The Man Who Has No Heart - Victoria Quinn Page 0,5
like to take care of you.”
This man made me melt more and more. “I hope you understand I do things for you because I want to, not because I expect anything in return.”
“I do know that. Now I want to do something for you—and I don’t expect anything in return either.”
Three
Deacon
After my driver dropped me off from work the next night, I walked into the lobby and headed past the elevator. The office where Cleo and the rest of the staff were located was in the rear, in a large space with desks, monitors, and couches. I went there now, glad Cleo wasn’t there.
Matt sat at the desk. “How can I help you, Mr. Hamilton?”
“Is Cleo here?”
“No. She’s usually so busy doing errands that she’s rarely at her desk. I can call her for you—”
“No.”
Matt went rigid.
I missed talking to Cleo. I was so bad at this. “Actually, I wanted to do something nice for her…and wanted to know if you have any recommendations.”
“Ugh…” He pressed his lips tightly together as he considered it. “I have to think about it.”
“What do the other clients get her?”
“Nothing,” he said with a chuckle. “Barely a thank-you.”
I was an asshole like everyone else in the building. “She runs my life so well that I wanted to do something to make hers easier.”
“Well, she always complains about never having time to take care of her place, to do the dishes, laundry, stuff like that, since she’s always here.”
When I’d stopped by her place, I’d noticed how uncomfortable she was, as if she didn’t want me there. Her place wasn’t what I expected because it was so disorganized. There were papers scattered everywhere, clothes on the floor, the dishes were piled to the top of the sink. It didn’t seem like her personality to be that way, so once Matt said that, it all made sense. If I weren’t rich, I’d have to do those things myself too, and since I was so focused on my work, I’d probably never get around to it. “Could I pay for her to have a housekeeper?”
“Like, every week?” he asked in surprise. “Or just a one-time thing?”
“Weekly.” She worked all week and did stuff for me on the weekends. She literally had no time to take care of herself.
“Wow…that’s really nice of you.”
“Is there a way we can start tomorrow night? I’m taking her to dinner, and it would be nice if the apartment were done when I dropped her off.”
“Yeah, sure,” he said. “I can take care of that for you.” He turned to the computer and pulled up my file. “I can just add the housekeeping hours to your existing one?”
“Sure.” I didn’t look at those bills. Cleo did.
“Then you’re all set. I’ll handle everything.”
I nodded then turned away.
In black slacks and a gray collared shirt, I was ready for dinner.
I wore one of my nice watches, having a collection of a few of them. My beard had been shaved, and I wasn’t eating dinner at the usual time since we were going out. I sat on the couch and put on my dress shoes.
A knock sounded.
“It’s open.” I slipped on the other shoe with the shoehorn.
Cleo’s heels tapped against the hardwood as she entered the condo. She stopped next to the couch and looked down at me.
I finished adjusting my shoe before I raised my head and looked at her.
All of her.
She was in a skintight black dress, a halter top cut low in the back. It hugged her hips, stopped at her thighs, revealing the tanned and toned legs underneath. She wore high heels, her nails French tips.
I cleared my throat and rose to my feet. “I’m ready.”
“Great.” She wore her mother’s earrings and bracelet, and she had a black clutch in her grasp. She smiled at me, completely oblivious to how stunning she looked. She carried herself like she was in her usual attire, like it was another day at work.
We left the condo and took the elevator to the lobby. My driver was there, so we got into the car and drove away.
My hands rested on my thighs, and I looked out the window, seeing the city lights pass and cast a glare over the glass. I hadn’t gone out to dinner in a really long time, couldn’t recall the last time it had happened, in fact. I took Cleo to work dinners, but those weren’t restaurants, and they were social events I was forced to go to.