Maid For The Tycoon: A BWWM Billionaire Romance (9 page)

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 was 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.”

With a spring in his step, he made his way into what appeared, to him to be a ghetto. The elevator of the high-rise apartment block was broken. Fortunately, Jenna was only on the fourth floor.

“It must be a real pain at night carting a baby and a pram up here after school and work,” thought Spencer.

He knocked on the door. There was movement behind the door and Spencer sensed someone was checking the peephole. He waited as chains were unfastened and bolts unlocked. Jenna opened the door with her niece cradled in her arms.

“What on Earth are you doing in this neck of the woods?”

“Can I answer that question when I’ve come inside?” responded Spencer.

Jenna stood back and let Spencer walk through.  He noted she was quick to lock up once he was in. The place was cute – homely and clean – but he still had an urge to grab Jenna by the hand and whisk her and baby Zada back to his home where he knew they’d be safe and sound. Jenna, however, didn’t look as though she was fazed. He had a feeling if he acted on impulse he’d end up offending her greatly.

“Guess I owe you a thank you?”

Spencer shook his head, “Ms. Princely was always going to calm down. I hope I sped up the process.”

“Can I fix you a drink? Hot or cold? Soft or hard?”

There was something in her manner that beguiled Spencer, warm, welcoming, and completely composed in an environment that could never be controlled. That was what Spencer admired. Jenna was able to deal with what cropped up as it happened. Spencer liked to cover all bases so there were no disruptions in his life; it was a luxury he could afford.

“What are the chances of me getting a decent cup of tea here?”

“About the same as you getting a glass of Dom Perignon.”

He laughed. “Touché.”

“I promise I’ll get some in for you for next time,” said Jenna. “Tea that is, not champagne.” Jenna placed a glass of red wine in front of him. “Let me get this munchkin to bed so we can talk properly.”

Spencer nodded and sipped the wine while Jenna disappeared.

Oh, my days
, thought Jenna, the second she entered the bedroom she shared with her sister and baby Zada.
What’s he doing here and why do I have to be dressed in my flannelette pajamas that are about seven years old
?

She popped Zada in her crib and kissed her forehead. Zada was as good as gold. There were rarely tantrums at bedtime. She had a routine the family stuck rigidly to, which resulted in a well-mannered, easygoing child. Breathing in and out a few times, Jenna shrugged her shoulders to release the nervous tension.

Spencer looked heavenly in his sharp business suit. He hadn’t shaved since their date and his stubble was turning into a beard, which seemed all the rage. It covered his pronounced jaw line and gave him an animalistic appeal with his broad shoulders and muscular arms. He was different to any other man she’d ever met. Turning round, she half expected him to be in the doorway looking her up and down like a piece of meat. Instead, he’d given her some privacy.