Web of Deception - By Nina Blake Page 0,13
did.”
Kate already knew he came from a wealthy family. “Half your luck.”
“But I didn’t get anything. I’ve got four sisters, all much older. They received millions. They were set for life. I was twelve, just a kid. I got zilch.”
“How can that be? You were his child too.”
“I was a kid. That’s how he saw it. But I wouldn’t let it rest and I gave my father a big human rights speech about how I wasn’t a second class citizen and he finally agreed to give me something. A child’s share because I was a child.”
Daniel quoted an amount which, though significant, didn’t seem like much for a millionaire father to be giving his child.
She wasn’t sure what to say. “And that…was it?”
“It doesn’t seem like much now but twenty-two years ago that was enough to buy a small piece of land. Just a block, no house. So when I was thirteen I bought my first real estate.”
Kate looked at him. “You were thirteen? Who’d sell property to a child?”
“I was six foot two even then and no one questioned it at the auction. I needed the signature of an adult so I raced home as fast as I could. I’ve never pedalled so hard in my life.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You rode your bike to a property auction?”
He shrugged. “It was either that or walk. Then I had to do some quick talking to my mother to get her to countersign.” He shook his head. “I deal with some hard people in business but they’re nothing compared to my mother.”
This was such a strange story. “Didn’t she think there was something odd about a thirteen year old buying a piece of land?”
He laughed. “Not this thirteen year old. No, she wasn’t surprised. And that land went up in value astronomically. Money in the bank wasn’t going to do that. It was a good deal. Anyone could have seen that.”
Kate didn’t think it was quite that simple. If it was, everyone would be rich.
“Then what?”
“I sold that property when I was eighteen. To buy a piece of land at the bottom of the hill on the waterfront. It was one of the best little deals I ever made. It was a small block with one huge advantage. I knew it didn’t have any height restrictions.”
“How did you know that?”
“Boy scouts.”
Her brow crinkled. “What does that mean?”
“I used to ride my bike around doing odd jobs in the neighbourhood. Thanks to boy scouts, I knew every street, every house, everything that was going on.”
“Really?”
He smiled but she could tell he wasn’t joking. “Yes. After I bought the land, I went to the bloke who lived behind it and offered it to him first. He didn’t want anyone blocking out his views. I knew he’d buy it. The guy was loaded. Easiest money I ever made, my first million. I was still a teenager.”
“That’s some story.”
“A true story.” He shot her a look as if to say she shouldn’t doubt him. “I knew what I was doing.”
“I’m sure you did.”
“I always know exactly what I’m doing.”
Having finished first course, Daniel pushed his plate away, his arm brushing against hers. It sent a tingle up her spine, putting her momentarily on edge. This shouldn’t be happening, but it was.
Minutes later, their plates were cleared and the main courses arrived.
Daniel cut into his fillet steak. “Your fiancé seems to be ignoring you tonight.”
She wished he wouldn’t use that word. Wished she hadn’t used it in the first place however that had been her decision. It made her realise she hadn’t given Mark a second thought since they’d sat down. Daniel had taken up her complete attention.
“I hadn’t noticed,” she replied.
“That’s not true and you know it.”
For once, he was wrong. She kept this small victory to herself.
“You’re not exactly being attentive to your date either, you know,” Kate said.
“Date?”
She nodded towards the attractive, well-dressed blonde sitting to his left.
“You’re mistaken, Kate. She’s with Sam, the man sitting next to her. They’ve only just started seeing each other and she’s completely besotted by him. She doesn’t want to spend the whole night talking to me.”
“So you’re here on your own?”
He nodded.
“What’s the matter?” She couldn’t help but smile. “Couldn’t get a date tonight?”
The question might have been cruel if it had been true but it wasn’t, and she couldn’t resist teasing him.
“Maybe I couldn’t get the date I wanted.”
Kate slid a prawn into her mouth and tried to concentrate on the sweetness, the taste, the