Love Walked In Read online

  A foam ball came flying towards Michael. Michael reached out his hand to catch it and then threw it back to its owner.” A young boy laughed with delight and threw it back to him.

  “You’ve got a good arm buddy. What’s up?”

  “I’m bored.”

  “Bored?”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be at school?”

  “Yeah, I am, but I wasn’t feeling well this morning, so my mom said I could stay at home. But she thinks I’m ok now so she’s taking me to school after lunch.” The boy looked glum.

  “And you’re not happy about that” asked Michael, getting on one knee so he could be on eye level with the boy.

  “Well, it probably is a good idea to go to school. They teach you a lot of important stuff there, like how to read and write and you are going to need that when you get older.”

  “I guess,” the boy replied. Michael got up and the boy headed back down the hall.

  “So cute,” said Jemma.

  “Yeah, he’s pretty adorable. He and his mom have been here for a few weeks now. She’s a waitress and she’s saving up to get her own place. She’s also enrolled in a community college to get some office skills. We offer scholarships so they can get the skills and training they need to move up. We also have a lot of subsidiaries so can offer apprenticeships and entry level jobs to get them started.”

  “That’s incredible Michael. The way you support these women, it’s impressive.”

  Michael checked his watch. It was almost one o’clock. “How about we get something to eat. We’ll go to the Youth centre afterwards.”

  They ordered burgers at a diner nearby and waited to be served.

  “You’re quiet,” said Michael. “Is everything ok?”

  “It’s a lot to take in. Between the homeless at the soup kitchen and the women’s shelter, it’s not something you come across everyday. I mean, you do what you can, buy a homeless guy a coffee and a sandwich or donate money but it’s such a pervasive problem that you always wonder if you’re making a difference. But you Michael, you really are making a difference, a huge difference. It’s truly inspirational.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You know,” she continued, “I was lucky to have been born to parents on the right side of town. I grew up in an affluent neighbourhood and had everything I needed and wanted for nothing. When you see people who have very little, it’s humbling to see how something as simple as a bowl of soup or a sandwich is out of reach for hundreds, thousands of people across the country every day. There is such a divide.”

  “That’s true, but even something as small as a cup of coffee and a sandwich, is a start. It’s the little things that make a difference.” The waitress returned with the orders and placed them on the table.

  “Jemma, what I do is easy. My pockets are deep, so reaching in to set up a soup kitchen or youth centre is not difficult. It’s the people like Hattie and the volunteers who really make this possible.”

  Jemma smiled. “You underestimate yourself Mr. Locke.”

  “Well let’s keep it quiet. We don’t want to tarnish my reputation.” Michael grinned and winked at Jemma before taking a bite of his burger. “So, where did you grow up?” asked Michael.

  “Fairview. It was a great neighbourhood, but when I graduated from university, I got bored and moved to the city. After a few years working there, I decided I wanted to open my own business and that’s how I found my way to this neighbourhood. The commercial sector here is booming and there is such a great diversity of people. Fairview seemed stagnant in comparison, but definitely the kind of place I would like to settle down and raise kids.”

  “Yes, Fairview is ideal for families. Two point four children and the white picket fence. Is that where you and Nathan are headed?”

  “Well, we haven’t discussed kids. I mean, we both want them, but not quite yet.”

  “How long have you been together?”

  “Coming up to two years.”

  “Two years. That’s a long time. So, is he the one?”

  “The one? I guess so,” she replied, blushing a little.

  “Any plans on making it official?

  “Nathan has been busy building his business, so we wanted to wait until things calm down. He’s working on the Waterford of course but there are a few out of town projects coming to an end by September so we’ll see. What about you? Anyone special in your life?”

  “I’ve had a few along the way, but nothing that worked out long term. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”

  “Well,” continued Jemma teasingly, “I imagine there must be no end to the number of women knocking down your door?”

  “Yeah, I certainly have my pick, but they’re… just not the right ones.”

  Jemma laughed. “Oh, is that so. And what are the right ones?”

  “Hey, it’s not funny. Dating is tough in this town especially when everyone knows you. You never know a person’s intentions.”

  “Oh dear! You might have to move...Maybe to another planet.”

  “Are you making fun of me?”

  “The trials of being a billionaire. Who would have thought?”

  Jemma raised her glass. “Seriously. I propose a toast… to finding the right one.”

  Michael smiled back at her and raised his glass to meet hers. He knew she was the right one the moment he set eyes on her that rainy night. He had never come close to feeling the excitement and intrigue he had felt, watching her every move as she set about to create a bouquet for him. She wasn’t a ten in the conventional sense of the word, in fact, she was unlike the women he dated before, yet in his eyes she was perfect.

  The meeting went on longer than expected. Cross Construction had hired out the meeting rooms at the hotel and invited the client to join them there. The client had called for a last-minute modification to the existing plan that hadn’t been accounted for, so now the designers and engineers were scrambling to reconfigure the design. As they worked through the new plans, Nathan headed to the adjacent office and sat behind the desk with a sigh. He called Jemma but her phone went into voicemail. There was a knock at the door and Raquel walked in.

  “Am I disturbing you Mr. Cross?” she asked, closing the door behind her.

  “Not at all Raquel. What is it?”

  “Just a few cheques for you to sign.”

  Raquel made her way around the desk to where Nathan was sitting and placed a pile of cheques on the desk. She sat herself on the edge of the desk beside him and slowly unbuckled the belt of her dress. The dress fell to the sides revealing her naked body. Nathan looked over at her and felt his dick harden. The meeting was in full swing across from them and anyone could walk in. The thought excited him. He pushed his chair back, grabbed Raquel’s hips and pulled her to the middle of the desk, sending the cheques flying in all directions. He pulled his chair closer to her and lifted her legs on to the desk as Raquel sat back, resting on her arms, naked and fully exposed to him. Nathan knew exactly what she wanted. He had spoiled her last time and now Raquel wanted more. Her pussy glistened and he buried his face between her legs. Raquel moaned in response and lay back further on the desk. She was so wet and ready. He wiped his face on his sleeve and unzipped himself, entering her effortlessly. She looked so sexy lying there naked on the table and he thrust into her slowly, back and forth. After coming to a climax, Nathan wiped himself off and headed back to the meeting room.

  A few minutes later, Raquel followed him in. Nathan watched her as she moved seductively around the room. He felt himself harden again, turned on by the fact that he knew she was naked under her dress. He’d come quickly in the office and was excited at the prospect of taking his time fucking her that night. Marcus had suggested they bring her and although he was reluctant at first, he couldn’t be more pleased with the decision. The meeting wound to a close and as Nathan made his way up to the hotel room, he was joined by Raquel. He fucked her the rest of the evening, on the bed, on the desk, on the floor. He couldn’t reme
mber the last time he had fucked like that. Raquel had certainly tapped into a part of him that just couldn’t get enough.

  Michael put away his phone. According to his private investigator, Nathan Cross was at this very moment, in a hotel room, banging his accountant. He looked over at Jemma. She was so sexy, so seductive and trusting. If only she knew what a cheating snake her boyfriend was. As Michael finished on the phone, Jemma was pacing the floor, looking around at the recreation room which would be the main hub of the Youth centre.

  “This place is incredible Michael. I think people need to see this. They need to see what you do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know much about fundraising events, but I do know how being here makes me feel. I know how I felt this morning at the Soup Kitchen and the Women’s Centre. It’s tangible and really hits your heart in a way that can’t be relayed through video or on paper. The Regency is amazing and it’s where these wealthy people feel most comfortable but there’s something powerful in taking them out of their comfort zone, to see and experience what you are selling first-hand.”

  “Jemma. Just the way, your face lit up and the passion you spoke with. If I can evoke that kind of sentiment in the people who are writing the cheques, we should receive some big donations.”

  “The space is not as big as the Regency, but it could work. You may be looking at fewer numbers, but I think it would be incredible.”

  Michael felt excited at the prospect; besides, he was tired of the usual venues and loved the idea of bringing people to the site.

  “Okay, you have me sold. Let’s do it.” Excitement overtook them and they hugged. Jemma felt Michael’s strong body against hers and felt a flutter inside her. It was a feeling she hadn’t felt before.

  “So, when can you start?”

  “Start?” she asked with a puzzled look.

  “Planning the event.”

  “I thought I was doing the flowers. You already have a planning committee.”

  Michael stepped back. “Ok, busted. I was in the process of putting a committee together but hadn’t finalized anything. I’ll hire you instead.”

  Jemma was taken aback by the offer. “Michael, I’d happily do it, but I don’t have experience for this kind of event.”

  “That’s not a problem. You just hire somebody and tell them what you want. This was your idea to hold the event here and I truly feel that you have the vision to make it a success. We can use local vendors for catering, props, musicians, entertainment, everything. You already know a lot of the small business owners in this area.” Realizing he was likely overwhelming her, he took two steps forward and reached for her hands to reassure her.

  “Hire an event planner to help you, but, I really need you to help me with this. Please.”

  Michael looked so enthusiastic about the new venue that she couldn’t bring herself to say no.

  “Okay Michael. I’ll do it.”

  “Thank you.” He brought her hands towards his lips and kissed them gently.

  The day had gone better than anticipated. Michael was excited about the new plan for the fundraiser and the prospect of spending more time with Jemma was a welcome bonus. He would love to have seen the look on Nathan’s face when he found out. His plan was coming into action and it was only a matter of time before Nathan’s infidelity was revealed and then he would be waiting in the wings to break her fall.

  Chapter Ten

  Jemma was in the kitchen making dinner when Nathan finally walked through the door.

  “Nathan, you’re back. I missed you,” she said as he dropped his overnight bag to embrace her.

  “I missed you too. You smell so good,” he whispered, taking in the fresh scent of her hair. “I’m just going to wash up. I’ll be down in fifteen,” he continued, pulling away from Jemma and picking up his bag.

  Jemma had missed him. She reset the oven for fifteen minutes extra and headed up to see him. She caught a glimpse of his half naked body through the door. She had been feeling unusually playful since he left and the sight of him aroused her. As she neared the door, Nathan’s phone rang and he answered it. Jemma entered the bedroom and sat on the bed. She pulled off her clothes seductively, revealing her lacy bra and panties. Nathan sat on the bench in the corner of the room, still talking, but watching while Jemma sat up and caressed her breasts through the fabric. She then reached down into her panties and started rubbing herself. God she was beautiful he thought, ending the phone call abruptly and joining her on the bed.

  “It looks like someone was missing me,” he whispered in her ear as he grasped her hair and kissed her neck lightly. His lips found hers and he kissed her passionately as his hands unclasped her bra strap. She straddled him while he fondled her breasts, her nipples hardening with his touch. She felt his hardness and rubbed him lightly as Nathan laid her back and gently pulled her panties off. Kneeling by the edge of the bed, he tasted her wetness, flicking his tongue slowly and making her gasp with pleasure. Nathan entered her and kissed her as he moved inside her slowly. Jemma pulled his hips into her, wanting to feel the entire length of his cock penetrate her. It felt like it had been ages since she had him inside her and as he reached his peak, he fell on the bed beside her. Jemma snuggled up to his chest as he kissed her forehead. It was good to be home, he thought, holding her close. The alarm went off and Jemma pulled on a robe and headed back downstairs.

  “I’ll have a quick shower and be down in five,” said Nathan heading for the bathroom.

  “What?” asked Nathan, almost choking on his food.

  “The fundraiser for the Youth Centre.”

  Nathan took a sip from his water glass. “Michael wants you to organise the event? Why? You’re not an event planner.”

  “I know. I told him that, but he liked my idea to hold it at the Youth Centre and wanted to get local businesses involved, something I can help with.”

  “That’s true but… how did this all come about? When did he ask you?”

  “He picked me up on Friday and we went to the Regency, but then we toured the Soup Kitchen, Women’s Refuge and the Youth Centre.”

  What the hell, Nathan thought, almost choking on his food again. She spent the whole fucking day with him!

  “You spent the whole day with him.”

  “I wouldn’t exactly call it spending the day.”

  “Then what would you call it Jemma.”

  “Nathan, Michael has spent millions in charitable donations since he founded Locke and the Youth Centre is an amazing resource for the community, for the kids. If I can help, I’m happy to do that.”

  Nathan looked at Jemma in disbelief. How could she be so naïve? Michael Locke wanted to get down and dirty with her and she didn’t have a clue.

  “Nathan?” she said in an exasperated tone, waiting for a response. Nathan took a moment to wipe his mouth with a napkin and compose himself behind it. Michael Locke was too sophisticated to straight out make his intentions clear. He was used to having women fall easily into his lap and chances were that unless Jemma was a willing recipient, which she wasn’t, he wouldn’t make a move. The last thing he needed to do was alert Jemma to Michael’s affections.

  “You’re right babe,” he said tempering his tone and reaching forward to kiss her. “It’s great that you’re doing this. If there is anything that Cross Construction can contribute, just let me know.” Jemma looked at him closely, trying to read the obvious change of attitude.

  “That’s great Nathan. Thank you,” she replied a little hesitantly. “You are really okay with this?”

  “Of course. I was just concerned that you might be taking on too much. I know things are busy at the store.”

  “Well, this is new for me and I was nervous at first, but I think it’ll be great. It’s such a worthwhile cause and Michael has great vision when it comes this stuff.” Nathan looked down at his food and rolled his eyes. The last thing he needed was to hear Jemma rave about Michael Locke. He certainly had the upper han
d now, but Nathan was determined to change that.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jemma arrived half an hour early to walk through the Youth Centre with the event planner. After interviewing several qualified candidates, Jemma hired Cynthia Tang. It was her involvement with the community that was her greatest asset, but with some fundraising experience, she seemed like the perfect choice. The meeting started promptly at seven and Jemma was again introduced to the four members of the Monday morning group. Josie greeted Jemma warmly and she also met to two of the program co-ordinators who would oversee the running the of the Youth Centre. For Jemma and Cynthia, it was an opportunity to meet and greet and get an idea of the plans underway so that they could better organise the event. One of the co-ordinators had spent time on the streets as a youth and had first-hand experience of how a facility such as this one could potentially change lives, so his participation on the night would be invaluable.

  Jemma’s idea of holding the fundraiser at the centre was received with surprise at first, but within seconds there was consensual agreement amongst the team that it was an excellent idea. Michael winked at Jemma as they all nodded in approval. As the meeting ended, they arranged to reconvene in two weeks time at which point Jemma and Cynthia would have a plan in place and Michael and the other committee members would submit a guest list. As the group said their goodbyes and headed out, Jemma strode casually towards Michael who was talking to Josie.