Page 47 of Benedict’s Rejuvenation (Dark Patriots #5)

After dessert, we retired to the salon for coffee or a nightcap.

Beau and I felt we had to have at least one small nightcap.

Wynne had tried to get us to drink with him more than once throughout dinner, but we used the excuse that we liked to taste the food without anything changing the flavor.

We stuck to water. We’d allowed the ladies to have one glass of wine.

Seated, we were sipping our whiskey, and Kensy and Keeley were having more of the lemonade. It was time to get to the point of this visit. Well, the overt reason.

“Joshua, tonight’s dinner was amazing, and the company has been excellent.

Thank you for that. But I think it’s time that we got to the whole reason why we’re here.

You don’t know us. You see our women at the gala, and have your lawyer try to arrange a meeting with them.

When they refuse, as they know they must, we’re invited along.

Why? What business opportunity do you have for them? ” I asked point-blank.

He chuckled, then nodded. “A straightforward man. Yes, I did see your ladies there, and I was struck by them. Their beauty is breathtaking. And to have two women who look so much alike, enough to be twins, well, it made me think that they had to show that beauty. Have either of you been asked to model before?”

They shook their heads after looking to Beau and me and receiving our nods.

“I’m a silent partner in a small, though growing modeling agency.

I don’t like to have it known because then I’d be inundated with requests.

However, when I see natural beauties like Keeley and Kensy, I like to talk to them and see if they’d like to be models.

I can promise you, I have several clients of that agency who would fight to have you work for them. ”

Keeley whispered in Beau’s ear. He nodded, so she turned to Wynne. Goddamn, they were playing their parts to the hilt.

“Joshua, my sister, and I are too old to be models. I’m almost thirty and she’s five years younger. Most women start in their teens, and by our age, they’re done. I’m flattered that you think anyone would want us. Thank you for the compliment.”

“That was true back in the day, but not anymore. People are realizing that beauty isn’t just limited to being a teenager.

We want more mature women. And the two of you are ideal in age and every attribute.

I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to meet with a few of those clients and get their feedback directly.

And if they show you that what I’m saying is true, we’d organize a photo shoot.

“What do you say? May I bring in those clients to see your fiancées in person? And then you can decide if what they have to offer sounds like something you want the ladies to pursue.”

He pitched it to Beau and me, totally skipping over asking the women if they wanted to do it. I had to hold myself back from hitting him and telling him what a dick he was. I swear I felt the anger coming off the women in waves, but Wynne was too stupid or too far away to feel it.

“You really think that they could make money as models? Are we talking chump change or significant money?” I asked.

“I’m talking about how they would pay thousands many times over. More than you can imagine,” Wynne answered.

Playing the asshole I was, I grinned. “I think I might enjoy having all those men vying for her and can only have her that way.” I leered at Kensy. I made myself sick doing it. She gave me a sweet one back.

“When would this meeting be? We’re only here a few more days, then we have to head back to the mainland. Can you get something together that fast?” Beau asked.

“I can if you can extend your stay and not leave until Sunday. We’ll have the meeting here on Friday night. I’ll make all the arrangements and let you know a time,” he said.

We both readily agreed. With that out of the way, we fell into more talking. I was racking my brain on how to get a tour when Kensy did it. She touched my arm and leaned close to whisper. “Just agree with whatever I want.”

I muttered, “Okay.”

She sent Wynne an innocent smile. “Joshua, I hope you won’t think I’m being impertinent or rude, but your house, from what we’ve seen, is incredible. I’ve always wanted to stand at the top of a double staircase like you have. Would it be possible to do that? It’s been a dream since I was little.”

“She’s telling the truth. It was all the fairy tales she loved to read.

Your house is beyond lovely. I would get lost in such a large place.

And you live here alone. You must have a big staff who live on-site and keep it clean and running for you.

You said it’s not your full-time home,” Keeley added.

“I come here a couple of months out of the year. Sometimes, my children are with me, but they’re currently in school.

I have Crocker and Mrs. Beatty, the cook.

She prepared tonight’s meal. They don’t live here.

When it’s cleaning time, they bring in a few ladies to do it, and then they leave.

I like my privacy. Kensy, not only may you stand at the top of those stairs, but I’d like to give you a quick tour.

When you return on Friday, we can have a more in-depth one.

I’ll be able to show you all the secrets then. ”

Bingo, we were on. Both women acted excited, and he lapped it up.

They asked prettily if it was permitted they tour.

Beau and I pretended to be doing them a great favor by saying yes.

Wynne took us on the tour. Beau and I hung back and let Wynne do the talking, and the sisters charmed him.

He took us through the large home. It had eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, along with a kitchen, a salon, a family room, a dining room, a breakfast room, a den, and a private game room.

By the time we were done, it was after ten o’clock.

We made the excuse that we had an early morning appointment, so we had to wrap up the evening.

Wynne walked us to the door. He thanked us and shook our hands before giving Keeley and Kensy charming smiles and telling them he looked forward to seeing them on Friday.

The walk down those steps and to the car seemed to take forever. And he watched us the entire way.

After assisting the women into the car, Beau and I turned and waved, which Wynne returned, then we got in and took off as soon as the car was started.

I watched in the backseat as the sisters practically tore off their chokers.

The look of disgust on their faces was evident, even in the mostly dark car.

“That man makes me sick to my stomach, and my skin crawls. He’s like Vadzim. I know it,” Kensy stated.

“How do you know? I admit, he’s a creep, but how can you know?” Keeley asked her.

“I get the same feeling from him that I got from Vadzim and Nikita. They like to have women at their mercy, and they love to cause them pain. They feel threatened by women, especially strong ones. They have to force you to submit to make themselves feel like men and in control. Aimée is in that house, or she was. And I’ll bet money she wasn’t the first. We’ve got to make her the last. We have to find her.

Friday has to be the day,” Kensy said as tears filled her eyes.

As she broke down crying, I had Beau pull over.

I got in the back and let Keeley up front.

We were far away enough that we wouldn’t be seen.

I held Kensy the whole way back to the rental.

She was hit hard tonight. I prayed it wouldn’t trigger a flashback for her.

We needed both women to be strong so we could pull this off on Friday.

We had a ton to do between now and then.

We had less than seventy-two hours to prepare.