CHAPTER TWO: REEKING OF INNOCENCE

She could be a minor.

Probably some adventurous one wanting to test the waters. That's it. She's definitely a minor, she looked so young. So innocent and yet alluring.

No, he didn't think she was a minor. She had radiated that innocence but not like a minor or so he thought. Was he seeing things? Was it the situation he had found her in? Or was it a combination of both. Whatever it was, it sure had endeared her to him.

Jaxon stood at his penthouse veranda and gazed at the lights that never seemed to go out in Vegas as he sipped a bottle of cold beer. He chuckled softly as he remembered her surprised face when he had revealed that he was her boss. Her eyes had been as wide and round as saucers as her lush lips shaped into an O. Her golden-colored hair had been tied up in a bun, but he guessed that when let down it would fall to her shoulders. Perhaps a bit down to her back.

He knew any lady, whether minor or adult, would have leaned back and stretched, offering him an unrestricted view, striking a pose and smiling a smile calculated to tantalize and excite. She had managed to excite him either way, and he wanted to see her again.

Roxanne kept juggling staying with her Aunt Linda at the hospital to nurse her father and going to the club at night to perform. For countless nights, she would catch glimpses of the man that had claimed to be her boss. The fact that she had asked Freddy about it, and he had confirmed it was what shocked her.

He would smile at her and would occasionally wink at her. She felt naked under his gaze each time she caught him staring too hard. There was something about him that was pulling and endangering at the same time.

"Here you go, girlie." Freddy tossed her a can of water as she got off stage. Roxanne gulped the water pretty fast.

"Hi, there. Good evening." A petite red haired lady approached her holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Good evening." Roxanne looked at the lady with the flowers.

"Someone asked to give you this." She handed her the bouquet.

"Who?" Roxanne examined the bouquet and the lady's smiling face.

"He didn't say. He just said to give it to you."

Roxanne collected the bouquet and examined it. A small note was tucked between the flowers. She opened the note and it read ;

"Nice waist chain. I love it. Lunch tomorrow by noon."   The note also held the name of the restaurant she was to meet this gifter.

"Secret admirer, already? Girl, I need me some of ya magic." Tessa, one of the girls she had gotten to like said to her as she walked past her. Tessa had a honey brown skin tone and full hair.

"Those look expensive." She added as she eyed the flowers.

Roxanne's mind raced as she thought of who the sender could be.

She got ready the next day by noon and had chosen to wear a simple floral green dress that stopped just at her knee. Her hair was tied up in a tight bun.

The restaurant was exquisite and she had been shown a private table area after showing them the card as instructed by the sender. The area was secluded from the rest.

Roxanne didn't order anything. She waited for a few minutes but there was no sign of the said person. She took out her phone and began to text her aunt.

" Hello, there. Have you been waiting long?" Roxanne recognized the rich baritone. She looked up, her blue eyes meeting his hazel greens. She was sure his face had been tattooed on her brain after the first encounter.

Jaxon sat on a chair opposite her. His male scent and aura dominated everywhere. Even the air stopped around her. This man was a walking flame.

"You sent the flowers?" She asked him.

"Aren't you going to say hello to your boss first, Roxanne?" The name rolled out of Jaxon's tongue effortlessly. It sounded exquisite to her ears. She had never loved her name better.

"Um... Hello, Sir." Roxanne stuttered as his gaze stayed fixed on her with his half smile.

"Now that's better. How about we order something and talk about my proposal." He winked at her and raised his hand, motioning for a waiter.

"What proposal?" Roxanne asked as she eyed him. He was wearing a sweatshirt on jeans. Even casual looked classy on him, she thought.

" One that would benefit us both." He replied amidst placing orders for wine and salad. Roxanne ordered some salad too.

The waiter was fast with bringing their orders.

"What? You want me to be your mistress?" Roxanne couldn't believe his guts after he told her the details of his proposal.

"You sound like it's the end of the world, Roxanne. It's going to be beneficial, If you can go through the papers, you'll find that the terms are negotiable." Jaxon had a smirk plastered on his face. No lady had ever refused his offer. Roxanne's blue eyes scanned the papers.

"This is ridiculous, Mr Hearst, Sir. I can't live with you, I have my father to take care of. This is outrageous." Roxanne's face was turning red both from embarrassment and rage.

"Like I said, the terms are negotiable. I'll be paying you the same amount I pay my club workers every week. Think of how that would go a long way. I'll also cover your father's medical bills. I know he's in urgent need of a heart transplant." Roxanne was suddenly irritated.

"How do you know about my father?" She asked him with her eyebrow raised.

"Nevermind that. Just think about it." He winked at her. Jaxon was getting impatient with her but he wasn't going to show it. He wanted her, and he was going to have her.

"Why do you want me? Why not some other person in the club?" Roxanne probed.

"Well, you tickle my fancy. You need me more than I need you." He replied with a smug. His arrogance seemed to annoy Roxanne more.

"When you do agree, I'd need to see your birth certificate."

"Whatever for?"

"Just to be sure you are not a minor." His eyes were boring into her now.

"I am twenty-four."

"Well, let's see that birth certificate when you finally decide." He gulped down the remnants of his wine. Jaxon saw Roxanne bite down on her lower lip in confusion. That innocent look that had reeled him in, was playing on her face again.

"You have fine lips, Roxanne. I'm sure they'd do wonders." He smiled mischievously. Roxanne's face flushed with embarrassment as she picked on the other meaning of his compliment.

" I hope you decide soon, Roxanne." He winked at her as he walked away from their lunch spot.

Roxanne looked around to see if anyone had been listening to their conversation and was satisfied to see that everyone seemed to be minding their own business. Grabbing her purse, she also left the restaurant.

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Jaxon emerged from the pool. The night was fine. It only lacked one thing to make it perfect.

The woman.

Not Loo whose curvaceous body laid sprawled by the pool, inviting any man to have a bite.

The innocent one.

Her eyes rivaled the blue of the sea. Or was it the sky? Her lips looked sweet and her innocent eyes held a glint of stubbornness. She could not be rushed, but he was going to have her.

Roxanne had already made up her mind as she scattered her small apartment in search of her birth certificate and other documents he might need.

"All for Papa." She said to herself.