The Weekend Proposition - Ella Jade Page 0,41
tears. On Tuesday it was easy for her to take his money. She didn’t know him. She wouldn’t dare hope to know a man like him. Now, standing on her stoop in Brooklyn, she realized how foolish she had been. They were miles apart. He would go back to the penthouse and she would be a waitress and a cleaning woman.
“I upheld my end of the bargain. I had hoped we’d be able to move past that but—”
“Dakota.” Her mother stepped out onto the porch. “Is everything okay? I heard yelling.”
“Hey, Ma. We’re fine.” She looked at Spencer. “I was just coming inside.”
“Mrs. Vercelli.” Spencer walked toward her and extended his hand. “I’m Spencer Cannon, a friend of your daughter’s. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Please, call me Deb.” Her mother took his hand. “Is that your car, Mr. Cannon?”
“Yes.” He smiled, turning on all of the Cannon charm Coda had become so fond of. “Call me Spencer, Deb.”
“Coda, where did you meet Spencer?” her mother asked.
“Spencer is the CEO of Cannon and Carrington. That ad agency I clean for at night.”
“Was this the interview you told me about? Did you see her work, Spencer? She’s amazing.”
“I’d have to agree.” Spencer looked at Coda.
“No, Ma, the CEO doesn’t look at the portfolio of cleaning people. Spencer needed help with something and I agreed to do it. It was no big deal.”
“Oh, well, I’m sure if you showed him your portfolio... Would you like to come inside for a cup of coffee, Spencer?”
“No!” Coda had to put a stop to this. “Mr. Cannon is a busy man.”
“Yes, but since he’s here you should take advantage of that.” Her mother nodded toward Spencer. “Don’t you agree?”
“Ma, please stop embarrassing me. I need to get my things from the car and I’ll be in.”
“Okay.” She beamed at Coda. “I can’t wait to hear all about this mysterious weekend.”
“It was nice meeting you, Deb,” Spencer said. “I hope we see one another again.”
“Have a nice afternoon, Spencer.”
When she went back into the house, Spencer said, “You look like her.”
“Can you have Andrew get my things?” Coda headed toward the car. She wasn’t in the mood for small talk. “I need to get inside before my mother starts bringing out my art work from fourth grade.”
“Coda, please.” He grabbed her arm, turning her to face him. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I only meant that an intimate relationship would cloud the agreement. I don’t regret sleeping with you, but it didn’t change the terms of our contract. You fulfilled your commitment and I owed you the rest of the money.”
“I get that.” Why was it so easy for him to treat her as a business transaction? “I think you could have used some finesse, that’s all.”
“I don’t understand.” He looked down at his feet. “After everything, after last night, how could you think I don’t feel something?”
“It’s because of last night that I thought you would have treated me differently.” She unclasped the bracelet and placed it in his hand. “Everything else—the clothes, the shoes, and the money—was part of the agreement.”
“No.” He tried to give it back to her but she wouldn’t take it. “This was a gift.”
“I can’t accept it.” She let go of his hand and tapped on the glass. Andrew looked at Spencer for direction. Spencer nodded to him, indicating he could step out of the car.
“Thank you, Andrew. You could put my stuff on the porch if you don’t mind.”
“No problem, Ms. Vercelli.” Andrew went to the trunk and quickly retrieved the bags. He placed them on the porch. “Will that be everything?”
“I believe so,” Spencer said as he gazed into his hand before clasping it over the bracelet. “I’m ready to leave.”
Andrew opened the door as Spencer moved toward the car.
What should I do? The panic had set in over the realization that everything could end so fast.
“Sir?” Andrew waited for him to get in.
“Spencer,” Coda called.
He placed his arm over the open door and turned to face her.
“Thank you for this weekend.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“It was my pleasure.” He didn’t smile, just stared at her with a straight, impassive face before getting into the car and pulling out his phone. He never looked in her direction. Did she really expect him to?
Andrew shut the door and nodded at Coda. She could tell from his expression that he knew she and Spencer were arguing.
She waved goodbye and watched