Maid For The Tycoon: A BWWM Billionaire Romance

by Lacey Legend

  “He wouldn’t hurt you,” assured Jenna.

  “Yeah he would. I think to protect you, he’d hurt anyone,” mused Leon. “I told him the truth. My uncle pays your fees. He runs a legitimate garage. He’s your godfather and he feels obligated to. And that is the truth, Jenna. Any dealings I had with my uncle and the small petty crime I was into was between me and him. It has nothing to do with the motor repair shop.”

  “Your uncle does it as a favor to you, though. And to owe you that favor, you must’ve helped him out in ways that weren’t strictly by the book.”

  “That ain’t your business, girl. Your business is to study hard, stay afloat and do something with your life. You keep doing that I won’t break my promise to you.”

  Jenna felt a tear at the corner of her eye. She missed Leon. She loved him, but she wasn’t in love him. She just loved the way he cared about her. The way he saw the best in her. That he thought she’d have a better chance in life if he was absent from hers forever.

  “I’ll keep doing that,” she assured him. “And you’ll keep your promise to me.”

  “I will. I’ll be out of here soon enough. Finished up my apprenticeship in here so I can get myself a proper job with a steady wage and work my way up. Keep my head down and my nose clean and you won’t ever find yourself near one of these places again. You won’t have to hear any stories round the neighborhood about me becoming a regular visitor of these kinds of facilities.”

  “That sounds fine.”

  “You gotta work hard too, Jen. Do your best to stop kids like me picking this route in life. Then everything will have been worth it, right?”

  She nodded.

  “I told you what I thought you should know about this prissy Brit. You oughta know what game he’s playing at, and those kinds of stunts can only come from a man with a plan. Be aware. Get yourself out of here now. Scoot, girl.”

  Before he could stop her, Jenna leaned over and kissed his forehead chastely.

  “It wasn’t all bad, was it, Leon?”

  “Jenna, when we were little, too young to know how poor we were, too silly to know what we were missing out on, we had the best time ever. Trouble is people like us don’t get to keep their childhoods. Father’s walking out, drink and drug habits rife in the family, scrounging for food and money – you can’t keep your innocence in that environment.

  I thought crime was the way out. Seemed joining a gang was a quick fix. Thought it’d get us the best in life. Didn’t get us anywhere. You saved my life though, Jen. I was busy trying to play the big man to look after you and I didn’t realize you were looking after yourself. You had your head buried in a book. I thought you may as well have had your head in the clouds. You picked the hard path, but it’s getting you to a better place and for what it’s worth – you saved my life, Jenna. I can follow your example. Took me longer, but I see yours is the right way, the best way. I’m proud I know you.”

  Jenna screwed her eyes tight, knowing it’d stop the waterfall of tears.

  “But Jen,” started Leon as she made her way to the exit door.“It definitely wasn’t all bad. When we were little kids, we had the best time ever and growing up with you was a privilege. Took it for granted at the time, but those memories are the best for me. You make better memories now, even if it is with some wealthy white boy.”

  Going through the mundane process of pat downs, security checks, retrieving personal goods and signing out, when she finally stepped out into the light Jenna could feel the sun on her skin and see the beautiful brilliant blue of the sky.

  She had got out. She’d got out on her own and she was proud of the woman she was.

  *

  Jenna groaned as she approached the Supreme Cleaning Services building. Her rucksack was weighing her down and Zada was less than impressed being carted round New York in a rickety red pram in the rush hour.

  “I’m sorry, baby girl,” she apologized as she used the fob to open the main entrance to the building. Immediately as she was on the premises, the security alarm started. Zada was screaming. Jenna was punching the code into the panel. It mightn’t silence Zada, but at least it did halt the siren. She sat on the stairs, close to Zada’s pram.

  “I’m really hoping this won’t be forever, angel,” she cooed. Rocking the pram a bit, Zada’s cries softened to whimpers.

  “Shall Aunty Jenna start from the top down or work her way bottom up,” voiced Jenna aloud.

  The quiet of the vacant building at night was quite eerie.

  “Top down, I think. That’s where I left the cleaning materials last night.”

  She pushed the pram to the elevator and waited for the bell to ring to signal its arrival.

  Hopping in, it glided quickly to the 26th floor.

  “Thank God, Ms. Princely only leases three of these floors or you and I would never make it home. Not that I’m looking forward to the subway journey back.”

  Jenna fling off backpack. Yes, the cot was lightweight, portable and compact but it was still cumbersome in the backpack. It sprung to life with little assistance from Jenna.

  “In you go,” she said, placing her niece inside.

  She took a handful of toys out of her pack and flung them in the cot for Zada to play with. Kissing her niece softly, she inhaled the scent of fresh soap and clean clothes.

  The arrangement was hideous for the toddler but she made no complaint. It wasn’t as if she could even wear her headphones while working, lest Zada need her immediate attention.

  “Okay, keep busy and Aunty will do her best to get you out of here as quickly as possible.”

  It wasn’t a solid promise. Jenna was glad Zada was fully comprehensive of the English language. With prim Ms. Princely as her direct supervisor, Jenna wasn’t in a position where she could cut corners and afford to be careless in her cleaning duties. Ms. Princely had an eye for dust and Jenna suspected she’d be giving her the white glove treatment for her first few days of work.

  Having wiped the computer monitors, sanitized the telephones, tidied and polished the desks and emptied the bins, Jenna knew which came next. The sound of the raucous vacuuming would drive Zada mad. She popped some candy in Zada’s mouth knowing her sister and mother would be furious at her for giving the toddler such sugary treats so late at night. Looping the headphones over her neck, she placed the headphones from her iPod into Zada’s ears. Scrolling to Zada’s favorite play list, she double-checked the volume control to ensure no damage could be done to the youth’s sensitive ears. Jenna stood back and watched with genuine joy as Zada clapped her time in rhythm to the music.

  “You look like you might want one of those for yourself one day,” drawled a familiar voice in an unfamiliar setting.

  Jenna found herself screeching in fright, which in turn had Zada screaming her lungs out. Spencer’s hands flew to his ears to block the noises.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “What are you doing here?” he mouthed the question back in mute.

  Jenna tore the headphones from Zada’s tiny ears and lifted her to her hip. She jiggled the babe on her hip to calm her and whispered sweet nothings in her ears. It appeared to have very little effect on calming her.

  “Why don’t you let me have a turn,” proposed Spencer, hoping his voice was deep enough to undercut Zada’s high pitched squeals.

  “What would you know about little girls—“

  Jenna stopped herself from finishing the sentence. She wished she could’ve bitten the tip of her tongue off. Spencer clearly had a lot to do with his niece, if his recent trip abroad had anything to do with it.

  She passed Zada to him. Zada’s thick little hands looped around his neck. Spencer’s beautiful long lashes closed as he smothered Zada’s face in kisses pretending to kiss away all her tears. She giggled and looked adoringly at him.

  “Sorry I gave you and Aunty a fright, beautiful little girl. It must’ve seemed like the big bad wolf had come creeping up to spy on you when it was just a friend.” />
  “Friends shouldn’t be sneaky in nature,” said Jenna sharply.

  “Tweet, tweet, tweet,” mocked Spencer, “someone’s been singing like a canary.”

  “Someone’s been keeping an eye on an old friend to warn her to stay away from a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

  Spencer smiled wolfishly and Jenna despised herself for being charmed.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked again.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Stop answering questions with questions Spencer’s – it’s childish.”

  Spencer had given Zada a key ring with a plush brightly colored monster on it that made an array of cute noises when squeezed in an appropriate place. Transfixed, Spencer was able to lower her in the portacot to continue the adult conversation without interruption.

  “I came here to find out exactly what you are doing here when I didn’t ask for you to be relocated.”

  Jenna looked dumbfounded.

  “Close your mouth, you’ll catch flies.”

  “I’m here because of some photos that were all across the tabloids from that charity function I attended as your guest.”

  “Date,” corrected Spencer.

  “Guest,” insisted Jenna. “If you hadn’t insisted I take the check it might’ve been a date, but you were quick to remind me where to find it the following morning, thus making it a job.”

  “And you were quick to tear it up in front of my eyes, which in my reckoning means we were on a date.”

  “Yes, but then you insisted that you transfer the funds into my personal account thereby putting the final nail in the coffin and confirming it was nothing more than a duty of service.”

  “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 nev
er 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.