Love Under Three Titans Read Online Free PDF

Benedict to know of his intentions until it was too late for the bastard to do anything about them.
    “An associate in Europe, aware of my lack of familiarity with business entities in this country, recommended you. If you’re not interested in this assignment, then certainly I can look elsewhere.”
    “Oh, I’m interested all right. In all manner of things.”
    Conrad was not without charm. It was another quality Dear Father had insisted he cultivate. “You appear to be a man of myriad tastes and interests,” he said now, exuding as much amicability as he could manage under the circumstances.
    The detective said nothing to that. Instead, he sat back from his plate, folded his linen napkin, and set it beside his fork.
    Conrad did the same. At the silent signal, the waiter appeared, efficiently whisking away both their plates. “Would you gentlemen care to see the dessert menu?”
    “Just coffee for me, please, black.” The detective never once looked away from Conrad’s gaze.
    Conrad didn’t know what the man thought he would accomplish with such a juvenile tactic. He’d been stared down by experts and never flinched.
    To the waiter, he said, “Earl Grey tea, hot. Lemon only.”
    When they were alone once more, the detective nodded. “Why don’t you tell me what it is you’d like us to do for you, Mr. Clarence?”
    “I’m interested in finding some investment opportunities in the state of Texas. I’ve had preliminary contact with a gentleman from there. As you can imagine, being from London and unfamiliar with the territory, I have no way of truly discerning the measure of this man. I need to know all there is to be discovered about him. I have his name, of course. I believe his family is fairly prominent in the state, so you may not have much of a challenge here. Regardless, I would like a full report. I also would like a listing of all the investment and real-estate opportunities in or near the small town he calls home.”
    “Are you, perhaps, looking for information that may prove to have a certain financial value in order to assist you with your negotiations?”
    Bloody sot thinks I want to blackmail Benedict. The idea was so insulting Conrad nearly rose from the table and walked out.
    As if a Conrad would ever stoop to such a tawdry and cowardly undertaking as extortion . As far as he was concerned, blackmail was an action taken by base creatures that groveled for their living in the sewers of the world. Creatures incapable of making bolder moves.
    Creatures like the man sitting across the table from him.
    Conrad’s plan was much more sophisticated than blackmail. He’d simply return to Richard Benedict equal measure the damage the man had inflicted upon him. He intended to ruin his reputation and his finances.
    And then he’d find that which Benedict held dearest to his heart and take it away from him.
    The detective awaited an answer. Conrad reminded himself he needed to behave in a congenial manner. “My goal is to understand the man, completely. I want to know about his family and his friends, his strengths and his weaknesses. I want to know what he loves and what he hates. And yes, I want to find an investment opportunity in that town he calls home. Partnerships are, after all, the ties that bind.”
    “I see. My partner and I can certainly gather that information for you. We charge a thousand dollars a day, plus expenses, with twenty thousand due up front.”
    Conrad abhorred the practice of making money matters so prominent in business negotiations. No finesse, no politesse. Just cold, hard cash. He didn’t know if he would ever get used to doing business on this side of the Atlantic.
    The detective’s terms had been quoted on the phone when he’d called and arranged the meeting, so of course Conrad had the situation well in hand.
    Saying nothing, he reached into his right inside jacket pocket and withdrew a check. He laid it facedown on the table and slid it over to the man.
    Proving