Read Online Maid For The Tycoon: A BWWM Billionaire Romance by Lacey Legend - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lacey Legend
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Liana.
“Forget that man,” snapped Hannah. “Why is your tongue so loose this morning? Liana. That Leon did nothing good for our Jenna.”
“That’s not strictly true,” interjected Jenna.
“He was a bad influence. You’ve walked away from him now. We’ve all walked away from him now.”
Jenna chewed her lip. Leon had let her walk away from him. He’d been adamant she do so. He’d wanted her to walk away, because Leon did see her as a Princess that deserved a fairytale ending. The problem was Leon was the frog, not the prince, and there wasn’t much he could offer her in the way of a happy ending behind bars.
“He was a small time crook who led you astray.”
“Mum, he led me to New York University.”
Hannah sat still; her lips were in a thin line. She hated Leon’s name in conversation. In the kindness of her daughter’s eyes she saw compassion, loyalty and what she knew was puppy love.
“And he led himself to jail. Best advice he gave you was to stay away from him. For God sakes, heed it – it’s the only sensible thing that ever came out of that boy’s troublesome mouth. And if this posh British man is going to treat you like a pay-as-you-go prostitute, leave the agency and find another job. Come back and work here with Kelly. It’s honest work and maybe the temptation of these fairytale endings will be knocked out of that foolish head of yours for good.”
The remainder of the meal was a somewhat restrained affair. Kelly was relieved when she was able to return from her break. She squeezed her best friend’s shoulder. Even Zada knew better than to throw a tantrum, when faced with the high chair. Liana and Jenna exchanged frightened and half-amused looks.
“You know, mom--” started Liana.
“Not another word, I said,” she snapped.
Liana said nothing. When they got into the flat, the girls watched their mother head straight to the bedroom. The girls sat in silence pretending to watch a cartoon with Zada. Eventually they could hear their mother dozing.
“She’s working tonight?” asked Jenna.
Liana nodded.
“But that’s not what’s got her in a mood.”
Jenna shrugged.
“Then what?”
“You ever tell mom I gave you this, you and I are through, FOREVER.”
Jenna reached to take the envelope from Zada’s hand.
“It’s Leon,” she mumbled.
“Isn’t he due out soon?” whispered Liana.
Chapter Five
“Ms.. King. I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon.”
Jenna sat down opposite her employee’s desk.
“Do you know why you’ve been called in?”
“I spoke with Mr. Lawson over the weekend and we agreed that perhaps we need to reassess my roster.”
“Well if you did, he made no mention of it to me.”
“He has asked me to deposit an additional $1000 into your back account for this week’s pay.”
Jenna’s back stiffened in the chair. It was like ice had been breathed into the normally snug office.
“I thought it an odd request, but when I found these pictures of the two of you cavorting at the Rett Syndrome Charity Gala, he informed me you stepped in last minute as a date for the evening and he wished to pay you for your time. Apparently you forgot to collect your check the following shift.”
Discreet till the very end, thought Jenna. “I believe I did. It was thoughtful of him to deposit it with you.”
“That particular duty doesn’t really come under your normal routine.”
“It was an emergency. It appeared Mr. Lawson had no one to help out, and as a good client I thought I could assist him, if possible.”
“You do realize what kind of an agency we are don’t you, Ms.. King.”
“Or course,” said Jenna firmly but politely.
“Because we aren’t an undercover escort agency.”
“If you’re implying for one second that I would lower myself-“
“Please keep control, Ms. King. I was implying nothing of the kind. I have always found you to be of high character and good standing, hence your employment at
“Forget that man,” snapped Hannah. “Why is your tongue so loose this morning? Liana. That Leon did nothing good for our Jenna.”
“That’s not strictly true,” interjected Jenna.
“He was a bad influence. You’ve walked away from him now. We’ve all walked away from him now.”
Jenna chewed her lip. Leon had let her walk away from him. He’d been adamant she do so. He’d wanted her to walk away, because Leon did see her as a Princess that deserved a fairytale ending. The problem was Leon was the frog, not the prince, and there wasn’t much he could offer her in the way of a happy ending behind bars.
“He was a small time crook who led you astray.”
“Mum, he led me to New York University.”
Hannah sat still; her lips were in a thin line. She hated Leon’s name in conversation. In the kindness of her daughter’s eyes she saw compassion, loyalty and what she knew was puppy love.
“And he led himself to jail. Best advice he gave you was to stay away from him. For God sakes, heed it – it’s the only sensible thing that ever came out of that boy’s troublesome mouth. And if this posh British man is going to treat you like a pay-as-you-go prostitute, leave the agency and find another job. Come back and work here with Kelly. It’s honest work and maybe the temptation of these fairytale endings will be knocked out of that foolish head of yours for good.”
The remainder of the meal was a somewhat restrained affair. Kelly was relieved when she was able to return from her break. She squeezed her best friend’s shoulder. Even Zada knew better than to throw a tantrum, when faced with the high chair. Liana and Jenna exchanged frightened and half-amused looks.
“You know, mom--” started Liana.
“Not another word, I said,” she snapped.
Liana said nothing. When they got into the flat, the girls watched their mother head straight to the bedroom. The girls sat in silence pretending to watch a cartoon with Zada. Eventually they could hear their mother dozing.
“She’s working tonight?” asked Jenna.
Liana nodded.
“But that’s not what’s got her in a mood.”
Jenna shrugged.
“Then what?”
“You ever tell mom I gave you this, you and I are through, FOREVER.”
Jenna reached to take the envelope from Zada’s hand.
“It’s Leon,” she mumbled.
“Isn’t he due out soon?” whispered Liana.
Chapter Five
“Ms.. King. I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon.”
Jenna sat down opposite her employee’s desk.
“Do you know why you’ve been called in?”
“I spoke with Mr. Lawson over the weekend and we agreed that perhaps we need to reassess my roster.”
“Well if you did, he made no mention of it to me.”
“He has asked me to deposit an additional $1000 into your back account for this week’s pay.”
Jenna’s back stiffened in the chair. It was like ice had been breathed into the normally snug office.
“I thought it an odd request, but when I found these pictures of the two of you cavorting at the Rett Syndrome Charity Gala, he informed me you stepped in last minute as a date for the evening and he wished to pay you for your time. Apparently you forgot to collect your check the following shift.”
Discreet till the very end, thought Jenna. “I believe I did. It was thoughtful of him to deposit it with you.”
“That particular duty doesn’t really come under your normal routine.”
“It was an emergency. It appeared Mr. Lawson had no one to help out, and as a good client I thought I could assist him, if possible.”
“You do realize what kind of an agency we are don’t you, Ms.. King.”
“Or course,” said Jenna firmly but politely.
“Because we aren’t an undercover escort agency.”
“If you’re implying for one second that I would lower myself-“
“Please keep control, Ms. King. I was implying nothing of the kind. I have always found you to be of high character and good standing, hence your employment at
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