The Billionaire and the Cleaner(19)
Author: Sam Crescent

“Lana, what’s the matter?” Kent bent down.

“I’ve got to clean the mess. I’ve had a raise, and I can’t believe my standards are slipping.” Tears filled her eyes as she recalled the horrid food stains in the trailer. The time she’d gone into her mother’s room and the stench of sex, urine, and alcohol had filled the room.

She’d never allow herself to be like her. Frank was wrong. She wasn’t like her mother. Everything had to be clean and have its own place.

Kent’s hand closed over hers. “Stop this,” he said.

Lana lifted her head. Tears fell on her cheeks. He wiped the tears away. “I’m not like her. I’m not dirty. I like things clean, and I work hard. I’m not like her.”

“No, you’re not like her.”

He didn’t have a clue who she was talking about, but hearing him agree with her meant a lot. Kent removed her hand away from the shoe. “See, it’s all clean. You’re fine. I promise.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry.”

The bell on the elevator rung out letting them know they’d come to the right floor. Kent lifted her up in his arms. She didn’t let go as he carried her down the corridor to his room.

Resting her head against his chest she waited for him to open the door.

“I won’t have to fight semi-naked women out of your apartment, will I?” she asked, teasing him.

“No. There are no na**d women here.”

“That’s good to know.”

His heart thumped against her ear. Kent carried her inside his apartment. He sat down on the sofa pulling her onto his lap.

“I’m too heavy,” she said. Lana went to move off his lap. Kent stopped her by holding her tightly against him.

“Don’t even think about it. You’re not going anywhere.” Kent stroked her hair, soothing her with tiny caresses. She closed her eyes relishing the closeness she felt next to him. After a time, Kent lifted her off his lap and placed her at the end of the sofa. He removed her shoes and socks.

“I don’t want you to move from this space.”

“I’m sorry about the elevator. I don’t know what came over me,” she said, dropping her gaze as the shame of her past gripped her.

“You know what came over you. It’s your mysterious past. You don’t want to talk about it, and that’s fine. You don’t have to talk about it or say anything. You’ll tell me when you’re ready to.”

He tapped her leg and made to move away.

“It’s my mother. She’s the only person from my past.”

“Didn’t she like mess?” he asked, sitting down.

Heat filled her cheeks as she recalled the mess inside the trailer. “She didn’t care for mess or much of anything else. I’m nothing like her.”

Dropping her gaze, she wrapped her arms around her legs. Kent handed her the remote. “Here, watch television. I’m going to get us some food.”

“You know how to cook?” she asked, teasing him.

“You’ve seen my mom’s kitchen. Do you really think she’d let any of her boys go without knowing how to look after themselves?” he asked.

“Point taken. I look forward to your food.”

He left her alone. She clicked on the television. The screen was large, and seeing the size of it made her chuckle. Kent had been trying to get her to have a bigger television for a long time. Shaking her head, she flicked through the channels.

“I see why you want the bigger screen. I don’t even think this would fit into my apartment,” she said, calling out to him.

“Everyone deserves a big screen. I can get one to fit your apartment,” he said.

Lana laughed. “My electric bill would go through the roof. How much does it cost to run?”

“Stop teasing me and enjoy it.”

She continued flicking through the channels like he told her. There were several sports channels along with a couple of  p**n  channels. Lana shook her head at his choice of viewing and stuck with the news. The safest channel was the news.

He came back out of the kitchen with a tall glass of milk.

“The news? You’re watching the news?” he asked with mock disgust.

“I thought it was better than sex.” She lifted a brow. Kent chuckled and walked away.

Glancing around the room she spotted several pictures of his family along the shelves.

****

If his c**k got any bigger Lana would notice him tenting his pants with the size of his erection. He felt like the worst friend in the world. While she’d been crying in his lap, he’d been enjoying the feel of her pressed against him.

Opening his fridge he took out the pasta and sauce he’d bought the other day. He’d intended to cook for her when he bought them. The only thing that had changed for him was Frank coming back on the scene. He filled a pan with water and salted the water. Kent got everything ready like his mother taught him to cook the pasta. He glanced into the room to see Lana had taken her coat off. The uniform she wore did nothing for her figure.

His cell phone buzzed letting him know he’d gotten a call. His mother’s name flashed on the screen.

He let Lana know his mother was calling.

“What are you doing up this late?” he asked, putting the phone to his ear.

“Don’t be cheeky to me. I’m calling to see about Lana’s Christmas present. I’ve got a catalogue here, and I see some dresses I think will look gorgeous on her.”

His mother already viewed her as being part of the family.

“What colours?”

“I’ve got blue and purple. I think the purple will look good. I need her size.”

“What does Dad think of you ordering like this?” Kent asked.

“Your father leaves me to do what I do best, and that’s looking after my family. I’m looking after my family, and I get the feeling Lana hasn’t had much looking after,” Penny said.

Kent turned the heat on the stoves down and walked into his bedroom. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

“Okay, I’m ready for the gossip.”

He chuckled and then told her everything that had happened from Frank showing up to the episode inside the elevator.

“She’s been hurt bad, son. I think you need to take it carefully.”

Kent took her advice and hung up.

Moving out of the room he saw her sat watching the news. He quickly finished dinner and handed her a plate of steaming pasta.