Free The Billionaire and the Cleaner by Sam Crescent Page B

for you to step away from the lady. Lana , Kent would like you to get into the car.”
    Lana shook her head. “I don’t know you. There is no way I’m
getting in a car.”
    Spinning on her heel she walked faster toward the Kent ’s
building. Frank’s arrival unnerved her. She’d bared her soul to him, and now it
sounded like he wanted to use her for money. Did he really think she had some
kind of hold on Kent ?
    My life is
turning into a soap opera.
    She glanced behind her to see the black car following her.
After twenty more minutes of walking she got to the entrance of Kent ’s
building. She pressed in the code taking her up to the top floor.
    Without waiting to calm down, Lana went straight to his
office. He was closing his cell phone as she entered.
    “You had me followed?” she asked.
    “For good reason. It was
getting darker, and I didn’t like the thought of you being alone. I hired a guy
I trust to follow you. It’s for your own safety.”
    Lana frowned, and then she recognised the guy. She’d served
him numerous times at the diner. “Why? I’m perfectly safe,” she said.
    “You’re a beautiful woman, Lana. You’re my friend. I’m
looking out for your safety, and tonight I’m pleased I did. Frank came to visit
you,” Kent said.
    He seemed to know a hell of a lot. Her anger grew as he
threw down a small brown file. “I’ve been getting harassing phone calls from
this man.”
    The picture was of Frank holding up a black sign. Her
stomach took a dive as she looked at the photo.
    ****
    “What is this?” she asked.
    Kent had been
getting the calls offering information on Lana in exchange for money for some
time. The man in question had even been to his office trying to cause a fuss.
The police officer who’d escorted him off the premises was a friend and had warned
him about a history of violence.
    He didn’t know how Lana had gotten away from Frank without
some kind of violent outburst. Then he’d discovered Frank took his aggression
out on all of his women in different ways. Her ex had been cheating on her
throughout their relationship. For all Kent knew, Frank was hurting Lana
in some way.
    “This man offered me information on you in exchange for
money. This is your ex-boyfriend? The one who dumped you and left?” he asked.
    She nodded.
    “From what I’ve read, you’re a lucky woman. He’s got a
history of violence under his belt. Women are terrified of him. He lost his job
at the bank a few months ago, and from what I’ve found out, things are tight.
Frank likes to live a luxurious lifestyle. He can’t afford it and is looking
for someone to help fund the bill.”
    Tears filled her eyes as she dropped the file. “I never knew
he was like that. I mean, he said horrid things and sometimes his anger got the
better of him. I thought I was the one to bring it out of him. I can’t believe
he was the same person. He loved his job, or at least I thought he did.”
    She folded her arms over her chest.
    “What information does he have on you?” Kent asked.
    “You didn’t buy the information?”
    “No, you’re my friend. I’d rather hear it from your lips.”
    Lana let out a sigh. “I’m sorry for jumping to the wrong conclusions, and thank you for that guy. Knowing this,” she
pointed at the folder, “Frank would have gotten violent. I’d never use our
friendship for his personal gain. I can’t believe I never knew this.”
    Kent got up and
went around his desk. He pulled her against his body and held her tightly.
    “I don’t have a very good past. I don’t like talking about
it, Kent .
I was never on drugs or anything. It was just a pretty bad start to life. That was
all.”
    He’d figured that much out with her having no pictures in
her apartment or talking about her family. Lana kept herself closed off from
the world. His family liked her and looked forward to her spending Christmas
with them.
    “Hey, Frank is out of the picture. He’s not going to spoil
your life