Uncomplicated: A Vegas Girl's Tale (13 page)

The sound of laughter echoed through my apartment as Jennifer strolled into the vast living room.

“Well I’m glad…no…really, Nora. I am happy for you.”

I smiled, knowing she was talking about Nora and Dean. The guy had finally settled down. Not sure for how long but whatever.

“No, I don’t think you’re crazy.” Jennifer stopped when she came into the dining room and saw me sitting at the table. She grinned and walked up to me, before placing herself in my lap.

I kissed her shoulder and wrapped my arms around her middle, breathing in the sweet scent of lavender.

She placed a peck on my mouth and frowned. “Nora, I’ll call you back.” She hung up the phone and threw it on the table. “What’s wrong?”

I didn’t know why I was surprised but shock tore through me that she could tell something was off. “How do you know something’s wrong?”

She tapped lightly on my glasses. “I noticed that you only wear them before bed or when you have a headache. Clearly it’s too early for you to be getting ready for bed so something has to be wrong.”

“Perceptive,” I mumbled.

“Talk to me. Please,” she pleaded, entwining our fingers.

I looked down at our joined hands in her lap. “I had a business meeting today.”

She nodded in encouragement.

“My brother was there.”

Jennifer gasped. “What? How the hell did that happen?”

I chuckled and sighed. “He’s a business associate of the guy that’s trying to buy my clubs from me, Antonio Conti.”

“He wants your clubs?”

I nodded. “They’re all over North America in prime locations. At first, I thought he wanted to work
with
me but soon found out that I was wrong.”

“Okay, but I sense something else is going on ,” she said, running her other hand through the hair at my nape.

The touch, although small, eased the tension that had built in my body since seeing Yan that afternoon. “They threatened to go to you regarding my past if I didn’t sign over my clubs,” I said in one breath.

Jennifer frowned. “Your past?”

I looked away and nodded. “My clubs are legal. One hundred percent but I have underground dealings with anything and everyone. You name it? I have my hand in it. But…” I looked up and met her blue gaze, and breathed a sigh of relief.

No judgment. No yelling and screaming on how much of a loser I was. She listened attentively, to every word that left my mouth, and I think I fell in love with her even more at that moment.

“I want to change. You make me want to change. Call me crazy. Call me fucking delusional, but you make me want to be a better man.”

Jennifer let out a heavy breath. “Wow…well I wasn’t expecting the whole illegal business thing but, I have no right to judge you. I figured something was up with how rich you are though.”

I smiled. “My Jennifer. So perceptive and smart.” And she was. Which was just another thing I adored about her.

She laughed lightly. “Just…I know I probably have no right to ask this of you but I’m only asking because I love you.”

I loved how her cheeks reddened every time she said those three words.

“No more. I don’t care what kind of illegal jobs you were in. I don’t want to know. I will worry though if you keep them. I know you have Dean to protect you but he’s only one man. Please. Do that for me,” she said, cupping my cheeks.

“I will change. I promise you that. For you and for me. I’m getting too old for the drama, anyways. The money is not worth it.” That was the truth. If I could go back and change the wrongs I did, and the people I hurt, I would. There were a few that I could call or visit…visit would probably be better. I made a mental note of doing just that.

“One last thing.”

Jennifer turned in my arms and straddled my waist. “What?”

“My brother, Yan and Antonio might come to you, telling you about me. Act surprised. Whatever they say. Can you do that for me?”

She chewed her bottom lip and thought a moment before a slow smile spread on her face. “I always wanted to be an actress.”

M
ARRIED THE
M
OBSTER?

(Jenny)

When Mathis told me he was involved in illegal business dealings, I wasn’t all that surprised. The lavish lifestyle was more than a man who grew up poor, and invested in a couple clubs could provide. There was something off and even though he promised that it would come to an end, I worried.

I worried about him and myself. I worried about our new relationship and the fact that whether or not I liked it, I was now a target to anyone who knew we were married. I also had the fact that despite being out of business myself, I had clients. A long list of clients who were still blowing up my phone for the opportunity to spend a night with me or one of my girls.
One of my girls
. Girls that I didn’t have.

Thoughts churned around in my mind about becoming the newest Heidi Fleiss. I could pull it off. I knew enough women who were working for asshole pimps who occasionally beat the living shit out of them. With Dean’s help, and my own security team I could buy their freedom.

Would it be completely outrageous to ask my husband to help me? Probably, but as a businessman, he could see where I was coming from. Not like we were some kind of
Leave it to Beaver
couple anyway. It was a business investment. A sound one at that, especially in Las Vegas.

His study door was closed as I paced back and forth, thinking about how to approach him. Since his brother and some Italian Joe Schmo cornered him three days ago, he had been on edge. Although they had not made their move yet. At least on me. It was only a matter of time before they did.

Just as I was growing the lady balls to knock on the door, it slid open, and there he stood. Glasses on, wildly messy hair, and his tie undone hanging haphazardly around his neck. He was a gorgeous, stressed, disaster. But, I knew I had to get it out now or forever hold my tongue on this idea.

“Everything okay, Jenny?” his voice was quiet, smooth, and loving.

It made my body vibrate with want, and need for his touch more than ever.

“I wanted to talk to you about something
business-related
.” I slowly pushed him back into his office, holding onto his hand and directing him into the expensive leather chair we had the opportunity to christen last night after a series of long and stressful phone calls he endured.

“I am not sure I like where this is going,” he mumbled as I pushed him back into the chair.

“Nothing to be worried about, love. Everything is fine. I just had an idea I wanted to run by you, since of course, you
are
my husband. Isn’t that what couples are supposed to do? I am not used to this whole marriage shit, but I am pretty sure I am right.” I ramble when I get nervous. I wondered if he had picked up on that yet. I was rambling and my heart began to race.

“Spit it out, Jenny!” his tone became clipped and I knew he was in a mood. I moved backwards and planted my ass on his desk, crossing my legs and anchoring my elbow on my knee. Posing with my chin in my hand I finally just got to my point.

“I wanna become a Madame.”

“You want to... WHAT?” his voice boomed, and his eyes darkened.

Shit. I was in trouble. Maybe this was a bad idea. But damn it, I don’t want to be one of those stuffy rich housewives. This is my life too!

“Hear me out before you go all alpha fuckin’ cave man on me, Mathis! It is a good fucking idea!” I wanted him to give me a fair shot, but I was wondering if that will even be an option when he rolls his eyes at me. I wanted to slap him across the face every time he did that. Maybe a good slap would fix the problem he was clearly having with his eyes. Asshat.

“Listen, I know a lot of working girls. Many still work
for
nasty asshole pimps. They would absolutely love to work for someone like me. I have a huge client list, you know as well as I do my client line is still blowing up. This could work out well for our favor. OUR favor, Mathis. Us!”

His fingers ran through his dark hair and he lets out an aggravated sigh. “Jenny, do you think this is a good idea? I mean, we would need to set up protection for them, and to cover our own asses. We would have to find girls as well. I don’t want to deal with these men begging for you when they call.”

I could understand his concern. “Strict rules, Mathis. The first time they ask for my service they get a warning. The second time they lose their spot on the clientele list. I know enough girls to get started and, we could have Dean set up the security details.” I wanted to get down on my knees and beg him, pretty please, but Jennifer Sunshine didn’t beg.
Well, not often.

I really needed to stop thinking of myself as Jennifer Sunshine too, because as much as I have loved and hated my name over the years...I was no longer a Sunshine. I’m a Verlinden now. It may not really fit me, but I had to legally change my name. Another step to solidify our budding relationship.

“I’m gonna have to think about this, Jenny.” His uncertainty bothered me. I wanted to convince him that no matter what happened, I was his girl and only his. The possessive asshole in him was exactly what was holding him back. I knew him well enough by now to figure that out.

“Mathis?”

“Hmm,” he replied, looking up through his long dark eyelashes.

“I’m gonna legally change my name this week. Say goodbye to Jennifer Sunshine. Hello to Jennifer Verlinden.”

He didn’t want to smile, but he couldn’t hold it back.

“And honey?” I asked while I slid off the desk.

“Hmmm” he replied again.

“You look stressed. Let me help you unwind a little bit.” Instead of the shoulder rub I had offered so many nights this week. I dropped to my knees in front of him and pulled his soft cock out of his expensive dress pants and went to work pleasing my husband.

“Your name is?” I asked the petite brunette with huge tits sitting across from me in the spacious office Mathis had decided to provide me with.

“Leslie Brown,” the sheepish girl replied. Her manicured fingernail twirled around a piece of her hair.

“Not anymore. If you are hired, you will take on a new name so you can remain safe and anonymous. I know you have been working with Jonah for a long time, but he treats his girls like shit. I am not about that.”

She nodded and just listens to my speech across the table. Nora sat at my side taking notes, sizing her up because shortly, after she signed on the dotted line, my blonde bestie was going to whisk her away to become Sunshined. No more cheap shitty clients. No more sleazy motels and dirty clients.

“Lori London,” she quietly whispered across the table.

“What was that?” I answered and push the contract in her direction.

“I would like to go by Lori London,” her voice slowly got louder.

“That is fine. We need to work on your attitude though. You are too meek. We’ll get you fully ready to handle these clients, Lori. Because honey, these aren’t those junkies you were seeing before. These are real men looking for more than just a quick blow job.” Her eyes opened wide and I knew I was going to love rescuing these girls from the bowels of Vegas hell. Even if they were still going to be whores.