The Heiress (Book 2 of the Forbidden Series)

7

The afternoon sun spilled through the windows of Layla’s bedroom. She had slept like a baby the previous night. Layla stretched and rolled over reaching out for Alexander. Finding the bed empty, Layla sat up and looked around the bedroom. She was alone with no sign of Alexander. The suit he had worn the night before had been draped over the back of a chair, and his street clothes were gone.

He must have left during the night after she fell asleep. Layla tossed back the covers slipping from the bed. Taking a silk flowered robe from her closet, Layla wrapped it around her body. She took a shower and dressed for the day in a white cotton dress. She pinned her hair back and left her room heading for her father’s study. Just outside she spotted Rolland slowly making his way for the study to go over her father’s business schedule for the day. Layla ran over and intercepted before the old man could reach the door. “Good morning Rolland.” She smiled.

“Good afternoon Miss. Layla.” He corrected her. “Is there something I can do for you, my dear?” Rolland asked perfectly aware that she was deliberately delaying him from his duties.

“You wouldn’t happen to know when Mr. Sinton left would you?”

“He did not Miss. Layla. Young Mr. Sinton is outside washing the cars.” Rolland told her.

“He is doing what?”

“Your father offered the young man his job back, and he accepted it. He is working.”

Layla opened the door to her father’s study and walked in to find her father sitting behind his desk reviewing some contracts. “Hello darling, can I help you?” David asked wondering what his daughter was doing barging in when she knew better than to bother him while he worked.

“Did you give Alexander his job back?” She demanded, annoyed with his interference.

“Yes. I apologized for my rudeness and offered the boy his job; he was more than happy to take it.” He answered placing the contracts on the desk.

“And you did this out of the kindness of your heart?” She asked skeptically planting her hands firmly on her hips.

“Not at all,” David admitted. “I did it because I know what it’s like to be broke and poor. Good jobs don’t come along every day for guys like him, and he needs it. So long as he stays away from you, he can keep his job.” David explained.

“What?” Layla snapped appalled that he would do such a thing.

“If you mess around with that boy like last night, I will fire him, and I will make sure he never works in this town again. So, if you don’t want to be responsible for his unemployment, you will find someone new to play with.” David warned. Layla stomped her foot in a huff and stormed out, how dare he put that on her.

***

Layla spent the day poolside with her friends enjoying the sun and margaritas. Later when they moved inside to the game room to play video games, they passed Rolland and Alexander on their way to the utility room. Alexander smiled and said good afternoon and the girls giggled and replied with flirtatious smiles. Layla took note of Jeff intently watching her reaction, and she knew he would report back to her father. Layla remained silent and walked past him. She didn’t look back to see the look on Alexander’s face.

He had talked to her father and knew the rules; he would understand she was sure. So, she went about the rest of her day laughing and playing and beating Nick mercilessly at Mortal Combat.

At dinner, she had dressed in a fine peach dress with a short skirt and joined the rest in the dining hall. She had noticed that Alexander did not join them this time. Perhaps gun shy from their last dinner. She sat through the long conversation and smiled politely when required waiting patiently for the meal to be over.

After supper when the guests dispersed among the rooms, Layla helped Beth clear the table then complained of a headache leaving her family to entertain without her. She disappeared to the lower levels to find Alexander. It was his off hours, and she figured he would be hiding in his room. She strolled past the many rooms and private studios. Layla passed the dance studio; the door was opened, and the music was coming from inside. She pushed the door wide to find Linda swinging in and out of Alexander’s arms; he spun her around and drew her near. Her laughter was like a spike in Layla’s head. They were dancing, the upbeat tempo suggesting it was a jive. Layla stood for a moment waiting and realizing they had not noticed her she cleared her throat.

Linda stumbled when she noticed Layla standing in the doorway. “Why hello, what can we do for you, Layla?” She smiled, her gaze politely telling Layla to disappear so Linda could be alone with him. Linda’s arm twined with Alexander’s. “Alex was teaching me the jive it’s fun.”

Layla forced her smile. “So, it would seem, but I believe there was a gentleman on the phone for you. Said he was from Uptown Magazine. He is holding.” Layla lied, Linda’s vanity and ambition were only some of her many flaws.

Linda excused herself from Alexander’s company promising to spend more time later that evening before leaving. Layla waited until Linda was far down the hall before turning to Alexander. “What do you say we go for a walk?” She said sweetly.

“I’d say no,” Alexander said bluntly leaning over to turn off the radio.

“You have something against walking?” Layla teased moving closer. Her hand stroking his arm but Alexander jerked his arm away.

“No, I have something against subjecting myself to rude individuals.” His tone was bitter.

“Rude? Did you call me rude?” Layla objected.

“It was the nicest reference I could come up with.”

“I did nothing to deserve that.”

“You snubbed me today. We spent the night together, and suddenly I’m invisible. I’m good enough to f**k, but not to talk too. Don't you think I know why you are down here? One of your bored debutante friends has taken an interest in me, and you don’t like to share. It’s very childish?”

“Please, Linda entirely intends to use you.” She snapped making him aware of her friend’s less the pure intentions.

“But at least she doesn’t try to pretend otherwise.”

“You can’t talk to me that way.”

“I’ll talk to you any damn way I want. I’m off the clock, and it’s a free country.” Alexander snarled, storming past her toward his private room.

“You had no problem being nice enough to me when I was paying you.” She clipped stomping after him.

Alexander stopped short of his door and spun around almost knocking Layla over. Advancing, he pinned her between himself and the wall. “You paid me to do a job, and I did it.”

“So is that what’s going on, Linda’s paying you to do her a job. You will give it up to anyone with enough cash.” Layla snarled back.

“I have never in my life wanted to strike a woman, but I seriously reconsidered my morality in your case.” He sneered. Storming into his room Alexander reached into his nightstand and took out the money he had earned the previous night. He threw it at Layla his eyes full of anger and disdain. “Take it… and just so you are clear. I don’t f**k for cash, I dance. f*****g you after was just a lapse in judgment on my part. I may be desperate for money, but at least I don’t have to pay for it.” He slammed the door shut in her face.

Layla heaved the door back open in a huff. She advanced on Alexander in a fury. “Go to hell you son of a b***h. I tried everything to get you to pay attention to me, and it took offering you a butt load of money to get you to give me anything. And you think I’m a snob. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you; I just thought you wanted discussion since if you get busted with me, you lose your job.”

“I’m not asking you to go to your father and tell him you are sleeping with me, but at least talk to me when I speak to you. Don’t treat me as if I’m part of the furniture. At least Linda talked to me.” Alexander yelled closing the gap between them in two long strides.

“I’m sorry, this sneaking around is new to me.” She calmed her tone not wanting to continue along this path. “Please, will you just come for a walk with me?”

Alexander stood considering her request. Against his better instincts, he agreed. They walked through the house and out the front door. They strolled down the drive toward the trees. Layla had a quiet little spot she had always liked to go too when she needed to escape the commotion in her house. A few feet into the trees was a clearing where her father had built her a swing from the tallest tree’s strongest branch. It was secluded and separate from the drive. Her father had wanted to offer her a retreat, and with it, inside the walls of his grounds, he knew she was safe.

“I come here when I just want to be alone.” She smiled lowering herself onto the swing. “No one outside my family knows about this spot.” She admitted.

Alexander stepped behind her, and she felt his hands on her back giving her a push. “It’s quiet compared to the rest of the grounds. It must have been very busy growing up here.”

“It was.” Layla admitted, “Where did you grow up?”

“In the city. It wasn’t much, but we owned our own house, at least until my father remortgaged it and gambled everything we had away. I’ve been taking care of my mother the best I can, but my mother’s going to lose her house soon.”

“Is that why you do what you do?” Layla asked turning in her seat to see him.

Alexander’s eyes lowered in shame. “It’s a way to make fast money. My father used to say I didn’t have much sense. I couldn’t do anything worthwhile. Said I wasn’t anything more than a pretty face.” Alexander forced a smile to lighten the mood. “The best way to get ahead is to use the assets the good lord gave you. He gave me a strong body and my talent with the ladies. So, I capitalized on it.”

“Then why are you working two jobs if it pays so well? I know what you make here is considerable.”

“My father died and left us in debt up to our eyeballs. The collectors came after my mother and me. I’m the only income, my mother is… sick… she can’t hold down a job of her own, and she is going to lose her home soon. I do what I can, but it often feels like a losing battle. The bills never end.” Alexander sighed leaning against the tree trunk.

“So that is why you needed the money so bad the other night?” Layla realized the extent of his desperation, admiring his dedication to his mother. He nodded. “And you just gave it back.”

“I’ll get it some other way.” He shrugged.

Layla stared at the ground feeling small for the way she treated him. “No take it back you did your job, and you earned it.”

Alexander frowned offended. “I told you I’m not a whore.”

“I didn’t mean to say you were. I paid you to dance, which you do very well by the way. What happened after was between two consenting adults. Separate from the paying job.” She smiled teasingly.

It was good to hear him laugh, and he lifted her from the swing taking the seat in her place. Layla straddled his lap. Her legs on either side of Alexander’s hips facing him. She held the ropes, and his hands supported her hips holding her in place. Pushing off of the ground, Alexander put the swing in motion again. The intimate closeness was oddly soothing.

“Where’d you learn to dance?” She asked trying to ignore the mounting sensation between her legs as they swung back and forth.

“From my mother mostly, and in the alleys of my neighbourhood. Some of the older kids held contests back there. People would bet on the competitors. The winner got the pot. I used to watch the kids and try to copy them. My mother taught me some Cuban moves, and about rhythm, she was an instructor. She couldn’t afford a sitter, so she took me with her. I took what she taught me and what I picked up. I mixed it up a bit and competed one day. I did well and won the cash, one of the fathers in the neighbourhood had a studio, I liked his daughter, and she liked guys that could dance. I took a few lessons from her father to be around her. I never got the girl, but I got some wicked skills between him and my mom.”

Layla tilted her head at him sure he was fibbing. “They taught you to do those racy moves in a dance class?”

Alexander grinned. “No those I picked up from watching Heathen videos.” He chuckled. “My mother is a huge fan. Your father had some pretty fly and racy moves in his day. He is the only man I can think of that can get the same reaction I do with his clothes on.”

“Your moves are pretty fly themselves. You could probably do the same with the right publicity.”

Alexander chuckled. “Publicity, you suggesting I get rich and famous off stripping?”

“No, I’m suggesting you audition for a music video. You would have a good chance of getting the gig, and it pays well. Even better if you can choreograph for them.” She suggested remembering all the times her father had set up video shoots for his contracts. Hiring dancers and choreographers were always a trying part; he would always complain that real talent was hard to find now a day.

“I’m flattered by your faith in me, but I know better than to reach for imposable goals. I’m not meant for fame and fortune, and I’m fine with that fact; all I want out of life is to be financially stable, to take care of my mother, and raise a family one day.”

“But you could have so much more.”

“I think I’ll stick with manual labour. It’s what I’m good at. If I’m really lucky and worked hard, I might one day open a cycle shop. I could repair vintage motorcycles and sell them off.”

“Do you like dancing?”

“You mean besides for money?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah, it’s my favourite pastime.”

Pushing his feet off the dirt, Alexander kept the swing in motion the momentum relaxing. His hand slid over her waist and lowered back holding her in place on his lap as the swing swayed back and forth. Their bodies rocked in unison to keep moving. She could feel his body reacting to the gentle sway of her hips.

“What about you?” He spoke trying to push the sensations out of his mind. “What do you do for a living?”

“Nothing.”

Lifting a dark brow, he stared at her in question. “You do nothing. So how do you get money? You tap daddy on the shoulder and go shopping?”

Layla glared at him not caring much for the suggestive tone that she was a shiftless slacker. “No, I have a trust fund.”

Alexander smirked. “Oh well, that is a horse of a different colour.” He mocked.

“Don’t get cocky. My father gives us a trust fund to do with as we wish but he also expects us to make our fortunes. He has already been pushing me to pick a career path and start rolling. He is willing to bankroll the startup, but I have to run with it.”

“And what have you picked?”

“As of right now… nothing.”

Alexander shook his head finding it amusing. “I don’t think that is what he had in mind when he told you to pick something.”

“Aren’t we observant? I don’t know what to do. There is so much pressure to succeed. The whole world looks at me like they expect something fabulous. I live in the shadows of my parents and grandfather, of my uncle, hell even my brother is getting ready to release his first album. Do you know what kind of pressure that is? To stand in the spotlight of my family’s successes and feel uninspired.” She shrugged.

“Sounds like you are just lost. You have never lived in the real world, never wanted for anything. You have never had to strive for something or suffer. You are not inspired because you haven’t lived, never loved, never lost something.” Alexander grinned coming up with an idea. “You need to get out of here, mingle freely with the common people. What do you say we get out of here?”

“I would say my father would kill you. I’m not allowed to leave the grounds without a proper escort. Usually very big and armed.” Layla explained slipping from his lap.

“Are you saying you don’t ever get to go anywhere alone?”

“Not off the estate no. It’s been like that my whole life. It’s a necessary evil they tell me. My parents don’t leave the premises either without security following. They would get mulled by fans if they did, and as for us kids, they’re just worried for us.” Layla sighed wondering what it would be like to be free to go where she pleased when she pleased without her security detail. She had everything in the world, a rock n’ roll princess and yet she was a virtual prisoner to her lineage. It was oddly depressing when she thought about it. “We should go back inside.”

Alexander walked Layla back to the house standing in the doorway; she leaned in to kiss him. Alexander backed away with an apologetic smile. His hand extended in friendship. She was an incredibly lovely woman and as bad as he wanted to have her he never made the same mistake twice. She had burned him once, and he wasn’t about to let it happen again. “Perhaps we should keep this platonic.”

Layla looked up at him wide-eyed and confused. She could not figure him out. One moment he appeared to be as interested in her as she was in him, and the next he only wanted to be friends? Alexander was an unusual man, Layla was not used to being turned down, had it not been for their previous interaction last night she would be seriously questioning his s****l preference. Did he seriously prefer Linda’s company to hers? She painted a grin on her face not willing to let him see how offended she was. Play it cool, she gave herself a mental pep-talk, after all, he is just a guy. Layla shook his hand. “Very well, friends.”