The Casino Billionaire

Chapter 13

When I wake my bed is cold. Rolling over to see the other side is empty. Seriously? This man is going to drive me insane! Throwing on my robe and slippers, I head out to see if he has disappeared on me again.  Upon opening my door, I hear laughter. Shawna is up. Heading toward the sound of her laughter I see that Jason is in the kitchen and Shawna is laughing at the complete mess he is making trying to make pancakes.

"What's going on here?" Talking through a small yawn.

"I don't think this man has ever cooked before."Shawna laughs.

"I haven't. A few times as a child. I insisted that Shawna let me make you both breakfast." Pancake batter splatters on his shirt when he tries to flip them too early.

"How about you let me help?" I walk up and take the bowl of batter and spatula from him.

Jason does not argue and lets me take control of this catastrophe. He moves to the sink attempting to clean up his shirt. Shawna slips away as Jason wraps his arms around my waist, kissing me softly on the neck, "Good morning, Miss Jennifer." He growls into my ear.

A shiver runs through me, "Good morning, Mr. Joens. You know you can call me Jen. No need to be so formal." I think we are past that point now.

"Well, then you need to start calling me Jason." His hands rub my sides as he watches me, cook, "So you wait until they bubble on the top?" He seems in awe of the making of a pancake.

Giggling at him, "Why don't you go have a seat and I will bring some to you." 

"Here, give this a try." Shawna pops up out of nowhere and hands Jason an old concert t-shirt some old boyfriend left behind, "It should fit.

Jason unbuttons his shirt and removes it, both our jaws drop when we see what lies beneath. Holy s**t is he fine! Quickly raising my hand to close Shawna's mouth before he finishes changing shirts. We both snicker at the difference it makes in his appearance. Jason is always dressed in a suit or his casual dress is way too dressy. Seeing him wearing a t-shirt just melts me. He is amazing. I have to stop this! He is not mine and who knows if he ever will be. I mean, he could just be slumming it for a while and I get to be the lucky girl. 

We all sit at the table and start eating. Not too sure if this is the right time to ask him where the hell he has been for the last month, Shawna was not, "So, are you going to tell us where you have been and why you just left without telling us?" She asks between bites.

"So forward aren't we, Shawna?" I kick her shin under the table, she yelps, scowling.

"Well, you weren't asking!" She squeals as she rubs her leg.

"It's fine." Jason wipes his mouth after already clearing his plate, "Rex found the four that had beat me and we took care of them, nothing bad. We made sure that they will never be able to hurt anyone again. After that, we learned that one of my casinos in California was under attack by another rival and we had to move fast. That casino is in a rough neighborhood and it needs much of my attention. I put it there to create safe, well-paying jobs for the people living there struggling to feed their families. A man that I used to know tried to move in and start his own business. He takes advantage of the people. He prostitutes them out and treats them terribly. He comes into my establishment with the idea he can recruit them and use them as his pawns to attempt to put me out of business. That night he had come in with a rowdy bunch that was smashing up my place, beating on the security, and trying to manhandle the waitresses." He sighs before he continues, "I try so hard to make it a safe place for everyone, not just my staff. When they started hassling my patrons, well, I had to go teach him that this is unacceptable. Rex and I could not just go for a day and leave. I had to make my constant presence known after what we did to help him understand that I will not stand for his shenanigans. I will not go into detail. These are things that ladies do not need to hear. Sometimes I have to do things I am not proud of and do not wish to involve anyone that needs not be. It took time to make him get the picture well enough." Jason rubs his forehead with his hand and then through his hair, "I am, in a way glad that we were not in touch. Once he saw me and Blake in the papers, he started to harass her. The last thing I want is that piece of scum even speaking to you." The anger on his face is real.

Shawna and I just sit there for a moment. I understand that what he does can come with some hassles, but nothing like that. "Well, thank you for telling me what was happening. We were worried about you." I finally say.

"No, she was worried you found someone else and she would never have the chance." Shawna belts out. My jaw drops and my head turns toward her, "Well, we are telling the truth here aren't we?" She shrugs and finishes off her breakfast.

Jason chuckles taking my hand, "My thoughts were always here where I wanted to be more than anything."

Now that my face is bright red, "That's good to know." No one could wipe the cheesy smile that plagues me at the moment.

"I hate to leave you, but I must go get showered and do a conference call with some of my managers. I have installed stricter policies when hiring security. Nothing will ever happen again as it did to Shawna. You have opened my eyes. I was too trusting of the people I employ. Things need to change in all of my casinos. If you have any suggestions, do not ever feel like you cannot speak up to me. I value what you have to say." Jason kisses my forehead, "I do really need to go. Join me for dinner tonight?" He takes me hand helping me stand.

"You know it." Shawna has a problem vomiting words this morning.

We both look at her, "You are more than welcome to join us." Jason says. I give her the dirtiest look I can.

"Oh, you mean Jen. Sorry, I'm busy tonight." My face contorts into a smile. She grins back at me.

"I'd love to. Nothing fancy. I do not have the wardrobe for anything more than Applebee's." Shawna agrees and I throw her a look again shutting her up.

"Here," Jason pulls out his wallet, "You two go shopping today and get a formal dress and whatever you need to go with it. Stop at the spa and get the works if you would like. Shawna deserves a bit of pampering after what she went through. It's all on me. Have an amazing girls' day. Rez will be here to pick you up at eight." He hands me a credit card then leans down planting a sweet kiss upon my lips.

Before I can protest, he is out the door. Shawna snatches the card from my hand and starts bouncing around the living room, "It's like Pretty Woman!"

"It so is not! I'm not a hooker that he picked up and is paying to be his companion while he is in town. I don't want to use his card. I don't want him to think his money is the only thing I want from him." I sigh, flopping down on the couch.

"He knows that's not what you want. Geez, Jen, the way you look at him. No one could miss that." She sits beside me, pulling me into a hug. "Let's go get you gorgeous for him. Show him that you are definitely what he wants." She squeezes me, throws me to the side, jumps up, and runs to her room to change, "Get ready would ya!" She yells from her room, laughter clear in her voice.

I am glad she is excited about spending his money. For me, it isn't that easy. I need this man to want me for me, not what he can give to me or for what he can do for me. I am not a project. Love is what I am after, an equal partner, not someone who feels they need to help me. We are doing fine just the way we are. Christ, he already paid my rent for the next six months without asking. How can I make him see that he doesn't need to help me? Just love me.