CHAPTER 162: SEDUCE HER

Stefan wasn’t entirely sure what to expect as he walked into the Gentlemen’s Club where he was to have a drink with Tom and Harry.

They had asked him to hang out with them after he was well rested so he could tell them the actual situation of things as someone who had been in Westend in person.

The moment he walked in, he spotted the best friends seated at the VIP lounge and they both seemed to be on the phone talking to someone.

They gave him a nod as he joined them, and gestured to him to sit down.

"It doesn’t matter. Triple whatever he is paying them and give them some extra incentives. Someone like Ryan buys loyalty, so it’s only right we buy the loyalty of his men too. At the end of the day they’d be benefiting more," Harry said to the person on the phone.

"Just make sure they don’t know who is paying them. Keep our identity anonymous as usual," Tom added.

Stefan listened to the conversation with interest.

"Good job," Harry said to the person on the phone before Tom hung up.

"Stefan, you look really good. Westend must have been good for you," Tom observed, and Harry chuckled.

"I thought it was just me. Genevieve must have taken good care of you," Harry teased, and they both laughed seeing how Stefan looked embarrassed.

Stefan scratched the back of his head, "It must be because I didn’t do any work and just relaxed," he said, wondering how much Jamal could have told them.

"Yeah. It must be that. What else could it be?" Harry asked, chuckling as he slapped Stefan’s back playfully.

"That’s enough, Harry. Quit embarrassing the young man," Tom said as he signaled a waiter over to bring a glass for Stefan. "Welcome back to Ludus."

"Thank you. It’s good to be back," Stefan said, and Tom grinned.

"Are you sure you’re happy to be back though?" Tom teased, and Harry laughed.

"I thought you said I should stop?" Harry asked Tom.

"I couldn’t help it," Tom said with a chuckle as the waiter poured Stefan’s wine.

After the waiter left, Tom faced Stefan, his expression turning serious now. "Talk to us, Stefan. Tell us all about the trip to Westend."

Stefan spent the next couple of minutes telling them all that had happened and how he ended up acting as Jamal. He only left out the feelings he had developed for Genevieve.

When he was done, Tom sighed softly as he picked up his glass of wine and sipped from it. "Give us your unbiased view on Genevieve," Tom said, picking up his glass to sip from it.

"Unbiased," Harry stressed.

Stefan nodded. "I believe that she is a victim, too. I don’t know the details, but I don’t think she ended up stealing Dawn’s identity simply because she wanted to. I know she joined hands with Ryan Harris and has been deceiving everyone all these years, and has also been mean to Abigail, but I think if she’s taken away from her father’s influence she could actually be good. I know you’re more concerned about exposing her and her father than about her being good," he said, and Harry and Tom exchanged an amused look but said nothing as he continued. "But I believe I can get her to help us expose her father."

"You can? How so?" Tom asked with a raised brow.

"I shared my plan with Jamal and he said he mentioned it to you. I want to bring her down to Ludus. Jamal admitted that she changed a lot in the last couple of days. If she could change that much after spending so little time with me I believe she’d change even more and would be willing to expose her father," Stefan said and Tom’s brow rose.

"Are you sure that’s the only reason you want her here?" Tom asked, holding his gaze.

"Yes. I believe she can change and I really do want her to change. I think all she needs is a good friend and positive influence around her. If she’s surrounded by people that genuinely cares about her, she can change," Stefan said without looking away.

"What happens if she realizes what you’re up to and the plan backfires because she feels betrayed by you?" Harry asked, staring at him too.

"That won’t happen. I think we should focus on..." he trailed off when Tom’s phone on the table began to ring with a call from Jamal.

Tom received the call, "How are you doing? I was going to call you."

"How was your first day at work, Mr Secretary?" Harry asked, and they all laughed.

"I’m okay. Work was good too. I just might resign from my position as CEO to become a secretary. It’s interesting," Jamal said, making them laugh.

"Well, I’m sure Stefan here won’t mind employing you," Tom said and Jamal raised a brow.

"Stefan is there?" Jamal asked and Stefan cleared his throat.

"Yeah. I’m here. After I leave here I’m going to pick up the SUV you promised me," Stefan said, and Jamal snorted.

"Sure. But don’t you think it’s unfair that you are taking the SUV when you and Genevieve are..."

"We can talk about the SUV later. I’m sure you didn’t call to talk to me," Stefan quickly cut him off not wanting Jamal to bring up his feelings for Genevieve.

Tom and Harry exchanged an amused look. "So, what’s going on, Jamal?" Tom asked, changing the subject.

"Nothing much. Today was Josh’s first day at school. He knows Abigail is his mom. I think that might make things a little easier," Jamal said and told them what Abigail had told him.

"Smart kid. He must have Dawn’s smart brains," Harry said with a grin.

"What do you mean by that, uncle Harry?" Jamal asked with mock annoyance making them laugh.

"Anyway, is there any update from your man yet? Has he been able to hack into the devices?" Jamal asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, he has," Tom said to Jamal’s relief.

"And?" Jamal asked curiously.

"Well, thankfully there are no cameras at the office. The only security cameras he seems to monitor are those by his study. Our men were able to get hold of the investigator he sent to look into you. We handled it and he has reported back to him. You’re clear," Tom said, and Jamal let out a sigh of relief.

"Can your men keep monitoring him? His phone calls and everything?" Jamal asked hopefully.

"Of course. We have a whole team set up to monitor just him. Don’t worry. This wont take long," Tom promised.

Before Jamal could respond his phone rang and he frowned when he saw it was Ryan.

"I have to go now. He’s calling me," Jamal said, and quickly hung up the call before they could respond, and he received Ryan’s call.

"Come over to my study," Ryan said immediately the call connected and he hung up.

Immediately after dinner Ryan had retired to his study to think.

He was very glad that the private investigator had proved that Pete was genuine and everything he had said about himself was correct.

He could trust him a little and use him comfortably now.

Now he stood by the window, staring outside with a smirk on his face as he developed the idea that had fully formed in his head.

He had figured out a way to keep Abigail by his side forever and to make sure she would never want to leave with Josh.

Ryan turned to the door when he heard a knock on it and he walked to his desk and pressed the button to open the door.

As Jamal walked in, Ryan smirked as he sat behind his desk and gestured to Jamal to sit down.

"How was work today?" Ryan asked, looking at him with interest.

Jamal knew that Ryan wasn’t asking because he was interested in his day, but he was asking what had happened at the office relating to Genevieve and Abigail.

Jamal went on to tell him all they had done that day and he ended by talking about the package Abigail had received.

"You sent it anonymously on behalf of Genevieve?" Ryan asked, not believing him.

Jamal nodded and took out his phone from his pocket. He unlocked it and showed Ryan the receipt of the transaction and order.

Ryan paused, surprised that Genevieve had been telling the truth. He had thought she had made that up to protect Abigail.

"I see," Ryan said with a sigh, then looked at Jamal again.

"You mentioned that your girlfriend used to be Genevieve’s assistant and she helped you secure the job," Ryan said, and Jamal’s heart skipped a beat as he wondered why Ryan was bringing that up.

"Yeah."

"How are things going with her?" Ryan asked, watching him closely.

Jamal shrugged. "Not so well. Getting this job while she lost hers has sort of put a strain on our relationship," Jamal said, and Ryan nodded.

"That makes sense," he said, still watching Jamal closely.

"How ambitious are you, Pete? How high do you want to go?" Ryan asked, and Jamal held his gaze.

"As high as you’d let me," Jamal said, and Ryan laughed, amused by his response.

"As high as I’d let you? Why that?" He asked with response.

"Because I don’t want to scare you or make you feel threatened by my ambition," Jamal admitted and Ryan laughed out loud again.

Jamal watched with a straight face until his laughter died down, and then Ryan cleared his throat.

"I want to play an interesting game with my daughter, Abigail. And I want you in on it. Are you willing to do whatever I ask you to?" He asked, and Jamal’s heart skipped a beat.

What was he planning?

Ryan grinned when he saw Jamal’s hesitation. "If you play your card right, who knows, you might end up sitting on this seat some day," Ryan said, and Jamal’s eyes widened slightly.

"What do you want me to do?" Jamal asked curiously.

"Seduce her, and marry her."