Page 139 of The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée

“Right,” I say.

“So Wydover meets Marvin in Atlanta. This is two years ago,” my PI says. “Wydover and Marvin get to talking, and he learns that Marvin was adopted. Wydover can see that Marvin looks enough like Gail to pass as a relative. He’s been gunning for the Driscoll account just like you have been, and he decides to set Marvin up as a long-lost relative. Marvin gets a rich family—nothing he can inherit from, but the man was a bartender, right? It’s gonna be a step up. Marvin enrolled in some finance courses at the local college two weeks later. He’s taking the classes, Wydover is fixing the DNA shit, and suddenly this past fall, Gail has an instant nephew who has this econ knowledge. And sure, Gail’s PI did a backgrounder on Marvin, but nothing like the scrutiny he’d get if he pretended to have Driscoll blood, right? Anyway, he turns up as Gail’s relative and angles himself into the assets area. Marvin pushes for the review, and Wydover uses the bombshell about Bellcore to make the timing work.”

“Back up. How did he manipulate the DNA results?” I ask.

“We’re looking into hacks in the labs they used.”

“DNA results are only as reliable as the weakest link in the chain,” I say.

“Precisely. He was playing a very long game. He could’ve used the insight to make money in the market. Instead, he made money in the market and landed Gail’s account.” There’s a pause. “What are you going to do?”

“Show Gail.”

“She won’t like that you tested her DNA. Why not feed this to a reporter?”

“Because that takes too long. Gail’s contract with Wydover is about to go into effect. She’ll want to know now.”

“You think you can save the account?”

“I doubt it,” I say, glancing at the time. “Gail hates any kind of deception. She probably won’t want anything to do with either of us, but at least I keep Wydover from dragging Gail down with him.”

“And it serves as a nice little warning to people who might think about trying to screw you out of accounts in the future.”

“Doesn’t it, though? How fast can you courier over the full report? I want everything you have on Wydover’s association with Marvin and the sister.”

“It’s on its way.”

I look at the clock. Well over three hours before I meet Tabitha. As far as birthday gifts go, the DNA results on Marvin aren’t in the ballpark with my ensuring she’ll never lose her beloved home, but she’ll enjoy finding out that she was right all along, because busting Marvin was our thing—a project we worked on together, that we bonded over. Most of all, she’ll be happy to know she saved Gail’s ass. That’s the kind of person she is. That will make her happy.

The courier is entering my building just as I’m leaving. I grab the report and head to my car, calling Gail en route.

“You don’t have to do this personally,” she says, meaning the transfer of her funds back to her. “There’s no reason you need to be on site for this.”

“I need to do it personally. I have something to show you.”

Gail’s officeis warm and colorful, with a gorgeous grandfather clock in the corner whosetick-tick-tickis the only sound I hear as I watch her study the DNA reports, mouth tight in a grim line.

“You had our DNA tested?” She finally looks up. “Without our knowledge?”

“Something didn’t feel right,” I say.

“You invaded our privacy?”

“Yes,” I say simply.

She’s angry. I knew she would be, but she deserves the truth. She sets the papers on her desk, slides them to the middle. “If this is true…”

I wait, watch her process it. She looks at the wall beside her with a glare so hot and hard, I’m shocked she doesn’t blast a hole right through the plaster. Is that the side that Marvin’s office is on? Is Marvin in the building? It’s not even five yet.

She grabs her phone and sends a text, then tosses it down. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do with you,” she grumbles.

“You needed the facts,” I say.

“Fucking right I did.” There’s a knock. “Come on in,” she says.

“Something wrong?” Marvin asks, poking in his head. His gaze settles on me. “What’reyoudoing here?”

“You ever see the inside of a prison cell, Marvin?” Gail asks.

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