The Billionaire and the Cleaner Read online

  “Absolutely not. These are perfect for leftovers.” She started picking up the cartons and moved toward the fridge. He followed her with several more cartons. “These will be perfect for me over the next few days, and you can come by anytime and help me finish them.”

  He’d stick to that invitation. She saw him to the door.

  “I had fun tonight,” he said and meant it. Kent had never thought simply sitting with a woman could be so much fun. Most of the women he dated ended up on their back by the end of the evening. He loved sex and wasn’t ashamed of his need for it. Lana made him want so much more.

  Shit, he was turning into a fucking pussy like his friends before him.

  “I had fun as well. You’re really good company, Kent. I’ll see you tomorrow?” she asked. She’d put her hands in the pockets at the back of her jeans, and her tits were thrust up as if on some glorious display.

  “Yeah, you’ll see me tomorrow,” he said, taking every effort not to drop his gaze to her chest. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Good night.”

  He turned away and went around the back to get his car. Kent breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was still intact. Maybe her neighbourhood wasn’t so bad after all.

  Kent made it back to his apartment in good time. He probably broke several speeding laws on his way, but he got home in one piece. It was a little after two in the morning. He threw his keys on the kitchen counter and went straight to his bedroom. A woman in red lingerie was laid on his bed with a seductive smile on her lips.

  “Hello, handsome. I was wondering when you were going to get home.”

  “Cherrie, what are you doing here?” he asked, recognising the model he’d dated last year. How had she gotten into his apartment?

  She climbed off the bed. “You haven’t been in touch. The last time we talked you gave me your key.” Cherrie pulled his apartment key from between her breasts. “If you never responded to my call then I was to let myself in and make myself at home.”

  He gazed down her thin frame. She was perfect model thin, and he saw the outline of her ribs even though she wasn’t breathing in or stretching. Running a hand down his face, Kent wondered how he was going to get her out of his space. He must have been drunk when he gave her a spare key. None of his women were allowed inside his apartment without his say-so.

  Shit!

  She reached around the back and removed her bra. Her breasts stayed where they were. She’d gotten a breast enlargement for a job she’d been working on. Her breasts were unnaturally large, but now they looked more fake than he remembered from the last time they’d been together.

  Lana’s were full and real. He saw how real they were in the way she moved. Her breasts moved with her whereas Cherrie’s stayed in one place.

  At the sight of the model’s body, Kent didn’t get any reaction. He’d fucked Cherrie numerous times, but he couldn’t find anything attractive about her now. His cock remained flaccid in his pants.

  “I didn’t invite you back to my apartment,” he said. “It’s late. I’m tired.” He needed to tread carefully. Cherrie was prone to overreact, and he wasn’t in the mood to deal with her drama.

  She rubbed her hands over her breasts. “Come on, Kent. I know you want to fuck me. You always want to fuck me.” Cherrie went to her knees and crawled to him. Kent closed his eyes as a wave of disgust swept through him.

  Cherrie reached him and opened the first button of his pants.

  “Stop!” Kent shouted the word. Cherrie stopped.

  “What? This is what you want. This is what you always want,” she said. Gone was the seductress, and in her place was the whining woman.

  “I didn’t give you permission to enter my apartment. I want you to leave. I haven’t seen you in over a year, Cherrie. If I see you again, I’ll have you done for trespassing on my personal property.” He grabbed the coat from his chair and threw it at her.

  “You’re an evil bastard,” she said, jerking the coat back on.

  “Get the fuck out.” He followed her to his door and slammed it in her face. Next, he called security to warn them about her presence.

  Staring at the sheets in his room, Kent decided on the sofa for his night’s sleep. How had his night turned into a fucking nightmare?

  Chapter Six

  The next few days flew by, and before Lana knew it, the following weekend was there. Every night during the week Kent had been waiting for her in his building. Some nights they went to the diner to eat and others he dropped her home without going inside with her. She didn’t mind as some nights their friendship confused her. Kent talked a lot about his work, and she got the feeling he didn’t talk with anyone else. His own friends were settled down with children. He liked to talk about them a lot. She didn’t mind listening. He stopped asking her questions about her past.

  Turning over in her bed, Lana checked the time on her alarm clock. It was gone nine on a Saturday morning. She’d gone shopping last night after finishing work early at the diner. Lana switched on the radio and climbed out of bed. Walking into the bathroom, she cleaned her teeth and started a shower. Once her shower was finished, she dressed in a long denim skirt and pink jumper. The weather looked chilly outside even though the sun was shining. She wrapped her hair in a messy bun before going into the kitchen for her cereal and morning coffee.

  Sitting at the table she went through the bills she needed to pay along with the details for her bank account. She did some quick maths to make sure she had enough to pay everything. As she was finishing up her sums someone knocked on her door. Frowning, she checked the clock and saw it was just after half nine.

  Going to the door she opened it as far as the security latch allowed. Kent stood with coffee and baked goods.

  “Good morning,” he said. Last weekend he hadn’t stopped by, and she wasn’t expecting him this morning. He carried a newspaper with him.

  “Are you turning into a stalker?” she asked, not opening the door any wider.

  “Do I look like a stalker?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know that many stalkers,” she said, smiling even though she tried not to.

  “Well, not many stalkers are known to bring breakfast muffins and Spanish blended coffee, but I do,” he said.

  She let out a sigh then opened the latch. “I’ve already eaten, but feel free to sit down and eat.” She finished writing out her calculations as Kent took a seat opposite her.

  “What are you doing?” he asked. Their friendship really was strange.

  The billionaire businessman and the cleaner, she chuckled at her own thoughts.

  “I’ve got money for your thoughts,” he said.

  “And I’m not sharing them. You can keep your money, Kent. I’m doing what us mere mortals do.”

  “Which is?”

  She lifted her gaze to his. “I’m making sure I’ve got enough to pay the bills.”

  He nodded. “Check this out,” he said, handing her the newspaper.”

  Dropping her bills and notes, she took the paper from him. A picture of him and a supermodel was on the front page. Lana slapped his hand as he went to touch her bills. “It’s rude trying to look at a lady’s bills.”

  She read through the story. “What’s this about?” she asked.

  “Last week after our Chinese, I went home and discovered her in my bed with nothing but red underwear,” he said.

  “The bitch, she should have been naked,” Lana said with sarcasm.

  He gave her a pointed look. “You’re supposed to be my friend, and I’m sharing this with you.”

  Lana smiled at the trust he was showing her. “You do realise our friendship is weird, right?”

  Kent shrugged. “I don’t give a shit what people think of me.”

  “Then why are you bothered by the newspaper headline?” She handed the paper back to him. Seeing the story had felt like a punch to the gut for Lana. It took every ounce of self-control not to show her feelings. She and Kent did not have that kind of relatio
nship. He was a man with needs while she was a poor woman without any.

  “I wanted you to know in case you saw it and thought the wrong thing,” he said.

  “Don’t worry. I haven’t got any spare money to spend on newspapers or glossy magazines. Your celeb life is safe from me.” She stood up and placed the bills inside her safe before returning it to the draw in the kitchen. “Why are you here?” she asked.

  “It’s Saturday.”

  “So?”

  “What do you normally do on a Saturday?”

  “I bake.”

  “What else?” he asked, getting up from his seat. He moved toward her, cupping her face in his palms.

  “Erm, read a little. I don’t have any plans today,” she said. Her boring life was finally catching up with her.

  “Then I’ve got to change what you do today. I forbid you baking on your own.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. She gasped then covered it up with a sneeze.

  “What do you have planned?” she asked, feeling nervous.

  “I’ve got to go to my parents’ tomorrow, and I was wondering if you’d go with me as my friend and date.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, they’ll like you. They’re very down to earth kind of people, and I think it will be good for you to see me in a different setting.”

  “Okay, why are you here today?” she asked.

  “I need to go to an art exhibition today. I’m checking out some art. The event is very low key, and I’m not expecting any press. This is just a viewing today. Will you come with me, and I’ll treat us to Italian tonight.”

  “You’re tempting me with food,” she said, groaning.

  “Of course. I know the best way to get my own way is by tempting you with food. So, what will it be?”

  Lana stared around her apartment and bit her lip.

  ****

  Kent waited for her to speak. He’d been thinking of taking her out last weekend, but because work had overrun him he’d not gotten the chance. Then last night before he’d gone to bed, his mother called inviting him for Sunday lunch. Both of his brothers would be there along with his two sisters. All of his siblings were married or in some state of bliss with a partner while he remained single. His mother wanted him to settle down and have lots of babies.

  He hated upsetting his parents. They were his rock in life and believed in him when he’d not the confidence to believe in himself.

  “Come on, Lana. Tomorrow you’ll be saving me from my mother’s matchmaking skills, and today you’ll be saving me from boredom.”

  She chuckled. “Why do you agree to do these things if you’re not interested in them?”

  “It’s good business.”

  “There is more to life than earning money,” she said.

  He wanted to see her bills. There were a lot of papers on the table, and he’d seen some of the calculations. Kent had never lived like she did. Not once during his life did he worry about paying a bill. He’d come from money without fear.

  How did Lana cope with living month to month?

  “I’ll come but no press or lies. We’re friends, and we’re not dating. I’ll come as a friend but not as anything else.”

  She was the first woman who needed to be coerced into going with him.

  “Fine. Are you ready to go?” he asked.

  “Is there something wrong with the way I’m dressed?” she asked.

  Kent didn’t think so. The sweater she wore moulded to every sinful curve. Her tits looked ever so full and soft.

  “You’re fine.” He was dressed in a pair of jeans and white shirt. Weekends were his time to relax.

  She grabbed her purse and coat before following him out of her apartment. They walked side by side to his car, which he’d parked in the spot he deemed his own. A couple of kids were checking his ride over. He nodded at their approval before helping her into the car.

  “I can plug myself in,” she said, moving his hand out of the way.

  “Nice car, man,” one of the kids said.

  “Work hard at school, and you’ll be driving one of these beauties when you’re older,” Kent said.

  The kid nodded. Kent climbed into his side and turned the engine over.

  “That was nice of you to say,” she said.

  “I meant every word. Some kids just need an incentive to try.” Placing the car in gear, he pulled out of the parking lot.

  “Are you going to tell me about your parents to be ready for tomorrow? I’ve noticed you’ve not talked about them.”

  And she didn’t fight him for information on his family. Lana accepted him for him. She didn’t force him to talk about his family or his money. Their time together was fun. The few times they’d watched a movie together, he’d enjoyed the time by playing with a few strands of her hair.

  He craved her smile and her touch, but he didn’t want to spoil their time together. There were times when he fought his desire for her. She’d sat next to him in a pink fluffy robe without a stitch on underneath. He’d spent most of the night hard, wondering what she’d do if he pulled the robe from her body.

  His desire for her didn’t diminish but seemed to grow with every passing day. Kent enjoyed her company, and she didn’t judge him like others did. There was no jealousy or bitter rivalry between them. She didn’t seem fazed by the women in his life even though they were in the past.

  “You’re quiet,” she said.

  Their friendship was strange. Tonya was his last female friend. He’d been sleeping with her before she decided she loved his older brother.

  “I’m just thinking.”

  She didn’t ask him about what. He really liked her. Was this how John and his other friends felt about their women?

  “Do you own a cell phone?” he asked.

  Lana shook her head. “No, I don’t see the need in having one.”

  He intended to get her a phone and a bigger television.

  “Do you live in the Middle Ages?”

  “This coming from the older guy?” she asked, laughing.

  “I’m not that old.”

  “Of course not.”

  Kent loved the banter between them. “Besides with age comes experience, and I’m experienced.”

  “Are you coming onto me?”

  You’ve got no idea how much I’m coming onto you.

  She wouldn’t know if I was coming onto her unless I bluntly spelt it out for her to see.

  “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

  Lana thumped him lightly in the arm. “You’re a tease. So, did Cherrie and you date a lot?”

  Was she jealous?

  “Do you really want to know the truth?” he asked.

  “You brought the newspaper to me. You clearly want to talk about it. I’m available to listen. You’re driving, so you may as well get it off your chest if it’s bothering you.”

  “It’s not bothering me. We never dated. We fucked a few times, but that is all. There is nothing else going on. She was easy, available, and I don’t always like working for it.” Kent admitted the truth to her.

  “Wow, that is putting it bluntly. No love was lost between the two of you.”

  “No. The only thing lost between the two of us was easy cash for her and open thighs for me.”

  She winced. “That’s pretty colourful.”

  He tapped the steering wheel. “Will you tell me about the last guy you dated?”

  Lana let out a sigh.

  “Come on. There has got to be a guy in your past.”

  “There is. I’m not a nun or a virgin or anything.”

  Kent waited for her to speak.

  “His name was Frank, and I thought I loved him.”

  Chapter Seven

  Lana had never intended on talking about her past boyfriend. Kent shared so much with her even though he didn’t need to. The trust he displayed made her wish for the same kind of ease to share all of her troubled thoughts with him. Biting her lip, she stared out of the
window. The only way for her to talk with him about Frank was if she wasn’t looking at him.

  “What about Frank?” Kent asked.

  “He was my last boyfriend. I thought he was amazing. He worked in a bank as some kind of accountant. I met him in the supermarket, and we hit it off. He asked me out on a date. I jumped at the chance to see him. I was a fucking fool. I can’t believe I gave so much of my life to him.” She shook her head remembering how quickly she’d fallen for his charm. Frank had been heavily built with brown hair and the kindest eyes she’d ever seen. He knew what to say to make her feel special. All Frank had been doing was spinning her lies. Frank knew what to say, even though he never meant anything he said.

  She wiped the tears from her eyes, shocked by their sudden appearance. Lana thought she’d cried all the tears possible for Frank.

  “He really broke your heart,” Kent said.

  “Yes, Frank broke my heart. I was the fool for trusting someone so deeply. He was the first guy I really loved. When we were together everything felt amazing. I thought life couldn’t get any better. I went out once, and I saw him with another woman. They were dancing together, and their tongues were down each other’s throats. I believed him when he said they were fooling around. I later found out she was the woman he really wanted. I was just a distraction. The other woman had a lot more money, and she was prettier than I was.” Lana recalled the moment he’d brought up her past and her lack of skills and money. Frank had also criticized her about her inability to help him move up in the fields at work.

  “Wow, what a jerk,” Kent said. He’d eased the car into a space toward the side of the road. She turned to him, wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “He was a total ass. I’m sorry. I thought my tears were all gone.”

  Kent pulled her into his arms. She went to him willingly. His comfort meant so much to her.

  “Do you want me to find this asshole and get him fired from his job?” he asked.

  She laughed. “He’s not worth the time.”

  “You’re worth the time. I hate the fact he’s hurt you. These tears would be wasted on a guy like him,” Kent removed her hands and wiped the tears away with his own fingers. “No more tears for that jerk. You’ve got me, and you’ll always have me.”