by Michelle Day
Prodigal Son
Book One of the Jensen Family Series
By Michelle Day
Text copyright © 2012
Michelle Y Day
All Rights Reserved
To Yana and Stephen.
My life, my heart, my inspiration.
Cover courtesy of: Fiona Hillman
With thanks to:
Yana, proofreading and editing Queen.
Fiona, who loves my characters as much as I do.
Rosie, Tyler, Mark, Mat, Dave,Yana and Fiona for reading, suggesting and encouraging me.
Prologue
I am told that it is often the middle child that is the one who creates the problems in a family. This isn’t the case in my family. My name is PAUL JENSEN and although I have a twin, I am the last fruit of my mothers’ loins so to speak and therefore, the youngest which is exactly how my family view me.
You see, I am the proverbial black sheep; I don’t seem to be able to put a foot right at least as far as my father is concerned. I share an acrimonious relationship with him and that is putting it mildly, it seems these days all I have to do is sneeze to have him lashing out, it’s not all down to him however, I will admit that I do like to push his buttons and make him react, something I would never have attempted as a child but now, as I am growing in stature as well as confidence, I take a deep pleasure in it.
MICHAEL JENSEN, my father, developed his acerbic attitude towards me from the moment I was born. The reason for this being that all Jensen’s, without exception are blue eyed blonds, he didn’t take into account that when he married my Spanish mother MONICA, there was a chance that at least one of his offspring would take after her, I am said offspring.
Not to float my own boat you understand and I am simply stating facts, I am superb, I’m the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. My mother adores me which is just as well given my fathers’ attitude. I adore women, they adore me and I fully intend to sample as many of them as I possibly can before I get caught up in that thing called love although at this point in my life I’m not sure if that woman would be the luckiest one in the world or the most unfortunate as fidelity isn’t high on my list of priorities.
My relationship with my father isn’t helped by the fact that we are a fairly prominent and wealthy family and my actions appear to have caught the attention of the paparazzi. I am a self confessed media whore, what can I say? It’s good for business. The fact that it winds the old man up to epic proportions is just an added bonus.
This is the first part of my story, my early life, my trials, tribulations, loves, of which there are many and losses, thankfully only a few and an almighty scandal that would rock not only my world but all those involved.
Table of Contents:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
MICHAEL JENSEN knows from the second MONICA PALOMA challenges him at the summer ball that he has to have her. Tall, handsome blond haired and blue eyed only child and heir to the Jensen fortune, he is used to getting what he wants by any means possible and is as shocked when she resists his usual tried and tested methods as he is to his actual attraction to her. He tended to be attracted to stick thin blond haired, blue eyed girls with the intent of keeping the Jensen gene pool alive and kicking when the time came to breed. Monica’s dark eyes, hair and curvaceous figure captured his imagination and wetted his appetite. His sights set firmly on her; he wouldn’t stop until she wore his wedding ring and took his last name.
Of Spanish decent, Monica lives at home with her parents and older brother. Strong willed but kind and loving, she detests the way her classmate Michael Jensen treats women as if they were mere playthings put on this earth solely for his amusement and is appalled that she finds herself attracted to him, even more startling had been the glint in his eyes when she stood up to him, looked him squarely in the eyes whilst putting him firmly in his place. While his efforts to capture her attention after the ball amused her, she steeled herself against the thoughtful gifts that arrived on her doorstep with regularity, if he wanted her as much as he professed, he’d damn well have to work harder to get her.
By the end of the following summer, the unlikely pair are married and expecting their first child. TESSA JENSEN is born, the apple of her father’s eye if only for the fact that her appearance made her every bit a Jensen. Michael proved himself an attentive husband and father, surprising both his parents and hers with his loving manner towards his wife and daughter.
Two and a half years on after a difficult pregnancy which put her on bed rest, Monica gave birth to twin boys MATTHEW and PAUL. Both boys were healthy, taking characteristics and colouring from each parent. Although Michael was in raptures that he now had sons and professed his love for his wife and the beautiful, blond haired baby that was Matthew, his joy soon turned sour when he turned his attention to the younger of the twins.
Having taken on his mothers’ colouring of olive skin and dark hair, Paul was nothing like the son Michael had expected his wife to produce, his dislike for the darker baby only heightened by the fact that he would squall each and every time Michael approached his crib. It was only a matter of hours after the birth that Michael announced his rejection of the child based solely on the fact that he wasn’t a true Jensen due to his colouring. After only four years of marriage, where his children were concerned Michael returned to being the stubborn, hard headed man he had been at school and Monica knew she had a battle on her hands.
She didn’t count on the battle being a lifelong thing for as Paul grew he began to exhibit her own stubborn nature and would challenge his father at every available instance leading to violent clashes between the pair.
Monica guided her children through their childhood and was proud of them as they progressed into adulthood. All three showed kind and thoughtful tendencies and although Tessa had given her relatively few problems, her sons Matthew and Paul more than made up for it. Her sons were stunning in appearance and used their looks to their full advantage with Matthew being the more subtle of the two, she only every got to hear of Paul’s exploits which would put him directly in the firing line of his father’s temper.
Not one to back down and severely lacking the skills to bring his better judgement into play, Paul used the legendary Jensen temper to full advantage against the man he considered his sperm donor and would proceed to do things that put him firmly in the public’s eye. His affair with his teacher and the subsequent pregnancy was the straw that broke the camels back in forcing Monica to step back from her position of keeping the peace between father and son. As much as she loved him, where the teacher and pregnancy were concerned, Paul was on his own.
Prodigal Son
Chapter One
“I now pronounce you Man and Wife”, the Vicar closed his Bible and smiled at the two young people before him.
Two families cheered as the Groom took a step towards his Bride and kissed her. Charles Jensen was especially proud of his only son Michael, he had chosen well from the previous year’s crop of society debutants. Monica Paloma, his new daughter in law, was beautiful with her dark hair, huge brown eyes and olive skin; she complemented his son’s blonde hair and blue eyes perfectly.
The wedding had made society news. Charles Jensen was well known in London’s
financial circle as account and financial advisor to the rich and famous, his son Michael was being groomed to take over the company within the next two years as Charles planned to retire early along with his wife Penelope who had been his loving and faithful companion for the past twenty five years.
Jackson Paloma and his wife Paula had moved to England from Spain with their baby son Juan (who re-named himself John) many years before their lovely daughter was born. Jackson had a talent for making one of a kind ladies shoes and had begged and borrowed enough money to start his own business, with Paula working by his side and attending night school in order to better her English and subsequently his, they had hit the jackpot when one of the mother’s at John’s school had noticed Paula’s unique pumps, commissions followed and their success grew as the mother’s discussed their quaint little shoe maker at coffee mornings and bridge games.
So, two, rich, successful families were joined by the marriage of their children and while the Jensen family were more than satisfied with their child’s choice, the Paloma family had reservations.
“Are you sure Monica?” Paula had asked at the fitting of her daughter’s wedding dress
“Of course I’m sure.” Monica had replied, “I love him, he loves me, and there is nothing to be unsure about. Why do you hate him so much?”
“I wouldn’t say I hate him exactly, it’s just that he seems so cold Monica, he keeps you at arms length and that temper.” Paula shrugged.
“He is uneasy around you and Dad that’s all; he is very sweet to me when we are alone.” Monica reassured her mother for what seemed like the hundredth time, “I do admit that he has a temper though, but really Mum, its nothing I can’t handle and so far it hasn’t been directed at me.”
“But sweetheart, you are so bright, you could achieve so much before you settle into a marriage with a man who has already made it more than clear that he expects his wife to remain at home.”
“I want to stay at home, be a homemaker, have children, if I do all that when I’m young, I can still pursue any interests I develop after the children have grown.”
“I’m not going to be able to talk you out of this am I?”
Monica shook her head “He’s a good man, he will take care of me and more than anything, I want to be with him.”
Michael guided his bride down the aisle and out of the church, holding her hand tightly and grinning broadly, he had just married the girl who had made it impossibly hard for him to date her, she frustrated the hell out of him with her sly grin and the reply of “Maybe” when he asked her to date him.
Her dark looks hadn’t immediately attracted him, he preferred skinny blondes who had air in their heads and who would let him go further than just kissing on the promise of a second date.
Monica had told him to get over himself when she had walked past him loudly bragging to a bunch of airhead blondes of his achievements at college and his first successful client win at work, he had been furious that a woman had dared to speak to him in such a tone, he had spun away from the blondes and grabbed her arm, turning her towards him.
“How dare you speak to me that way.” he fumed, “Don’t you know who I am?”
“I’m more than aware of who you are Michael Jensen,” She blazed at him and instead of trying to free herself from his grasp she stepped closer “And I strongly suggest that you take your hands off me before I have you singing soprano for the rest of your life.” she looked down as she finished speaking. It was Michael who stepped back when he noticed her sharp nails about to dig into his crotch.
“You’re supposed to be a lady.” He spat.
“I will behave like a lady when you can prove you can be a gentleman.” she replied then flipped him a sideways grin as she slid from his grasp.
Michael gawped after her, angry beyond belief but recognising that this woman was the one he would marry.
“Who is she?” he asked his select group of friends
“You mean the hot little brunette who had you by the balls?” Ray, his best friend and future best man asked “Monica Paloma, she’s way too smart for you Michael, I’d give it a miss.”
Michael smiled, he had no intention what so ever of letting this one get away, no woman had ever spoken to him that way or even dared to stand up to him. He watched the gentle sway of her hips as she walked away noticing the way most of the men in the room turned to watch her walk by and although she wasn’t what he would class as his usual type, he did recognise her classic beauty and felt challenged by her fearless confrontation with him. He was prepared to be impossibly persistent in wooing this woman; she would be his before the end of the summer.
And so it began, first the delivery of fresh flowers every day which Monica would refuse to accept, sending the florist away. Then the gifts started to arrive, Michael started with simple things like chocolates and fruit baskets and moved onto more expensive gifts of jewellery all of which returned to him within the day.
Michael found himself pacing his office daily in a white hot rage over Monica’s refusal of his gifts, what the hell was wrong with her? Didn’t she realise the gifts were his way of asking his permission to court her. He decided to confront her and took a day out of his busy schedule to pay her a visit.
Sitting across the street in his sleek blue Mercedes, Michael watched as Monica’s parents left the house. He waited for their Range Rover to turn off onto the main road before leaving his car and approaching the house. It seemed to take an eternity for her to answer the door but when she did, she took his breath away. Her thick dark hair was tied back in a pony tail, she was wearing incredibly tight cropped, red gingham trousers and a pretty white blouse that did nothing to hide her shapely figure.
“Michael Jensen.” she said crossing her arms and leaning against the door frame “To what do I owe the somewhat dubious pleasure of this visit?”
Michael did not reply immediately, he looked at her, smiled then offered her the transparent box he held, the note inside the box read Return to sender.
“I thought, as you have returned my gifts, that I would deliver this one in person, or would you like to return this one too?”
Monica glanced at the box, tutted then replied “It takes more than fancy gifts to impress this girl, you need to try harder.” she moved to close the door.
“Monica” Michael stepped forward and put his hand on the door “Won’t you even give me one chance to prove myself?”
“Maybe.” she grinned and dropped her head, glancing up at him though her dark lashes.
“May I take you out one evening?” he asked, feeling silly with the formality of his request.
“You may. Pick me up tomorrow at eight and we will take it from there.” she stepped back and closed the door in his face.
The following evening, Michael rang the doorbell of the Paloma household, he smiled at Monica when she opened the door.
Monica pointedly looked at her wristwatch “You’re late, it’s a minute past.”
Michael opened his mouth to speak but then thought the better of it, Monica laughed
“I’m only teasing, come on in.” she guided him to a tastefully furnished sitting room where her family were waiting to receive him.
The courtship began with Michael wrongly thinking her Latin blood would have her all hot and steamy at his advances. She never let on just how aroused she was by his touch, he clearly knew which buttons to press but she was determined to wait until her wedding night, a fact she reminded him of each and every time he tried to push her further than she was willing to go.
For his own sanity, Michael slowed things down a little, deciding that trying to push her into bed with him was not the way to go and recognising that her will was far stronger than his and that she would ultimately win in a battle of wills.
Within the month he had asked her to marry him, she completely captivated him and although at first she was reluctant to accept his proposal, when he told her “I can’t breathe without you” she realised that this o
utwardly arrogant, cold man, did have a heart and it belonged to her. Within moments of accepting his marriage proposal, she had on her hand the biggest diamond ring she had ever seen.
Michael didn’t want a long engagement, he insisted that they were married as soon as possible and so the mad rush of wedding planning began.
Within weeks of returning from their honeymoon and moving into their beautiful detached house, a joint wedding present from their parents, Monica discovered she was pregnant. She couldn’t contain herself long enough for Michael to return home from work so she caught a taxi to the offices of Jensen Incorporated and waited for her husband outside.
Michael spotted Monica the moment he stepped onto the street, he frowned, thinking that perhaps something was wrong, knowing Monica would never come to the office on a trivial matter but she smiled as he went towards her then she reached out to touch his forehead.
“Don’t frown Michael, you’ll get wrinkles.”
He smiled, she was always telling him not to frown “Is that better?” he asked.
“Yes” she took his hand as they began to walk towards his car.
“Are you going to tell me why you are here?”
“Do you love me Michael? She countered his question.
“You know I do.” he answered, truthfully, he loved this woman deeply.
“How much do you love me?”
“More than the moon and stars,” he replied, knowing this was the answer she wanted. He stopped by his car, unlocked the passenger side and opened the door for her.
“Would you love me even more if I told you that I am going to make you a daddy?” She asked smiling sweetly, the smile turning to a laugh as his stunned expression changed to a huge grin as he dropped his briefcase, picked her up and swung her around in a circle.