

The line went dead.

Mandy stared at her cell.

The witch just threatened her.

Ha. She didn’t need her anyway. Not anymore. She had an office
she needed to check out. An office that was now hers.

As it should have been all along.

* * *

“I’ve got our flights booked for six this evening,” Cassidy
informed when she came back into the apartment living room where Avery sat
working on the sofa. “The cleaning service has been contacted to come in and
give the apartment a once over. We’ll secure the office closer to time to leave.
Anything else?”

Avery gave her friend a distracted look. “I don’t think so.”

“I sent our friend over at the Post a thank you for her
excellent work.”

Excellent work. Avery bit the inside of her bottom lip.

“Did you contact Mandy Sims to let her know we’re finished?” Cassidy
continued.

“Randi’s taken care of it.” Avery stared down at her notes on
Jude. “We didn’t think we should risk her recognizing my voice.”

“Good point.” Cassidy sank onto the sofa and Payback Puss
immediately jumped onto her lap and meowed for attention. “I’m glad this one is
done.”

Avery nodded. “Me, too.”

Cassidy gave her a curious look, stroking the cat’s fur. “So,
how was he?”

Avery glanced up. “Who?”

Cassidy’s eyes rolled ceiling-ward. “You know who.”

Why lie?

“Everything his reputation said. His reputation prior to this
morning, that is.” Avery sighed. Jude’s reputation was shot. Professionally and
personally. Another TGEA job well done. “He’s an amazing lover, but why wouldn’t
he be? He’s sure had enough practice.”

Cassidy snorted. “Despite popular belief, practice does not
make perfect on all things. Sex is one of them. I think a man is either born
with an innate knowledge on how to please a woman or not. Not that a good woman
can’t teach a man how to make love—she can, but most guys aren’t willing to
admit they aren’t Casanova and go for quantity rather than quality lovemaking.”

Avery didn’t comment. How could she? Whether learned from
practice or innate knowledge, Jude had been near perfect. Near?

He had been perfect.

In quantity and quality.

She sighed.

“We didn’t have to do this, you know.”

Avery’s gaze shot to Cassidy. “What’re you talking about?”

“If you’d wanted out of this one, we could have.”

Avery smiled wryly. “Courtney and Randi might see things
differently.”

Cassidy shrugged. “They’d have gotten over it.”

“Maybe.”

“You don’t think he deserved what we’ve done, do you?”

Avery inhaled deeply. “What I think doesn’t matter.”

“Since when?” Cassidy demanded. “It’s always mattered what you
think. One for all and all for one.”

“I know.”

“All men deserve what’s coming to them.”

“I know.”

“But?”

“But nothing. I had a job to do, and I did it. End of story.”

“Then why do you look so glum?”

Avery closed her eyes. “He told me he loved me last night.”

Cassidy’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O’. “Lots of men say that
during sex.” She thought for a moment. “Is that part of his normal M.O.?”

“He says no, but…”

“But?”

“I don’t believe him. I mean, he couldn’t really love me.” Avery
frowned. “He’s known me less than a week. It’s impossible a man like Jude would
fall for me.”

“What’s so impossible about him falling for a beautiful,
amazing woman?” Cassidy shrugged. “It’s quite obvious a woman like you fell for
him.”

“No.” Avery shook her head in quick denial. “I had sex with
him, but I don’t love him.”

Cassidy’s eyes widened and Avery realized she’d slipped up. Even
Payback Puss’s golden eyes seemed to be staring at her with disbelief.

“Love?”

“Not love. I don’t love him.”

“By whose definition of love?”

That caught Avery’s attention. “Mine.”

“Which is?”

She didn’t know how to answer. She’d not ever considered love
or how to define it. Not outside of TGEA. Because outside her sisterhood, she
hadn’t known love. Her mother had probably done her best, but love had been in
short supply while growing up. Plus, her mother had believed her jerk of a
husband over her own daughter at a crucial moment. Avery hadn’t been able to
forgive that particular hurt. Scott had deemed her
screwable
,
but not lovable. Only within TGEA had she felt truly cared for, truly
important.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted.

“Then how can you know love isn’t what Jude feels for you?”
Cassidy logically asked. Logic was Avery’s forte so having Cassidy use it on
her annoyed.

She frowned. “Why are you saying all this? He’s a mark we were
hired to bring down. A mark we brought down. Nothing more.”

“Because I saw how he looked at you at the party. More
importantly, I saw how you looked at him.”

Avery shook her head. “I’ve already told you, that’s just
lust.”

“Maybe.”

Maybe not. Which might explain the gaping hole in Avery’s chest
where her heart used to reside.

“You went further with this mark, did much more to him than
what we initially intended,” Cassidy said, eyeing Avery with far too intelligent
eyes. She ran her fingers over Payback Puss’ entire length, twirling the tip of
his tail. “The way I see it, by totally destroying him, you were out to prove
to yourself that Jude Layman was just a mark. Tell me, Av, did you succeed?”

* * *

Jude sat in Marcus’s office full of rich burgundies and
golds
, waiting while his buddy made some phone calls to see
what he could find out about Jude’s bank account.

Not just his bank account, but his credit cards, too.

He literally had access to no funds except what he kept in his
wallet.

His cell rang. He wasn’t sure he really wanted to talk to
anyone, but he pulled it out in hopes Angela would call. She had his numbers
even if she’d refused to give hers. His home and his cell. Only the caller
wasn’t Angela.

“What the hell do you want?” he asked Mandy.

“Just calling to gloat, love,” the amused witch said.