If not to expose him as a liar, what was the point?
“Unless we could come to some kind of arrangement where you convince me not to tell him,” she said.
Oh.
Blackmail.
That made a little more sense.
Obviously, she’d gotten the impression that Ben was better paid than he actually was. Or that Sam had money that he had access to.
That wasn’t the worst conclusion she could have jumped to. This place wasn’t cheap, so if they could afford to be here…
Well, it was easy to fool yourself into thinking that travel photographers had to be rolling in family money to do what they did. In reality, Sam had just always been good at getting a free meal when he needed one. Or when he didn’t need one.
People liked doing things for him.
If anything, Ben would be the insecure one in this relationship. Annie had picked the wrong target.
But this was a much, much better story than the one he’d been sent here to write.
“How much?” he asked. Annie’s eyes lit up.
“We’ll talk about money later,” she said. “I’m going to leave you to think about how much Sam is worth to you. I think it’s a lot.”
It was a lot. Money didn’t mean anything to Ben, but Sam meant the world. There was nothing he wouldn’t have done to keep him, no amount he wouldn’t have paid.
A lot of people could get caught up in a scam like this, though, desperate to hold onto partners they loved—or needed—who maybe didn’t trust them as much as they should have. Partners who would have been swayed by video evidence, who could have used it in court to take advantage of prenuptial agreements.
Sam would believe Ben, though. Wouldn’t he?
She was right that their romantic relationship was on shaky ground, but that didn’t mean their friendship was. If he’d learned nothing else this week, Ben had definitely learned that Sam was still his best friend. The person he’d been closest to in his entire life.
As long as he was honest, as long as Sam heard his side of the story first, they’d be okay.
Unless…
Ben’s stomach clenched as he thought about it, suddenly unsure. What if Samdidbelieve her? Or even if he didn’t, what if the whole incident planted doubts in his mind?
“It is,” Ben said quietly, keeping up the act. He wanted to see how this would all play out before he jumped to any conclusions. The story was still important. The story was going to be enough to save Ballsy.
At least he’d have that to comfort him.
The more he thought about it, the more brilliant the scam became. Charge a fortune to come to your exclusive couples’ retreat, which would ensure that only wealthy couples turned up, and then double-dip with a little side of blackmail, knowing that all your potential targets were in fragile relationships already.
If Ben hadn’t been pissed off about it, he would have been more inclined to appreciate the genius.
What if this was how he lost Sam, after all?
How many people had been caught in this mess? How many lives ruined quietly, out of the public eye, because it was too embarrassing to admit that you’d been scammed like this?
If the higher-ups at Cocky wanted a piece about couples’ retreats, they were going to get one.
“Good,” Annie repeated. “You’ll receive further instructions before you leave tomorrow. I hope the rest of your stay is pleasant.”
Rather than argue, Ben turned and made a show of storming away, heading back to his and Sam’s room.
He couldn’t hide this from him. He’d have to come clean as soon as possible and hope that Sam believed him.
Sam had to believe him.
Ben couldn’t face losing him again.
