Chapter Four
The Price of Success Is Hard Work
Buddy’s friend wasn’t what Jordan had expected, at all. Sure, she had a great figure but she wasn’t flaunting it; just a loose blouse and blue jeans, not like a button was about to pop off or anything. She looked natural. A bit like the girl next door, although no girl who had lived next to him had ever been that pretty.
Well, that’d explain why she was so popular. Jordan had hoped to get her for less but if she could keep Lauren away from him, then he didn’t mind splashing out. He’d budgeted $5,000 and she said yes to $4,000. Besides, she was gorgeous. Lauren would spit. In fact, he couldn’t wait to share the great news with her.
He sat back down at his desk and began sorting through his emails. A dozen urgent requests had piled up in the few minutes.
Right on cue, Joyce buzzed him. “I’m really sorry, Mr. Lovett, but I have Lauren on the line again and she’s insisting on waiting on hold until you are free to take her call.”
“It’s fine, Joyce, I’ll talk to her now.” He grinned as Joyce put the call through. “Hello, Lauren? Yes, it’s me.” He tried to sound charming, as difficult as it was. “Yes, I’ll be there this weekend. You know I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s just busy. I’m very much looking forward to it. Yes, I’ll be there Friday night. Just one thing, can you have Maria make up the guest suite? I’ll be bringing my girlfriend. Her name’s...” He racked his brain. “Charlotte. You’ll love her. She’s adorable.” He grinned. “Yes, we’ll be there Friday night. Give my love to George. See you soon, Lauren. I’m looking forward to it.”
He better not mess her name up in front of people. Charlotte Jones. Such a quiet name for a woman with such an amazing lifestyle. Buddy sure was right, she looked quality, no one would guess she’d been paid to be his companion. Jordan found it a bit disconcerting that Buddy recognized his type perfectly, actually. He’d expected someone with thick makeup and fake breasts and a push-up bra. Charlotte looked very natural and together. She didn’t look like she was trying too hard. Actually, she didn’t really look like she was trying at all. Her clothes weren’t very flattering and her shoes were worn, the heels dyed black where the leather had come away. Whatever she was spending her stripper money on, it wasn’t clothes and hair stylists.
And yet, she was gorgeous. The way she’d looked up at him when he stepped close to her. He smiled at the memory. She smelled like soap and lavender. Her eyes were wide open, expectant, her lips barely parted. He had come very close to kissing her and he was pretty sure she had come pretty close to letting him.
But then, she would, wouldn’t she? The realization doused his thoughts like a bucket of cold water. He had to remember that: she was used to being what men wanted in return for money. That was her job. The way she looked up at him set off all kinds of longing in him because it was intended to. She was just after money, same as Lauren—she was more honest about it. She wasn’t pretending to be in love with him or that she wanted to be with him. It was a straight forward transaction. And the fact that he got hard just thinking about her, well, that was his problem and he needed to make sure she didn’t find out. This was a business arrangement.
Business. Jordan picked up the report from corporate services. Laura had found an issue that affected three customers but when she tried to speak to retail to see if they had any customers with the same problem, they gave her the cold shoulder. Jordan was going to have to go over there first thing in the morning and knock some heads together. He was constantly fighting against the closed-ranks attitudes of the department heads, an attitude encouraged by his father and the competition he fostered in the upper ranks. The result was a management team who acted as if their departments were under siege, rather than working together.
He heard the sounds of the staff packing up and leaving for the day but did no more than offer Joyce a quick wave. He was making real progress. The quiet of the empty office at night would allow him to make even more.
His shoulders were stiff when he was interrupted by a call from the security guard on the front desk. “There’s a woman here to see you, sir.” The man sounded like he thought it was a date or something.
“Did you get her name?”
“Figured you’d know it,” he said. Then there was some brief mumbling and he was back on the line. “Charlotte Jones, sir. Said she spoke to you this afternoon.”
Yes, but not about coming back tonight. What was she up to? Jordan scowled. He didn’t have time to play games. But he didn’t have time to find someone else for the weekend, either.
Maybe he was being unfair. She might just be here to show off the new clothes she bought. He cracked his neck. He wouldn’t mind getting out of here, going out for a drink.
She walked in, wearing the same old jeans and blouse. He swallowed his disappointment. “Mr. Lovett,” she said.
“Jordan,” he countered. She didn’t seem to be intimidated by him at all, which he found both frustrating and refreshing. Would he be able to control her? “How did you know I would be here?”
“Your phone was ringing non-stop and your desk was covered in paperwork. You had 137 unread new mails. It didn’t seem like you’d be able to get away for 5:30.”
She’d looked at his screen? That was a bit forward. “And what do you want?”
“Look, there’s been a mistake.” She opened up her purse and pulled out some cash. Possibly the money he’d given her earlier.
Jesus, did she think it was not enough? Was this another bid for money?
“No way,” he said.
“I don’t know what you are thinking but—” she started.
“Look, it’s simple. I do not have time to both manage the business and handle a relationship.” As Lauren had proven. He carried on with her long after he should have walked away, because he didn’t have the mental or emotional energy to actually do anything. And now here he was drooling on the first woman who presented himself. If his mother were alive, she’d be very disappointed in him. He didn’t even want to think about what Mom would think of George’s engagement. But he wasn’t going to think about that.
He took a deep breath. Did she really think she could negotiate with him? “You came highly recommended by Buddy. If you aren’t capable of doing the job, then that’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’ll find someone else.” He had to repress a smile at the fiery look she gave him. That hit a nerve, did it?
“I’m perfectly capable of doing a job,” she snapped. “But Buddy—”
He cut her off again, unwilling to hear her excuses. Buddy must have told her it was work 5K to him. “The deal is, pretend to be my date for a short time, at an agreed rate and with expenses paid. That’s it. I appreciate Buddy referring you to me but he’s not a part of these negotiations.”
She stared at him in response.
“Stand up.” He stepped towards her, aiming to keep her off balance.
She held out the money towards him. He took it out of her hand and shoved it into her purse. He put his hands at her waist, being very careful where he placed them. As he inhaled the fresh scent of her hair, he wondered if this was such a good idea. He felt almost intoxicated. This woman was disturbingly good at her job. He held out his right hand. “Put your hand in mine.” She did and he closed his fingers over hers, as if they were dancing. “Great, it fits. You are perfect for this role.”
She opened her mouth and closed it again. “I...oh.”
He realized he was just standing there, staring down at her parted lips, holding her close. He abruptly let go. He was going to have to learn to keep his hands to himself around this woman. On the other hand, at least it was easy to be around her. He just had to be careful he didn’t get carried away.
Damn Buddy for messing up his negotiations. “Please be my date for the weekend. $5,000 and that’s my final offer. I don’t expect anything else. I just want you to be friendly for two and a half days. I’m sure you can manage that.” He went for broke. “I already told them you would be there. I don’t want to explain to my father why you dumped me before we even got there.”
For a moment, he thought she was going to say no but then she furrowed her brow. “Your father? The weekend is at your father’s house?”
“It’s his engagement party. I need you to protect me from his fiancée.”
“And you want me to go to your father’s house and pretend to be your girlfriend?”
Christ, she wasn’t the brightest crayon in the box, was she? He nodded and spoke slowly. “Yes, exactly. Just in public. No personal services are required or expected.” He needed that to be clear, although a part of him did wonder what she might be like under that cool exterior. But no. He’d never paid for a woman’s attention in his life. It was bad enough he was paying her to show up.
She gave him a weird look but no longer looked as if she was ready to bolt. She rubbed her finger against her wrist. Then she nodded and moved the cash into her wallet, as if she was worried it might disappear. That he might change his mind? Or that she would. “Fine.” She still sounded reluctant. “I’ll do it.”
He would have liked a bit more enthusiasm but he’d take what he could get. “Friday afternoon to Sunday night late, $5,000, no extras, no more haggling? I’m serious now.”
“We agreed $4,000,” she said.
The woman was insane. “You negotiated a better rate.” He stared her down. He didn’t feel like it was the money bothering her; there was something about this she didn’t like. “You’re making me nervous. Are you actually going to be here on Friday?”
“Yes, I will be here.” She rubbed her wrist again. The skin there was red and a bit puffy where she had a tattoo, presumably recent. It looked like just the letter R. Maybe a boyfriend? Is that what was bothering her? “And you are right,” she said. “$5,000 it is.”
“And you can keep the clothes.”
“Clothes? Right. I’ll go shopping tomorrow. Three days, yes?”
“And changing for dinner, yes. And get some new shoes, too.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, dear. I will make sure I am dressed appropriately for your family drama.”
He grinned in response. “I appreciate it. Honestly, Charlotte. It’ll be fun.”
“Yeah, fun,” she said. “Well, I better get going.” And without a further word, she was out the door.
“See you Friday,” he called after her. He was pretty sure she’d be there. She didn’t seem like the type who could turn down a challenge. And $5,000 was hardly small change.
He hated that money was a part of it at all. Not that he was interested in this woman. She would keep Lauren away from him and he wouldn’t have to get involved with anyone. And when the weekend was over, she would take the cash and go away and they would both be happy. It was exactly what he wanted.
He rubbed his hands again and wondered why they felt so dirty.