Dirty News (Dirty Network Book 1)

by Michelle Love

  I laughed as he pushed me back on the bed and climbed over me. I could see our first week together was going to be very enlightening!

  Jett

  Taking a taxi to the Mercedes dealership, I was ready to set us up with cars. One for me, one for her, and one for us both. I had an order in with a chauffeur company, and a car and driver would be showing up for us when we needed it. But I didn’t want to arrive everywhere in that style. So a pair of matching Mercedes was what I was shopping for.

  Asia was hesitant as we entered the dealership and a salesman came right to us. “Hello, and what is this happy couple looking for today?”

  “Asia, what’s catching your eye?”

  She smiled and looked at the salesman. “What’s your cheapest car?”

  I chuckled. “No, that’s not how we shop for things, baby.” I looked at our salesman. “We’re Mr. and Mrs. Simmons. And you are?”

  He extended his hand to me. “Brett. Nice to meet you both. So, money is no object today?”

  “Money’s always an object. I just don’t want my wife influenced by the amount of the car she wants. So leave out the pricing and just give us the details on the cars she likes.” I ran my arm around Asia and lead her around the cars on the showroom floor. “And we’ll be taking the cars we purchase today off the showroom floor. We don’t have time to wait for ordered ones to come in.”

  “Okay, well as you can see we have plenty available for you to choose from. And did you say cars, plural, more than one?” Brett was seeing commission dollar signs and chomping at the bit to make the sales.

  “We’re going to get two cars today. Whatever she picks, I’ll have the same. But we’ll want different colors.” I ushered Asia to the car nearest to us.

  It was a deep gray color, and she ran her fingers over the smooth surface. “I think this one is pretty.”

  Brett was quick to point out everything about it, “This is C class C 300 Cabriolet in Selenite gray. With a 4 cylinder engine, that’s plenty of power to move the lightweight of this car.” He opened the door. “Slip inside, Mrs. Simmons.”

  Asia got in behind the wheel. “Oh, this is nice.” She looked up at me. “This leather is so soft and pretty.”

  “Do you like music, Mrs. Simmons?”

  “I do like my jams, Brett.” She smiled at him, and I felt a hint of pride at how great she was looking behind the wheel of a nice car and how she was easily interacting with our salesman.

  “This little beauty has a Burmester Surround Sound System, and when you add in the fact it comes with satellite radio, well, you have a nightclub on wheels.” He laughed and shoved his hands into his pockets.

  Asia eyed me. “Jett, what do you think about this car?”

  “I think I have never bought a 4 cylinder anything.” I looked around and to see what else they had.

  Quick to spot the increase in price that I wanted, Brett pointed out the S class cars. “Over there we have our 8 cylinder cars.”

  I helped Asia out of the car and took her to the area where cars that were more my speed were located. I watched her eyes land on a shiny deep blue one. “Oh, Jett, I can see you in that car. Do you like that color?”

  “Blue is my favorite color.” I pointed at a teal colored one. “I could definitely see you in that. Do you like it?”

  “I do. It’s so… different. I don’t think I’ve seen that exact color on the road before. These all are a bit on the different color side.” She walked up to the one I pointed out, and Brett opened the door for her. “Oh, wow. How did you make it even more luxurious?”

  “Magic,” Brett said with a chuckle. “This one has all the bells and whistles Mercedes Benz makes. Lane departure means you’ll never run into someone in another lane. Electronic stability means you won’t go skidding out of control. There’s even a blind spot sensor to watch over you.”

  “Now this is what I’m talking about. A safe car to put my precious cargo in.” I walked around the car and looked it over. “We’ll test drive this one, and if we like it, we’ll take both the blue one and this one. I expect they have the same features.”

  “They do, identical except for the colors.” Brett was smiling like a madman. I knew we’d chosen the most expensive cars on the lot. With two commissions, he’d be living high on the hog for a while. And he’d most likely get some kind of bonus from his employer for pulling off such a coup.

  The test ride was fun for me. I let Asia drive, and she was so nervous it was cute. “Oh, God, Jett! I’m freaking out here!”

  “Baby, we haven’t even left the parking lot yet.”

  She nodded and gulped, making me laugh. “It’s just a car. Now ease on out there, there’s very little traffic.”

  Pulling out so slowly a turtle could’ve beaten her, she eased on the gas, and we took off with a smooth start. “Oh, this rides like a dream, Jett.” She gave me a sideways glance. “But I know this car must cost a small fortune. We don’t have to get two of them. I’ll get the 4 cylinder, and you get this one.”

  “Not a chance in hell, Asia. You get what I do. And this car is safer. I want you to be safe. I want to leave you in a safe home with a safe car.” My stomach knotted as I talked about leaving her.

  I didn’t want to even think about it!

  “I know you do, but I’m sure that other car has all those same safety features. We’ll ask Brett when we get back. I’m sure that other car will drive just as good as this one does.”

  “You’re going to get this one, Asia. End of discussion.”

  She frowned, which I thought wasn’t even close to the expression she’d should’ve been wearing. “I don’t want you to spend a boatload of money a car for me.”

  “And I don’t care what you want. I’m buying you this one. We shouldn’t be arguing about this. This is a fun time, Asia. Damn!”

  She huffed and took a right turn. “I’ll be quiet. I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful because I’m super grateful. I just worry about you spending too much money is all.”

  “I have it to spend. Don’t worry about my money. Let me do that. If I tell you to get something, I want you to get the things that are worth what you pay for them. Not some piece of crap that’s cheap.”

  “I wouldn’t call that first car a piece of crap, Jett.” She made the block, and we were back at the dealership.

  “It wasn’t as good as this one is. So you just keep those pretty little lips of yours shut so I can make a good deal on the two cars. I’m happy with my purchases. I want you to be happy too.”

  She parked and looked over the interior once more. “It is the most beautiful car I’ve ever seen.” Our eyes caught. “Thank you. I’ll love it forever. I’ll take excellent care of it too.”

  “I’m sure you will. Now let’s get inside and do the paperwork. You did bring your ID right?”

  “It’s in my purse, like always.” Brett opened her door, letting her out as I got out of the passenger side.

  “And how do we feel about this car, Mrs. Simmons?”

  “We feel pretty awesome about it, Brett. I’ll leave you to wheel and deal with the hubby about it, though.”

  I walked up behind her and wrapped my arm around her waist as we headed inside to make a deal. While I wasn’t exactly happy with how she argued with me, I had to admit that I respected her for doing it.

  She was no money grubber, that was for sure. And she did have a good head on her shoulders. How was a girl from her poor upbringing supposed to know about things that cost more money than other things of the same nature?

  I could teach her about things like that. Asia could learn so much from me. Even though our time would be relatively short, I planned on taking her to another level of life. One she’s probably never even dreamt of.

  The vacation with my family was looming in the near future. She’d be hobnobbing with Hamptons’ royals. Rubbing elbows with elite New Yorkers. She was about to enter a world she’d become a permanent part of.

  It was then tha
t I realized Asia and I would run into one another for the rest of our lives. I was bringing her into my world. A place, even upon a fake divorce, she’d always be a part of.

  I hadn’t thought that all the way through. Could I see Asia later on in life, perhaps with another man? Could I handle that?

  I wasn’t sure I could, but I’d already started the train that was bound to derail my entire life.

  Might as well enjoy the ride!

  Asia

  All the way to Jett’s parent’s vacation home, my stomach was in knots. This was going to be where I’d meet his entire family and the family friends. He’d coached me on what he expected out of me. Good manners, which I had already, stay quiet unless asked a direct question, and use the words, I love you, often.

  I’d spent two weeks with the man, and those words wouldn’t be hard to say at all. I was falling. I mean, it was a head over heels kind of love, and I knew I’d end up crying like a baby when it was all over. But I was trying not to focus on that. I wanted to enjoy each day as it came and, most of the time, left the ending of it all out of my head.

  We’d left early that morning, he drove us in his new car. Mine stayed behind in the garage at home. A home that was going to be mine, all alone in the matter of a few months. I had no idea how I’d feel about being alone in that house or in our bedroom.

  With the top down, we drove in the cool morning air, enjoying the bright sunlight and the fresh smells. “It’s beautiful up here.” I looked all around at the green foliage and pointed to a handful of deer who were having their breakfast in a field at the side of the road. “Deer!”

  “Yes, you’ll see plenty of them up here. They come right into the yard. My mother used to take tons of pictures of them when they first bought the place. Now, we’re pretty used to them.” He took a turn, and we headed into an upscale neighborhood, full of mansions.

  My nerves kicked up as I realized we were almost there. “Is it silly of me to think some of these people will look down their noses at me?”

  “If they do, I’ll straighten them out. It doesn’t matter where you came from, it matters that you’re my wife. You’ll be treated with respect or the person or persons who fail to do so will feel my wrath.” He took my hand and kissed it. “I don’t want you to worry about a thing.”

  I nodded but knew he wouldn’t always be right by my side to protect me from people I knew could be hateful. Jett had told me about his mother wanting to set him up with rich single women who lived in the area. That’s when he first came up with the wife lie so he wouldn’t have to go through the torture of being setup.

  My woman’s intuition told me not to expect a warm welcome. His parents might be nice, they were when I met them that first day, but it was doubtful that anyone else would be half as nice as they were.

  The gate was open when we got to it. There was a long and winding driveway that led up to the three-story, light blue, art deco style mansion. Each section of the home was like a huge block, and giant windows were in each one of them, overlooking the rolling hills that made up the estate.

  Shrubs were manicured into the shapes of deer, squirrels, and swans. It was neat, extravagant, and looked like something out of a magazine. “Wow, Jett. That’s all I can say. This is where we’ll be spending the week?”

  “This is it, my parents summer home.” He pulled around the home to the back where there was an enormous garage. “As you can see, it’s set up for multiple guests. There are no less than fifteen bedrooms, all with private baths. Five living areas, three dining areas, a gym, and an indoor, outdoor pool area, as well as a game room, or course.”

  “Of course,” I had to laugh. “One can’t have a proper vacation house without that,” I used a snooty New York accent that made him laugh.

  “Careful now, you’ll meet quite a few people here with that accent.”

  A man came out of a door at the end of the garage, and one of the doors opened. He waved us in, and we parked next to a Rolls Royce. “Your parents?”

  “My grandparents. Dad bought his father that car last year. Neither set of my grandparents allow too much to be lavished upon them, but they all did take cars, and they do take the week long vacation once a year here and another one in Wyoming in the spring. That vacation isn’t as socially intense as this one is.”

  I thought about Wyoming in the spring and it kind of hurt that I wouldn’t get to be a part of that. We’d be over by then.

  “So the summer is spent here, and the rest of the year this place is closed up or what?” The man who’d opened the garage door for us was suddenly at my door, opening it for me.

  “Mrs. Simmons, how nice to make your acquaintance. I am Rock, the keeper of the cars.” He held out his hand, and I gave it a shake.

  “Nice to meet you, Rock, keeper of the cars. And it looks like you have some very nice ones to keep, don’t you?”

  He nodded and smiled. “That I do. All summer long, I get to clean, gas up, and take for routine maintenance some very nice vehicles.”

  Jett’s hand took mine as he looked at Rock over his shoulder. “Be gentle with her, she’s brand new. No maintenance needed this week. But she could use some gas.” We walked away at a quick pace.

  “You should’ve started that with a hello to the elderly man, Jett,” I scolded him.

  That stopped him in his tracks as he looked at me with wide eyes. “What did you say to me?”

  For a moment I felt like I’d done something wrong. Then I jutted out my jaw. “I said, you should’ve said hello first. That was rude of you not to do that.”

  He eyed me for a long moment then looked past me at Rock. “How’s the wife, Rock?”

  “She’s doing fine, Mr. Simmons.”

  “Glad to hear it. And you? How’ve you been?”

  “Fine, just fine, sir. Thanks for asking.”

  “You have a good day, Rock. It’s always a pleasure to see you.” Jett looked back at me and whispered. “Did that satisfy you, my dear?”

  With a nod, I began to walk again. “It did, actually.”

  He laughed and smacked my ass. “You have moxie, my little Asia. I have to give you that.”

  We went into the house through a side door that looked like it might be a mudroom. Raincoats hung on hooks, galoshes of different colors and sizes were in a row on a shelf, and there were umbrellas in a stand. We walked through that room and into a state of the art kitchen where three women in white uniforms were busily preparing lunch.

  Jett was breezy with them, “Hi all, how’s it going this fine day?”

  “Fine, Mr. Simmons,” one of them said as she gave him a nod. “And this must be the wife we’ve been hearing your parents talk about.” The woman, who looked like she was in charge of the others, wiped her hands on a white towel that hung off her white apron. She came to me, and we shook hands. “I’m Cora, the Simmons’ chef.” She pointed to a short dark haired woman. “That’s Tanya, and the other one is Mary. If you have any dietary concerns or allergies, you let me know.”

  “None that I know of.” I shook my head. “Nice to meet you all.” I found her nice and helpful too. So far, so good. But then again, I’d only met the staff. They were expected to be cordial to me. The guests wouldn’t be.

  “The family is in the solarium, soaking up the morning sun,” she informed us before she got back to work.

  We left the kitchen, walked through a dining area with a bright white long table and chairs set. “This is one of the informal dining areas,” Jett said as we walked through it. The next room was a bar. “You can see what this room is.”

  “Yes, it’s fairly obvious. The large, ornately carved wooden bar tells it all.”

  He let go of my hand and went behind it. “Might as well mix up a couple of drinks while we’re here. It’ll help take the edge off what’s about to happen. We’ll be faced with tons of questions when we get in there.”

  I took a seat on one of the bar stools. Although it was way too early for me, I didn’t say a w
ord. If Jett wanted a drink this early, it meant we were in for it, and I wasn’t about to argue with him about it.

  Filling two tall glasses with ice, he poured bourbon in his, filling it hallway up. He was looking to calm some nerves alright! He finished it off with some soda. Then he found some rum, though is wasn’t coconut and wiggled the bottle at me. “Rum and lemon lime soda, or something else?”

  “Can I have what you’re having, but only about half as much liquor?”

  With a nod, he fixed me up and then we each took drinks. It wasn’t magic, and it didn’t soothe my nerves, but I knew in time it would help. He extended his arm. “You ready?”

  “No.” I gave him a smile. “But I’ll pretend to be.”

  “That’s all I can ask.”

  Into the solarium, we went, where things were about to get real!

  Jett

  The time was at hand to lie again. My fake marriage had been going great, but could we pull it off with my whole family in the front row seats?

  The whiskey hadn’t had time to set in and do its job, but I had hopes it’d soon kick in. I had Asia by the hand as we strode into the large, glass enclosed room.

  Lounging around the area that was filled with chaise lounges were both sets of my grandparents, my parents, and some woman I’d never met. A tall woman with long legs that extended out from under a pair of white shorts. High heeled, strappy sandals ended those long legs, and when I got up to her face, I found her smiling at me. She got up and came right to us. “You must be the happy new couple.”

  I shook her hand as she gazed at me. “We are them. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons. I’m Jett, she’s Asia. And you are?”

  “I’m Janice Duncan. Your mother hired me to plan your coming out as a married couple party.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Janice.” Asia shook her hand. “But we don’t need a party.”

  “Nonsense,” my mother said as she got up to come to us. “And I have another surprise for you two. We’ll make that announcement at your party, though. You’ll just have to wait for that one.” Mom took Asia by the hand. “Come with us, my dear. Jett isn’t into party planning. You, me and Janice will do all that.”