by Lacey Legend
“I was under the impression it might help with your university fees, but I can see I was off on that particular hunch.”
“Spencer, what freak has a private investigator on my case to unravel the mystery of how my university tuition is funded?”
“The kind of billionaire freak who wants a second date.”
“Do you realize how warped that sounds?”
“I wanted to know that truth,” he said honestly.
“You only had to ask.”
“It may have been safer doing it this way.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning look at your background, Jenna. Your university fees are paid for by a childhood sweetheart’s uncle. This random man is paying your fees and he has no real connection with you. He’s doing it because he’s obligated to his nephew – your ex. It’s dirty money.”
“It’s not dirty money,” she turned on him harshly. “The motor shop is legitimate. It doesn’t launder money and the man that runs it has a reputable, established practice so don’t go poking your nose in where it doesn’t belong, Spencer Lawson.”
“Maybe you need to wise up and start poking your nose in. There’s something amiss here Jenna. No one gets a free ride. Do you think at some point down the line, Leon or his uncle won’t be calling on a favor, reminding you who paid for you to get to university?”
The thought hadn’t occurred to Jenna. It was evil and she didn’t want to think that of Leon, but a voice deep inside her told her it wasn’t out of the realms of possibilities.
“And what’s the solution, then.”
Spencer sat on a desk and stretched his feet out. He let his eyes caress Jenna’s for a long time.
“Let me pay the tuition. I’ll reimburse Leon’s uncle for what he’s paid so far and cover the remainder of your fees. That way the money is clean and you don’t owe anyone anything. It can really be a fresh start for you.”
“Spencer, how is doing that any different to what I’m doing now?”
“Because it’s me.”
“You? The man that can’t hold down a relationship. The man that’s all money and focus with no time for passion and relationships.”
“That’s the kind of man Jenna, who won’t be playing games with you. Toying with ties and loyalties, calling in favors isn’t what I do. I’m in a financial position where I don’t need to call in favors. Your fees won’t even mark my bank balance. It’s a business transaction. A charitable act. There’s no emotion or feelings included to tarnish the set up.”
“Don’t you get it, Spencer?”
“Get what?”
“I don’t want to be a charity. I don’t want to be some girl from the wrong side of the tracks that you help. I want to mean something to you. I want to belong to you. I want your investment to be an emotional one in me, not a financial one in my future.”
The room was quiet. The raspy breathing of the two adults reverberated down the corridor.
“I never asked for you to be relocated, Jenna.”
“I know, Spencer. Ms. Princely saw the spread from the paparazzi in the tabloids. She had a bizarre idea that the exclusive clientele may be under the impression we offer services other than cleaning. She didn’t want people assuming she was the madam of a high class escort agency that ran under the guise of a domestic cleaning service.”
The two of them laughed at the idea.
“You were my contingency plan,” confessed Spencer.
“Truly?”
“Yeah.”
“I got first refusal – how flattering.”
“I got the text on my way from London saying my date for the charity had been cancelled. I did the math and realized you’d be in the flat when I arrived. I figured if I went in on charm offensive with a whopping great check then there was every chance you wouldn’t reject me.”
“You know. I’d have accepted the invite even if it hadn’t come with a check. I’d have accepted the invite if you asked me as soon as you walked in the door.”
“I figured as much,” he grinned lazily.
“Every girl dreams of being a princess for a night. The whole Cinderella scenario, but you know what was so perfect about that date?”
Spencer didn’t bother arguing over whether it was a date or not.
“I wasn’t pretending to be a princess. I was a princess. I didn’t feel like a fish out of water. I didn’t feel out of my league. I didn’t feel like I was struggling to socialize. I wasn’t battling to keep up. I was part of the scene and the scene flowed so easily with you next to me. It was a perfect night. It’s a shame Prince Charming turned into a frog the following morning.”
Spencer blushed and on his pale skin it was evident he was mortified when thinking over his behavior.
“It’s like you said. I’m good with money and computers, but women are something else. If I’d woken up to some investment bonds or a laptop I’m sure I’d have been charm personified, but I didn’t. I woke up next to a princess and I realized I’d crossed every line and every boundary I’d ever set myself. I mean if anything, the awkwardness of this entire situation does reinforce my belief that you don’t mix business with pleasure.”
“Least we’ve established that,” confirmed Jenna, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Have we?”
“You said,” reminded Jenna.
“I understand that my hiring the PI and running police checks - which all came back clean I might add- were well over the top, but I was being serious when I said I wanted that second date. I need to get to know you better. I want to get to know you better. I might find the answers out better if I do it firsthand rather than hiring someone to do all the ground work for me.”
“That is kind of the point of dating. Putting in the legwork to see if a couple can work or not.”
“So are you willing to go on a second date with me?” his smile was half arrogant, but Jenna could see the hope in his eyes.
“We’re very different people, Spencer.”
“I know all this. I can’t relate to your world at all. My mum and dad have been married forever, my family is well to do in the medical field, I had a privileged upbringing, the finest education, handshakes and employment opportunities from all the right people and I’m immersed in that social class. It’s a world you’ve never been a part of and maybe you won’t want to be a part of it, but I’d love it if you were open minded enough to give it a try.”
Jenna closed her eyes and thought hard. Leon was right. She had to move forward and upward and make changes. Dating billionaire Spencer Lawson would be the first step in that process.
“You’ve got your second date, Mr. Lawson.”
Spencer grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to him tight. The force of his vice like grip was threatening and sexy. As he bowed his head for his lips to meld with hers she could feel the warmth sizzling between them. Tilting his pelvis forward, Jenna had an idea of how badly Spencer wanted this second date.
Jenna struggled free.
“Oh, Mr. Lawson?”
“Yes, Ms.. King.”
“A second date does not constitute you and me sharing Zada’s juice in the portacot while I’m at work.”
“No?”
“No. I suggest you get your thinking cap on and come up with something more suitable.”
“I’ll take that as my marching orders then,” he replied, giving Jenna brief salute.
“I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
Spencer meekly turned to the elevator and waved goodbye.
“Spencer?” called Jenna.
His finger hit the door open button. She ran forward and kissed him more passionately on the lips.
“I really can’t wait.”
He cheekily bit her bottom lip, forcing her to pull back. As she caught a hint of blood on her lip she watched the let the lift begin its descent.
Chapter Six
Spencer Lawson was not accustomed to not being in control and the current situation didn’t
sit well with him. He wasn’t exactly sure how long he’d been staring aimlessly at the computer screen monitor. He wasn’t even sure in his mind exactly what task he’d set himself to do in his multibillion IT company because the only thing on his mind at the moment, was Jenna King.
She should’ve been nothing more than a faceless cleaner in his New York penthouse but the motivated, family-oriented Brooklyn born and bred NYU student had caught his attention, against his better judgment. Unlike the other women he normally dated, Jenna was refreshingly honest and warm-hearted. Spencer was unused to unbridled emotions and enthusiasm and was charmed by Jenna.
After some unfortunate photos, her employer decides to relocate Jenna, to prevent anything indiscreet happening between the lovers. Jenna now worked evenings cleaning an office building and Spencer was left with a pleasant, middle-aged cleaner doing a flawless job with his apartment.
But being deprived of Jenna as his cleaner, meant spending time with her was almost impossible, with their clashing schedules. The easiest way to resolve the problem was to insist Jenna be relocated back to his apartment, but Spencer knew it was a pompous request.
Shutting his eyes, he felt a pang of guilt. If he demanded Jenna be reinstated, his new cleaner Mrs. Kozak’s abilities may come under scrutiny. He didn’t want her out of a job or thinking that Spencer didn’t appreciate the work she did. Nor was Spencer going to sit down with Mrs. Kozak to explain his personal motivations, either.
Ms. Princely, the director of Supreme Cleaning Services, who provided Spencer with his cleaners, was a formidable woman. The association of a pretty cleaner with a British billionaire playboy was unwanted attention for her company. He respected that and knew professionally the value of an impeccable reputation, thus talking her round to his way of thinking was a somewhat daunting task.
Sometimes throwing money at a problem just doesn’t yield the magical solution you want, thought Spencer. I could, of course, hire Jenna directly. Increase her wage, give her back her hours and bypass Ms. Princely completely. It would be a win-win situation.
But would it, he thought.
He let his dark brown eyes scan his desk to find the newspaper that had the incriminating photos of a glammed up Jenna entering his residence and a less than groomed Jenna in her Supreme Cleaning Services uniform sneaking out of his premises the following morning. To him, she looked beautiful in both pictures.
“This paper is days old,” said Spencer aloud. “Why do I still even have it on my desk, let alone opened on that page?” He knew the answer, but did not want to admit it to himself.
It was Jenna who was suffering the most. The arrangement had a severe impact on the quality of Jenna’s life and her family’s – and that wasn’t fair. The shift from selfishness to actually considering what Jenna was going through was the incentive Spencer needed. He placed a far greater value on pride than money. Buying Ms. Princely’s compliance would be easy but swallowing his pride and asking her to help him was a greater sacrifice.
Jenna didn’t deserve this. She hadn’t asked to be his date. She hadn’t asked to be photographed. She hadn’t asked to be the object of Spencer’s growing attraction. She shouldn’t be the one to be punished.
Sucking in his cheeks and making a whistling sound with his pursed plump lips, Spencer braced himself for the phone call. He ran a hand down his hollowed cheekbones, shook his head, dialed Supreme Cleaning Services, and asked to be put through to Ms. Princely.
“Mr. Lawson, how can I help you?” asked Ms. Princely; cool, but friendly.
“It’s not about how you can help me, but how you can help Jenna.”
There was silence on the line.
“Why do I get the feeling my helping Jenna is going to help you?”
Spencer didn’t respond.
“Is there a problem with Mrs. Kozak?” prompted Ms. Princely, knowing she‘d given Spencer one of her top cleaners.
“Of course not. She’s perfect and I’ve no complaints about her work.”
“If that’s the case, I suggest you let me look after my own employees.”
“Under normal circumstances, I would, but I feel responsible for Jenna’s current predicament.”
“Jenna’s an adult and can take responsibility for her own actions.”
“I know that,” said Spencer, slightly annoyed. “Jenna didn’t ask for the paparazzi to follow her or track her movements during the time spent with me. She wouldn’t have even been aware that came with the territory. Had she known the potential consequences, I’m sure she’d have been a lot more discreet. It was unfortunate she was photographed in her uniform.”
“It was unfortunate for her and for me.”
“I know. We have a saying in England, ‘Today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chips paper’.”
“I’m aware of it,” said Ms. Princely drily.
“Then you know this will blow over. It was tabloid fodder the next day, but nobody cares who I date – certainly not long term.”
“That’s not true, though, is it, Mr. Lawson. If nobody cared who you were linked to, those photographs would never have been printed.”
She has you there, old boy, thought Spencer, giving Ms. Princely a private point in their war of words.
“But think of all the women I’m photographed with. I bet you couldn’t remember who I was photographed with a two weeks ago, let alone two months ago.”
Spencer did have a reputation as a ladies’ man.
“This call to me then, is to tell me that your evening with Jenna King was nothing more than a one-night stand?” goaded Ms. Princely.
“No, it most certainly isn’t,” barked Spencer. “This is to say that I can understand you wanting to put distance between myself and Jenna, in respect to your company, but the current regime of having her working nights while babysitting seems unfair. I know she’s grateful how accommodating you are regarding the situation surrounding her family, but it seems a punishment. I was hoping you might reconsider her work placement.”
“And put her back with you?”
“Ideally yes, but realistically, I see that wouldn’t work and isn’t feasible for a number of reasons. Surely, you must have other clients on your books that may perhaps have more reasonable hours that fit in with her studies and family commitments.”
“Mr. Lawson, you sound as if you care.”
Spencer was silent.
“I don’t like to see anyone inconvenienced because of my status and I feel responsible for what’s happened to Jenna. If you did reconsider your position on this and possibly could find another client with better fitting hours for Jenna, could you at least discuss it with her?”
“Jenna didn’t put you up to this?”
“No. She needs the job and is grateful you didn’t fire her for breaching the terms of her contract by dating me.”
“I suppose we all make errors of judgment,” said Ms. Princely softly. “Especially when bedazzled by Prince Charming.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
His rich, baritone and English accent was irresistible, but Ms. Princely wasn’t going to let him know that. He’d charmed her; not because he was well spoken but because he sounded as though he valued in Jenna the same attributes that she did.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’d be grateful,” concluded Spencer graciously.
*
Spencer gave it a night before deciding to venture into Brooklyn. Thanks to the earlier work of his private investigator, he already had Jenna’s home address. He arranged for a driver to take him to her two-bedroom apartment by 7pm.
The driver would wait. Spencer wondered if his chauffeur had any concerns about being in this neighborhood while he went to woo Jenna. He hated becoming emotionally involved in other people’s lives. Keeping people at arm’s length resulted in keeping his heart safe. He didn’t want to become attached to other people whose lives he couldn’t improve; it made him feel powerless.
His three-year-old niece w
as a perfect example of this. She had been born with Rett Syndrome, which had no cure and limited her life span. It flummoxed the family. Apart from Spencer, everyone else was in the medical field, but no one was able to help her or prolong her life. It was too heart breaking for Spencer. His billions couldn’t save her and the frustration gnawed at him daily. Losing his niece was his greatest and most inevitable fear.
Spencer was good at distancing himself; this was especially true of how he treated the hired help: always with respect, but as nothing more than humans carrying out a job for him. Spencer didn’t like to think of their home lives or whether they were married with children or perhaps if they had relatives in a similar position to his own. He had enough to deal with in his own life without someone else’s burdens.
Yet Jenna was a woman who wasn’t prepared to let Spencer stand on the outskirts of what people had to offer. She’d dragged him into her life just by being herself and he was enamored.
Groaning inwardly, he observed his driver, Graham White. “Think you’ll be alright here Graham?” he asked awkwardly.
He could see the middle-aged man stiffen in surprise at the question. His blue eyes looked confused as he assessed his boss.
“Certainly, Mr. Lawson.”
“I don’t know this neighborhood,” said Spencer gruffly. “I wondered if you felt the same. Perhaps you wanted to go to cafe or take a drive somewhere familiar and I could call you when I need to be picked up, something like that.” Spencer knew he was rambling. He didn’t want to offend the man by suggesting he couldn’t look after himself but he didn’t want to seem uncaring.
“You’ve a state of the art machine, sir,” reminded the bemused driver. “This Hummer has alarms, bullet proof glass and an armored body. I’m probably safer in here than in my own home.”
Spencer flushed embarrassed. That was true. The pimped up Hummer was a beast. “Sure.”
“Mr. Lawson?”
“Yes, Graham.”
“I really appreciate the offer, though. It means a lot.”
Spencer could feel his chest increasing with a mixture of pleasure and pride. “No, problem.”