by Adams, S. C.
British Daddy To Go
A Billionaire Bad Boy Romance
S.C. Adams
Copyright © 2020 by S.C. Adams
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum
Subscribe Now
Sign up for my newsletter and get a free book!
For my Readers
Also by S.C. Adams
The To Go Series
Daddy to Go
Husband To Go
3 Daddies To Go
Babydaddy To Go
Single Daddy To Go
Valentine’s Daddy To Go
Big Daddy To Go
British Daddy To Go
* * *
Size Matters
Size King
* * *
Irresistible Daddies
Mister Daddy
Contents
About This Book
1. Maggie
2. Maggie
3. Maggie
4. Sean
5. Maggie
6. Sean
7. Maggie
8. Sean
9. Maggie
10. Sean
11. Maggie
12. Maggie
13. Maggie
14. Sean
15. Maggie
16. Sean
17. Sean
18. Maggie
19. Maggie
20. Sean
21. Maggie
22. Sean
23. Sean
24. Maggie
25. Sean
Epilogue
Sneak Peek: Big Daddy To Go
Sneak Peek: Valentine’s Daddy To Go
About the Author
About This Book
His accent makes me go so hot inside.
I’m an assistant tailor at a men’s clothing store.
It’s my job to hem shirtsleeves, put on buttons, and cut lapels for custom suits.
One day, Sean Jones walks into the store.
He’s a gorgeous British billionaire with jet black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a hardened body like a warrior.
As the tailor, it’s my job to ask him if he “hangs” left or right in his pants.
But Mr. Jones doesn’t want to tell me.
He wants to SHOW me!
OMG.
The alpha male can’t be serious.
But he is … especially when it comes to giving me a baby!
Maggie gets the client of a lifetime when she meets the dashing, domineering Sean Jones. He has an accent that makes her sparkle inside, as well as an inseam that would make the average woman’s mouth open in surprise! But our sassy heroine knows exactly what she’s doing and gives the OTT alpha male a run for his money. As always, there’s a baby in the end and lots of laughter and surprises. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and always an HEA for my readers.
1
Maggie
Racks of designer tuxes flash by as I struggle to keep pace with the spritely old man giving me a tour of my new job.
“This is the front end,” he explains. The pitch of his voice is higher than mine, and his steps are a bit too jovial for his age. “You won’t be spending much time up here unless you’re working for a specific client. You’re still expected to dress professionally in case we need to you to take measurements or check a fitting. However, our customers will rarely see you.”
Roger Cooper’s eyes rake over my frumpy outfit. My body folds into itself under his scrutiny. These clothes looked good when I stared at myself in the mirror this morning, but compared to other salespeople, I look like one of the homeless people lining the city streets. With my first few paychecks, I’ll be buying some nicer clothes from the other Madison Avenue stores I pass by to get here.
“Understood,” I say meekly. Roger pauses to talk with another salesperson, and I take the opportunity to look around the actual store. Designer suits line the walls and make even the plastic mannequins look worthy of a job on Wall Street. During my initial interview, Roger told me that Havisham’s has a minimum price for the suits they sell: $2,000. The number made me gasp, seeing that I’ve never had that kind of money in my life.
Just from where we stand, I can see designer tags I’ve only ever glimpsed while window shopping. There’s Brioni, Burberry, Armani… my whole life, I’ve dreamed of walking among clothes like these. I wonder if this is going to be the only chance I’ll ever get.
Roger finishes his conversation with the leggy blonde model saleswoman. Apparently, you have to look like you could walk in New York Fashion Week to get a front office job at Havisham’s. But I’m okay with being behind the scenes. I worked the front desk at my parents’ dry cleaning business until two weeks ago, so I know how difficult it can be to manage customers sometimes. Instead, I prefer holding fabric in my hands and feeling the steady vibration of a sewing machine as I perfectly stich a quarter-inch seam. The back of Havisham’s is where I belong. Plus, working up front won’t get me closer to my dream of being a designer anyway. I need the hands-on experience of being a tailor if I want my dream to become a reality.
“Now, let’s get you settled into your work station,” Roger trills. We travel from the front of the store through a curtain to where they keep the less beautiful people. A few women much older than me sit behind ancient sewing machines with their eyes focused on dark pants and pin-striped suit jackets. No one as much as glances up at us, keeping their hands steady as they hem and pull their various projects.
“As you can see, every one of our special tailors has a station back here. You are to work from your station on any projects to which you are assigned. Since you’re new and only an assistant tailor, you’ll only have one or two clients per week. Once you’ve proven yourself, there will be the chance for more.” He looks down his heavily arched nose at me with a questioning brow. I nod meekly. “Of course,” I say. Satisfied, he nods once and moves on.
“This is your station.” Roger stops in front of a desk identical to the others in the room, right down to the outdated sewing machine. Beside the machine is a basket of other important materials that any good tailor can’t go without, like a measuring tape, hand-sewing needles, and extra spools of sturdy thread. “You are expected to maintain a certain level of neatness. When your shift is over, your station is to be left in the same manner in which you found it. You may keep small trinkets or photos on your station, but they should be kept to a minimum.”
I swallow nervously. Havisham’s is turning out to be a lot more intense than I’d expected. It’s nothing like the dry cleaners my parents own. We hire outside employees to handle whatever the three of us can’t do, but those people are never scrutinized as if for show. But what can I do?
“Okay,” I mumble when I realize he’s waiting for a response.
“If you need any more supplies, you will ask the head tailor. Her name is Gloria, and you’ll meet her in a few minutes when her shift begins.”
This time, Roger doesn’t wait for me to answer. Instead, he takes a few long strides toward the back of the crowded room and points to a paper tacked on the wall. “These are the assignments for each day. As I mentioned earlier, you’ll only have a couple of clients at a time, so your assignments won’t change much. If you’re still here after thirty days, this sheet will list which piece you are to work on each day. The chart keeps things moving efficiently.”
It sounds rigid to me, but I don’t say anythi
ng. Havisham’s has been in business for longer than my parents have been alive. If this system works for them, then it must be a good system. Who am I to say how to run a business? They have to be good to compete with the other designer shops surrounding this tall brick building.
Roger moves on to a white board hanging on the wall a few feet from the assignment sheet. “This is the break chart. Each morning, the shift leader will designate break times for everyone who’s working that day. If you miss your break, you may not go later. It is your responsibility to take your break at the scheduled time.”
“Understood,” I say again. I’m not up on my New York labor laws, but I’m fairly certain it’s the employer’s responsibility to make sure everyone takes their breaks. Again, I can’t say anything, though. My parents would gladly give me my old job back if I asked them, but that’s the last thing I want. I got this job to gain some independence, not to fail on my first day.
“Roger,” someone shouts from behind another set of dark curtains. “Are you here?”
Roger claps his hands together. “I’m giving the new assistant tailor a tour, Andrea. Is there something I can help you with?”
A petite blonde emerges from behind the curtain. “I have your client list ready for you.”
“Perfect, Andrea. Meet our new assistant tailor. This is Maggie. Maggie, this is my assistant, Andrea.”
Her smile is pleasant, and her handshake is firm. “It’s nice to meet you, Maggie,” she tells me. “Welcome to Havisham’s.”
I smile hesitantly. “Thank you. I’m really excited to be here.”
Andrea goes back behind the curtain, which I now remember leads to Roger’s office. I had my interview there. I was so nervous at the time that I hadn’t paid any attention to the rest of the back-end. It was my first interview ever. I’m still surprised Roger offered me the job.
“Shall we continue the tour?” Roger asks. He waves his arm with an exaggerated flourish. “Over here is the break room. Label any food you put in the fridge. Clean up after yourself. Don’t talk loudly on your cell phone if other people are in the room with you. All common courtesy stuff.”
“I can handle that.”
I’m running out of affirmative phrases. Pretty soon, I’ll be forced to break out the informal ones like, “Got it.” Roger seems like the kind of guy who would be okay with a little informal speak, but I’m not going to risk it. It’s only my first day, and I want to stay on Roger’s good side.
“Do you have any questions, Maggie?”
I shake my head. “I think I understand everything. I’m excited to get to work.”
He claps his hands together again. This must be his signature move. It fits with his tall leprechaun image. “Excellent!” He glances around the room and hones in on a woman my mother’s age who’s taking a seat at one of the tailor stations. “And Gloria has arrived! Let me introduce you to her, and she’ll get you started.”
My flamboyant boss skips to Gloria’s desk. “Gloria!” he practically shouts. “This is your new assistant tailor, Maggie. Maggie, this is the head tailor, Gloria.”
Gloria lifts her eyes to meet mine. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maggie. Do you have experience with sewing?”
Roger sighs. “Do you think I’d hire her if she didn’t?”
“Yes.”
He laughs. “Well, this one does. She brought clothes she made herself to her interview!”
Gloria’s eyes light up. “Perfect.” To me, she adds, “The last assistant he brought me didn’t know a bobbin from a Barbie doll.”
I gasp. “No!”
“Yes!” she laughs. “It was awful. The poor girl didn’t last a week. I think you’ll do fine.”
“I hope so.”
Roger claps again, causing Gloria to roll her eyes. He doesn’t catch the motion, though I don’t think he would mind. Roger seems to have a soft spot for Gloria. That’s even more reason for me to stay on Gloria’s good side. I want them both to like me.
“I’ll leave you two to it, then!” he exclaims. “If you need me, I’ll be in my office. And welcome to the team, Maggie!”
He’s behind the thick, black curtain in just a few long steps. I stare after him, trying to get a read on my new boss. Does he like me? Does he hate me? I can’t tell. Half of the time, Roger was harsh during our walk through the store. Just now with Gloria, though, he seemed almost warm toward me. I wish I could figure the guy out! My people skills are pretty good from working at the dry cleaner, but this guy eludes me. I’ll get there eventually. Maybe Gloria can give me some tips.
“Why don’t you pull your chair over to my station for today and get a feel for what you’ll be doing? Have you ever tailored before?”
I nod. “My parents like to buy secondhand clothes that don’t quite fit any of us. I learned early on to use a sewing machine to make them wearable.”
“That’s good, practical experience. You won’t be sewing anything secondhand here, though. We only sell brand new, custom-tailored suits, tuxes, and other men’s clothing. For now, you’ll be working on just the suits since they’re the easiest to tailor. Mostly adjusting sleeves and pant legs.”
I quickly drag my chair over to Gloria’s station and watch as she pulls out a pair of chalk-marked slacks. “I have seven regular clients who come in monthly for a new suit. On top of that, I’ll work with a few newcomers or one-time shoppers. We have the quickest turnaround on Madison Avenue, which keeps us busy. Our goal is to have full custom suits fitted and out the door within a month.”
“A month?” I ask. “Isn’t that nearly impossible?”
She laughs sweetly. “Not impossible, dear. But certainly not easy. Monday mornings are slow, which is why most of our tables are empty. This room is usually filled with whirring sewing machines. And we do all of the tailoring in-house. That’s how Havisham’s has done it since the beginning, and we’re not about to change that anytime soon.”
“Good,” I say. “It’s better to have in-house tailors. Especially if someone needs multiple fittings.”
“You do get it!” Gloria says. “I’m going to like you.”
“I hope so.”
I watch silently as Gloria cuffs the pants and sews off a new hem. The work is relatively quick but meticulous. Gloria squints at the plunging needle as she carefully feeds the pant leg through the machine. When she finishes one, she immediately gets to work on the other.
“Sorry I’m not talking much, dear.”
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “This is more of an observation kind of job. I can learn just by watching you.”
“That’s good,” she replies. “I’ll grab a suit jacket next so you can see how I work on that.”
Gloria pulls a navy blue jacket from her stash of projects. No one else has a rolling cart of drawers beneath their desk, so I’m guessing Gloria gets special treatment. The rest of the projects are hung or folded in the back of the room next to the assignment sheet.
“This jacket is unique because we’re actually pulling it in a bit. More work than the usual sleeve adjustments.”
I watch in awe as Gloria makes quick work of tailoring the jacket. It’s the same piece of fabric when she’s finished, but it looks like a brand new coat. “That looks amazing!”
She smiles. “Thank you, dear. How about you try the next set of pants?”
“Oh, I don’t know…”
Gloria puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You can do it, dear. And remember: we can always pull the seam and start over. Unless you start cutting fabric, there’s nothing you can do that we can’t fix.”
Her words are a relief. We switch seats, and I change the thread to a strong black to match the pants I’ll be sewing. With Gloria hovering beside me, I try to zone out and focus only on the pants. It works, and the new hem comes out perfectly.
“You’re a natural!” she gushes. “I don’t see why you can’t start on your own projects right now.”
“Really?” I ask, surprised. “You think so
?”
“I know so. I’ll be right here if you need me, but I think you’ll be fine. Just come run your finished products by me before you check them off.”
My heart races. This is it! My first real job, and I’m already being let loose to work on my own! Gloria gives me one of her assignments from a one-time customer and sets me up at my desk. After I finish that one, she gives me another and then another. I make quick work of the seams until break time comes.
“Go have your lunch, dear,” Gloria tells me. “You’ve earned it.”
“Thank you!” I call over my shoulder, disappearing into the break room.
Today has already been amazing, and it’s only half through. Getting this job was the best decision I’ve ever made.
I can’t wait to tell my parents how awesome it is!
2
Maggie
I stifle a yawn as I take in the sides of a white suit coat. It’s only two in the afternoon, but I’m already exhausted. After lunch, Gloria decided to give me a higher workload. The small tailoring jobs I did on the side at my parents’ dry cleaner prepared me for hemming pants, so the work is easy for me to handle.
The problem is, I’m bored. I don’t know what I expected when I took this job, but it wasn’t this. No one makes any noise in this room, aside from the occasional grunt or swear when the old sewing machines jam. I’ll have to ask Gloria if I’m allowed to bring my headphones to drown out the quiet. I’m used to working in my parents’ boisterous shop, not in a place where you can literally hear a pin drop.
