“Don’t build me up too big, I’m just an Events Manager, not a Life Coach.” I shook my head at him. “It sounds like the only thing you need is someone who’s not going to blow smoke up your ass ‘cause you’re filthy rich.”
Flynn’s smile dropped clean off his face. If I didn’t know better I’d be scrambling on the floor at his feet looking for it. It happened that fast. “They call us that you know.” His voice quietened. “Filthy Rich and Playboys. The FRAP boys.”
“I had heard.”
“They don’t know us at all, and yet someone decided that’s who we were—a collective. With too much money to have any common sense.”
“Some of you do seem to own that reputation.” I said, poking the wound.
“Do we? Or have people just made up shit to suit themselves.” He looked around him. “I think I have enough to work with for now. I’ll go home and make some plans and I’ll be in touch.”
That was it. Flynn was now the closed down man I’d expected.
I went in my purse and passed him a business card. “My cell number is on there. Call me when you need to come back to take the photos, or,” I paused, “if you need that friend.”
He nodded and held out his hand again, back to his most professional self.
“It was nice to meet you, Miss Ripley. Thank you for the advice. I’m going to think on it.”
“Anytime.” I told him, but his face didn’t move. He’d turned into a beautiful statue and I wondered if I’d got snakes now for hair because I was the one who’d caused it, by pushing too much, too soon.
He turned on his heel and walked away. Where I’d expected to be glad to see the back of one of the FRAP boys, I actually felt his loss. It was palpable, the room feeling empty as Flynn’s magnetic personality left with him.
I couldn’t wait for the day to finish. I was ready for a little down time in my room to get my head around what I’d found out and try to fix some pieces of the jigsaw of the mystery picture that was the FRAP boys and Leonie.
My room was basic but comfortable. Small with a bed, a dresser, and a small tv. We could eat in the restaurant and had an allowance toward the cost of the food, which if you chose wisely covered the cost of the meal. We could also collect food and drink and take it back to our room. I did just that and sat eating pizza, with pieces of paper strewn all over the bed as I tried to work out Flynn Kelly and Carter Cole.
Flynn was an enigma. He’d had the relationship with Rose and seemed private. Yet this was at odds with the story from Leonie about being seduced and finding her photographs all over the gallery wall. I had no reason to doubt her story but why would he have done this without her knowledge? Put pictures of them in the throes of passion where his friends could see? The indications were definitely there, that the guys were up for sharing. Is that why they’d invited her to the gallery? To see how she responded to the shock value of her photos? To see if she was turned on, or humiliated? Either the guys were playing games or they actually were trying to find a girlfriend who accepted their brotherhood. But were they really after one woman for them all?
I checked my cell. Carter hadn’t called me yet. He probably wouldn’t. I guessed he was a serial charmer and had worked his way onto another victim by now. It was a shame, because as my investigation got under way maybe I’d be better off staying with one of the guys in luxury, rather than in this cramped little hotel room. Then again how would that look to the rest of the staff here at the Dream? As much as it sucked, I was in the right place for now.
I decided to make sure I accompanied Flynn on his photo shoots like I’d said, even though I knew he was more than capable of doing his task without me. I needed him to drop that guard again and somehow bring the conversation around to the question of intimate photography. I’d find a way. It was why I’d been given this job in the first place. I was the best.
So, Carter may or may not call me. Flynn I was seeing at work. I picked up the files on the remaining two, Jayden and Smith. These two were party boys. If I wanted to get an in with them I would have to seek them out. I remembered that Leonie had said she’d met Smith when he’d come for a massage. First thing in the morning I’d check the diary and see if he was booked in. Then I’d somehow accidentally bump into him.
In fact, I decided I couldn’t wait. I left my room and went to the reception of the spa. “Hi, ladies.” I said to the women behind the counter. The spa opened until midnight with rooms for treatments and the ultimate in hotel spa luxury: steam rooms, saunas, and an infinity pool that was half indoors and half under a glass roof and heated. That second half extended out over the hotel so those in the pool or resting on the outside of it could see the ground below. Luckily it didn’t overhang traffic because it would sure be distracting to look up and see people swimming above your head. Instead it looked over the hotel landscaping.
“Hey, they got you working late?” One of the women said.
“No, it’s just my brain doesn’t know when to quit. I’m thinking about offers. Could I check out the current bookings to see where to focus my attention?”
“Sure.” She keyed in a few things and went through different screens and then showed me how to access what I needed. Then her attention was diverted by a client.
I quickly scanned through the bookings. Smith Henderson was booked in every Thursday morning at eleven.
The receptionist looked over my shoulder. “If you could get us a few more customers that aren’t like that one, we’d be grateful.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Sounds like there’s some gossip there?” I placed emphasis on the last word to encourage a loose tongue.
“We keep losing staff because of that one. You’ve heard of him, right? Total party boy. One of the FRAP boys as they’re known around these parts. He keeps seducing the masseuses and then they leave as soon as he dumps them.”
“Really? Well in that case I think I’ll make sure as to have a word with Mr. Henderson as that’s not good for the hotel’s reputation. Maybe we need to look at who we employ too?”
“Well, you didn’t hear it from me.” She said. “But it would sure be good to not have him sleazing around the place.”
“Is that how he comes across? A huge sleazeball? Because I can work with that?”
She shook her head. “Unfortunately no. He comes across as one super nice guy. It’s obviously his MO. Total sugar and spice. Then BOOM, they’re dropped like hot massage stones, usually after he’s shared them with his friends.”