by T. N. King
She nodded, still looking at the note.
Jensen walked toward his room as he was removing his suit coat.
“So, there was someone here today,” Megan said.
Jensen disappeared into his room.
“Mr. Black had to literally drag her out of here,” she hesitated. “Do you know who she was?” There was a long silence until he reappeared with a different shirt on. He was buttoning it, his chest exposed. Megan couldn’t help but to like what she saw. She looked away. “She seemed to know you.”
“Could have been anyone. In my line of work, I tend to have to deal with disgruntled employees on one end and fans who think they need to get closer to me on the other.” He shrugged. “Mr. Black is good at what he does. I let him deal with it.”
He knew exactly who she was, and what she was capable of. He didn’t need his psycho ex-girlfriend causing a scene with Megan, especially since she seemed to think she was still a part of his life.
He disappeared back into his room again, grabbing his cell.
“Black.”
“I’d like for you to run down to Bayee Village and pick up dinner for us. Would you mind?”
“Okay.”
“Thanks, man. I don’t want to take Megan out right now, til I’m sure Kristina is gone. I don’t trust her. I’ll call in the order.”
He hit a few buttons on his phone and went back to the living room. Megan was standing up stretching and Jensen leaned up against his doorway watching her.
“Bayee, can I help you?” The woman’s voice was heavy with a Chinese accent.
“Nǐ hǎo. Two lobster with ginger, a side of the spring onion in wine sauce, a stir fried asparagus with spicy olive Leaf and two vegetarian spring rolls.”
“Ná qǐ huò jiāofù?”
“Pick up. Jensen Dean.”
“Twenty minute?”
“Thank you. Xièxiè.”
He walked back toward her and sat back down. She took her seat back on the couch and clasped her hands in her lap. He couldn’t stop looking at her, his grin growing as he did.
“How was your trip into the city?”
“It was…fine. Mr. Black really knows how to whoop it up. Tired me right out. Too fun,” she said, her voice trailing off.
Jensen laughed at her attempt at sarcastic humor. “He means well; he is just a very private person. I had a hard time getting two words out of him the whole first year he worked for me.”
“Really?” she asked surprised. “Then why did you keep him on?”
“He is the best.”
“Will he be joining us for dinner?”
“He has opted out. I will thank him generously for running to get it and then give him tomorrow off. I thought we could go into the city together. I promise to be less…fun,” he grinned. He nodded toward the book on the table. “What do you think of the book? Do you like it?”
She nodded. “It’s definitely stimulating.”
He could see her cheeks turn a light shade of pink and it warmed him. He loved her innocence. He wanted to ask her about specific scenes in the book. He wanted to stimulate her further, but he knew he would only fluster her. He wanted her to trust him and with her past, it was going to take a while to get there.
The buzzer sounded, alerting him there was someone on the premises. He disappeared into a side room and returned moments later.
“Dinner has arrived.”
He ran through Hyde Park following the familiar path around the two-and-a-half-mile perimeter. It wasn’t his favorite place to run but he liked the feeling it gave him. He wanted to get at least two laps in, one a casual jog and one at a full speed run and with Hyde Park being so close to his penthouse it was the perfect place to do so.
The park was unseasonably cooler on that early Sunday morning and there were not many people around. He left the penthouse about six am, hoping to get back before Megan awoke. He listened to his music as he felt his feet hit the path below him, his mind consumed by her. Why was he so intrigued by her? Why did she creep into his dreams at night? He wanted to be more than just her employer. She was nothing like the women he dated in the past.
He stopped and looked around as a feeling came over him like he was being watched. A woman sat on a bench near the water. She threw seeds to the birds as they flocked around her. A couple ran the same path he was on. They were quite a few feet ahead of him and running in the same direction. He turned around and noticed a few others on other paths doing their own thing but no one raised a question in his mind. He turned back around and picked up his pace once more, looking behind him a few more times to be sure, it was his own paranoia and not a reason he needed to be on alert.
He finished his run and made it back to the penthouse within the hour. As he took the lift up into the house, he checked his pulse. The house was quiet with only his heavy breathing for noise. He walked to Megan’s door and listened. He cracked it open, peeking inside. When he saw her sleeping in her bed he smiled, feeling a bit more relieved. He closed the door gently and headed to the shower.
Megan heard a soft knock on her bedroom door. She opened her eyes to Jensen’s face peeking in at her through the crack in the door.
“Good morning. Coffee?”
She smiled a sleepy smile and he thought about how nice it would be to see that every morning.
“Give me five minutes.”
He closed her door and went to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she shuffled to the kitchen and inhaled deeply. “There’s a familiar smell I miss.” She sat down at the small counter. “This is a first. Why don’t you drink coffee more often?”
“I don’t drink it at all. I just figured you might like it so I picked some up.”
“It’s very nice of you. Thank you.”
“I won’t ask you if you are hungry, but I am planning on stopping at a small breakfast nook on the way into the city. Will you be ready to go in an hour?”
“You want me to go?”
“I’m taking you shopping.”
“I did that yesterday. Thank you though.”
“A few small trinkets is not shopping. You need some new clothes, some things for your room, a personalized touch.”
“I will when I get some money saved up. What’s the matter with the clothes I have?”
“Nothing if you are living day to day. You need something to go out in, something besides basic jeans and casual tops.”
“Jensen.”
“I won’t take no for an answer. Now finish your coffee and get ready. I’ll expect you at the car no later than nine.”
She sighed and sipped her coffee.
When she met him out front, she was surprised to see a black sports car that looked more expensive than anything she had ever seen.
“Wow, nice car! What is this?”
He opened her door and she got down into the bucket seat. “It’s a Bugatti Chiron.”
“It’s gorgeous,” she cooed.
The car slipped around corners like it was glued to the road. Megan loved the ride.
Jensen pulled his into a parking spot on the street and helped her out.
“You are definitely more fun than Mr. Black already,” she said smiling. She caught herself borderline flirting with him and she kind of liked it.
“This way, Miss Jenkins.” He led her toward a very large and very lavish building that appeared to take up an entire city block.
“Harrod’s? What is this place?”
“It’s just a little department shop I like to go to occasionally. We are going to buy you some new clothes.”
“I really wished you wouldn’t.”
“Trust me. This will be fun. What is your favorite color?”
“Purple?”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her across the street and into the building. They got in the door and Megan let him pull her along as she marveled at the interior.
“Little department shop?” Megan exclaimed.
He led her through one room, through another
room, up an escalator and through another room. He knew exactly where he was going.
“Are you sure this is a shop and not some cathedral or basilica?”
“I assure you, it is exactly what you need.” He let her hand go and raised his to gain the attention of a woman standing behind a counter. “Cara.” He smiled as the woman scurried from around the back.
“Jensen.” She leaned in kissing each cheek. “It is so nice to see you. How have you been?””
“Very good, thank you. You are looking ravishing these days.”
“You are too kind.”
“This,” he stepped aside and looked at Megan, “is a friend of mine. Megan, this is Cara. She will be taking care of you.”
“Taking care of me?” Megan was under the assumption they were going to shop on their own and select a few items on from a rack to try on and purchase. “
“What are we looking for today?” The woman was way too sweet but Megan played along.
“My friend here is in need of a few complete outfits, shoes, jewelry, the whole works.”
Megan just looked at him, her irritation setting in. So much for just a few select items.
“We can definitely do that.”
“Something elegant for evenings, something business casual and something just for her.”
“Would you like a cup of tea or perhaps some champagne?”
Megan’s eyes bugged out. “Champagne?” She reached over at the nearest jacket and looked at the price tag. She saw £495 on the ticket and dropped it immediately. “Jensen.”
“Stop it.” He took her hand and stepped closer to her, keeping her hand in his. “She will take a glass of champagne.”
“Shall we make it two glasses?” Cara looked at Jensen.
“None for me thanks.”
Cara looked at a fellow employee and performed a bit of sign language. She looked at them and smiled. “Follow me please?”
Jensen followed Cara into a deeper part of the room, pulling a very reluctant Megan along with him. Cara held her hand out to a plush roll arm bench for Megan to sit at, her champagne being handed to her by Cara’s co-worker.
“Thank you,” she said without a smile. She didn’t like all of the attention and she was sure to let Jensen know when they were in private.
Jensen leaned toward Cara and whispered something in her ear. Cara nodded, pleased with whatever he said and looked at Megan with a smile. “We will take good care of her.”
“I will see you in an hour.” Jensen said looking at Megan. “If you need me….”
“Where are you going?” Megan asked.
“I have a bit of shopping to do as well. Besides, this isn’t really my thing.” He winked at Cara and strolled away.
Megan was furious. Cara sat next to her and patted her leg. “So I believe you are a size six?” She looked at Megan’s feet. “Shoe size…a seven?”
“How did you know?” She was astonished.
“It is my job to know these things, dear.” Cara had the demeanor of the mother Megan wished she had. She couldn’t help but to like her.
For the next half hour, Megan experienced her own personal fashion show. Several attendants flaunted outfit after outfit in front of her, with Cara waiting for a yay or a nay. After several no’s, Megan had a few outfits to try on.
She tried to choose the less looking expensive ones, but there was no way for her to tell by looking at them. She came out of the dressing room wearing her favorite of all of them, a dark blue Vintage Herve Leger Couture dress. Her face was radiant as she turned several times in the three-way mirror.
“How does it feel on you, dear?”
“Beautiful,” she cooed. “It feels like it was made for me.” Her hand ran up and down the fabric. She saw Cara nod at one of the attendants. Another attendant placed several pairs of shoes in front of Megan. She looked down and smiled. Her foot slid into each shoe with ease and fit as if they were made just for her. They felt comfortable, and exquisite. Megan got swept up in her fashion show and didn’t realize how quickly the hour flew by. She went into the dressing room to remove the last Oscar de la Renta dress she wore and she heard a light knock on the door.
“I have a few more items for you, dear.”
Megan opened the door, excited to try on more. She had already decided on the blue dress, an adorable shorts outfit and a black Paul Smith business suit with a white blouse. When Cara handed her four hangers Megan just looked at them, her excitement fleeting quickly.
“What are these?”
“Lingerie, dear.”
Megan closed the door without taking them and quickly took the dress off she was currently wearing. She put her own clothes back on and opened the door. Jensen stood there with his hands in his pockets. He knew something was wrong. Cara stood off to the side, no longer trying to help.
“Is there a problem?” Jensen didn’t look happy and his tone was direct.
“No problem,” she said with an attitude. “I don’t like anything here.” She tried to walk away when Jensen grabbed her arm. He put his head down, trying to find the right words to say without sounding like an asshole.
The attendants cleared away, leaving them alone.
“Talk to me, please.”
“There is nothing to talk about. I just don’t care for the styles here. When I’m ready I’ll do my own shopping.”
“It’s the lingerie isn’t it?”
Megan didn’t say anything.
“I just thought it would be nice for you to have something…just for you…something to help you feel sexy and confident. No ulterior motives, I promise." He seemed to be fidgeting. Was Jensen Dean fidgeting?
“I let myself get swept up in all of this.” She flicked her finger on the hem of the Oscar de la Renta dress, picking up the tag and closing her eyes when she saw it cost £2,100. “You keep making me forget where I came from.”
“It’s okay to forget, Megan.” He stepped closer to her. Her stomach flipped and she turned away from him.
“This isn’t me. I can’t do this.”
“You’ve already chosen a few things. Let’s purchase them and talk about the rest later.”
“No, Jensen. I don’t want any of it.”
“Will you stop being so damned stubborn?"
“Stop trying to turn me into something I’m not.” She turned away from him and walked toward the counters.
“Do me one favor, at least.”
She stopped without turning around.
“Choose one outfit. I spend a lot of money in here. I don’t want to damper my relationship with them. Please?”
“The blue dress,” she said quietly. She walked past the counter where Cara and the others stood.
Jensen waited for them to wrap the dress and the other items separately. He decided to hold the other outfits until he could get through to her and break her barriers.
“Deliver these to my penthouse, please. I’ll take the dress with me.” The awkwardness between him and Cara was trivial but existent. “I apologize; she isn’t used to this sort of atmosphere. But I assure you, we will be back.” He smiled reassuringly and carried the bag out of the shop. He took the escalator back down to the ground floor.
Megan stood by a bronze statue of a couple dancing with a bird in their hands. Jensen stopped a few feet behind her, watching her as her eyes cascaded up the sculpture to their faces.
“Innocent Victims,” he said. She closed her eyes trying to calm herself. She reopened them and stayed straight looking at the statues’ faces. “It is Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed before they died.” He stepped closer to her. “It just goes to show that no matter what walk of life you are from, nothing is ever certain. You must live life to its fullest potential, taking advantage of every opportunity you are given.”
She put her head down, hearing his words but not wanting to let go of her walls. He walked away from her and didn’t look back. She followed him to a restaurant inside the building. They ate fish and oysters with gre
en beans with not a lot of conversation between them until he spoke first.
“I took the liberty of getting a few things for your room.”
“Why do you keep doing this?” she asked quietly.
“Doing what?”
“The things you know I hate. Stop buying stuff for me.”
“If you aren’t going to do it, someone has to. You need to learn to accept things in life.”
“I don’t have to learn anything of the sort.” She folded her arms and pushed her chair back.
“Finish your lunch.”
“I did.”
The ride back to the penthouse was quiet between them. When they got inside, she politely and quietly thanked him for the dress and went to bed.
Chapter 7
Megan was glad to be back in the mansion. She needed to distance herself from Jensen and having her own wing of the house was much better than just a room. To her surprise, Jensen left her alone the whole day and let her get the penthouse cleaned. It was dusk out when they pulled into the driveway and as soon as they got inside, she excused herself. She was tired and stressed and just wanted to soak in a hot bath.
She walked into her room and dumped her bag out on her bed. She put most of her things away and grabbed her pajamas. Just before she walked toward the bathroom, she saw the book Jensen gave her to take with her to the penthouse sitting on her bed. Remembering the last scene she read caused a slight stir deep within her. She quickly grabbed it and headed into the bathroom.
The water quickly steamed up the glass surrounding the massive tub. She watched it rise from the tub as she peeled the clothes from her body. Easing down into the tub she went slowly, feeling the heat from the water sting her skin. When she became accustomed to it, she folded a towel, put it behind her head and closed her eyes. She felt the rush of the water from the faucet on her feet as she thought about Jensen and how he tricked her into trying on all of those clothes at that fancy shop and how he reacted when she told him she didn’t want them. How dare he do that to me, acting like a spoiled rich jerk, throwing his money around.