Mommy's Landlord

by S. E. Law

  “Oh,” I say dumbly. “So you must have told the doorman to direct me here, instead of to your son’s apartment.”

  “That I did,” the dark man acknowledges with a dip of his head.

  “Does Ken know?” I ask, sitting up suddenly. “Because he’s going to think I’m blowing him off if he doesn’t, and I don’t want my mom to be kicked out of her apartment because of it.”

  The handsome man throws back his head, revealing the bronzed muscularity of his throat, and laughs deep in his chest.

  “Ken knows,” he says. “And trust me. We decided together that it was best for him to leave this issue to me. You don’t need to worry about my son anymore. You’ll be dealing only with me from here on out.”

  I’m stunned and my eyes grow wide.

  “Oh okay, great. Thank you, Mr. Carlton. I’m so glad that you’re open to negotiation because my mom’s in a really tough position, you see. She has her own business, so she gets really busy. Maybe you’ve heard of it? It’s called Dinah’s Delights downtown, and she sells cupcakes. My mom makes plenty of money, don’t worry,” I say quickly. “It’s just that she’s so busy that she sometimes forgets things like paying the bills.”

  Mr. Carlton nods and looks thoughtful.

  “Yes, I can see how that would happen. When I opened my own shop thirty years ago, I was also completely overwhelmed. I was Carlton Realty’s first CEO, but I was also its first janitor, its first accountant, and its first IT guy, if you can believe it.”

  I stare at him. There is no way this imposing man was ever taking out the trash. But he merely sees my shocked expression and chuckles.

  “It’s true, Katie. Many times, an entrepreneur has to wear many hats because they’re the one ultimately in the hot seat. There’s honestly no one else in many cases, and all the money on the line was mine. So I did everything and anything that had to be done in those early days. Including cleaning the bathrooms,” he says with a wink.

  My shoulders relax a bit and I let out a sigh. Xavier Carlton is actually easy to talk to, which is surprising, seeing the difference in our ages. If he’s Kenneth’s dad, and Ken is the same age as me, then he must be at least forty-five or more? Fifty? Fifty-five? I’m not sure.

  But it doesn’t seem to matter. Mr. Carlton has a wry sense of humor that speaks to me, and despite the lavish surroundings, I feel quite at ease. I giggle a little myself and smile back at him.

  “I can’t imagine you cleaning the toilets, Mr. Carlton.”

  “Oh, you bet I did,” he says with a low chuckle. “It was especially bad after we had an International Food potluck at the company in the late nineties. Let me tell you, Mexican food can wreak havoc with peoples’ digestive systems, and it was not fun to scour bathrooms the next day.”

  I giggle again, my cheeks flushing. It’s such a far-fetched scenario, that I can’t even imagine it ever took place. This handsome man used to put on scummy clothes and become Mr. Maid with a broom and a mop in his hands? It seems such a far cry from the imposing CEO sitting before me today.

  But he merely smiles again.

  “You gotta do what you gotta do to succeed,” he quips. “In the old days, that meant I had to do everything. But you know what? Sometimes I miss it. I miss having a small company to lead, where I knew everyone’s names, their birthdays, and their kids. Now, Carlton Realty is so huge that I hardly ever know anyone on a personal level anymore.”

  I nod, just thinking. Wow, Xavier Carlton sounds like a man of the people, actually. He’s not a king sitting on some faraway throne. Instead, he’s someone who values personal connections and probably inspires a lot of loyalty and admiration among his employees. I’m stunned, and more than a little impressed at this revelation.

  After all, I know how hard it is to be a leader. Not that I have any experience, but I’ve had some bad bosses over the years, and they were terrible. I used to work in the library at school, and my manager there was a total nightmare. She thought she was the next President of the United States, despite the fact that we were really only in charge of the Science section within the library as a whole.

  “Re-sort those books,” Marjorie would command, looking down her nose at me while pointing with an imperious finger. “Then put them all back on the shelves.”

  “But people might still be reading them,” I say. “It’s not closing time yet, and maybe the people reading them left the books open on the table for easy access.”

  Marjorie shook her ginger curls and shot me a look of disgust.

  “No, definitely not, Katie. No one’s been at that table for three hours, so just do as I say, okay? Trust me, my word is the law around here, and it’s not worth it to fight.”

  My mouth snapped shut. Of course it wasn’t worth it to fight. This was a job that paid eight fifty an hour, so I wasn’t going to bust my chops arguing over something as simple as shelving a few books. Still, I hated Marjorie and didn’t respect her judgment, nor her leadership skills. Yet Mr. Carlton, within the space of fifteen minutes, has already inspired a sense of awe and respect that I didn’t feel for my old boss at all.

  Not to mention that he’s insanely good-looking. The man’s inky hair is brushed back off his face, showing off his proud forehead and Roman nose. His cheekbones are high and his mouth strong, although the lips are sensuously sculpted at the same time. How is that possible? How can a man have both a sensuous yet firm mouth simultaneously?

  I wonder what it would be like to have a man like this kiss me. I bet he’d know exactly what he was doing, unlike the losers I’ve kissed in the past. Those boys left trails of slobber on my cheeks, and often I had to brush my teeth after their ministrations. It was just too gross. Sometimes, I even gargled with Listerine afterwards, in case there were any disgusting bugs going around.

  As if reading my thoughts, Mr. Carlton smiles at me again with a knowing glint in those blue eyes. But I can see something churning behind that polished exterior, and it speaks of … well, I’m not sure what. I guess I’ll have to find out, and my heart beats with anticipation.

  5

  Xavier

  Holy shit, can I do it? I’m not sure, to tell the truth. After all, Katie’s obviously a very innocent girl. She must be about the same age as Kenneth, which makes her twenty-eight or so, but still. This is no hardened, middle-aged woman with brassy hair and a red-lipsticked smile. This is a young, pliable girl with spun gold for hair and a demure yet sassy way about her, which has me utterly hooked.

  After all, I like them sweet. Or maybe I should be more specific. I like Daddy Dom / little girl play, which requires a woman who’s innocent, but also open-minded and mature. I know what you’re thinking: why would the DD / lg lifestyle require a woman who’s mature? In this lifestyle, an older daddy takes care of a little girl. So wouldn’t the woman in the relationship fit the role better if she were immature and juvenile?

  But that’s where critics get it wrong because DD / lg play requires high levels of communication and understanding from its participants, but especially from the woman. It’s a power exchange of sorts, and it requires trust between the parties. As a result, the woman needs to have the mental maturity and strength to know that even while she’s modeling the behavior of a little girl, that she is not in fact a little girl. She’s a grown woman who’s enjoying some light roleplay in order to titillate her male partner of choice.

  That’s where I come in. I’m not a hardcore Daddy Dom who likes his girls to wear diapers and suckle pacifiers. Instead, I’m the kind of Daddy Dom who enjoys light play, such as flirty baby doll dresses, pigtails, and maybe some treats along the way. I don’t need my girls to be an infant, and I’m not looking to infantilize anyone either. I just crave innocent, cute, and playful little girls, who also happen to be insanely filthy in bed.

  What can I say? I’m not sure how I developed this preference, but it is what it is. I like my girls innocent and lovely, and it looks like Katie could be it. After all, she’s here to negotiate on behalf of her
mother, which shows incredible maturity. And yet, she has an amazing sense of timing and grace, and hasn’t been pushing the issue, although it must be on the forefront of her mind.

  I decide to get the ball rolling. There must be a middle path between us, seeing that Katie wants something that I can provide. I’m happy to give it to her, so long as she understands that I want something very special in return.

  I smile at her again.

  “So how can I help you?” I ask in a low and calm voice. “You mentioned that your mom lives in the Alastair Apartments, right? And she’s been there a while?”

  Katie nods quickly.

  “Yes, and Dinah’s been a great tenant for years. She usually always pays her rent on time, it’s just that she’s been getting more and more forgetful lately. I think it’s because her business has been doing really well, but that’s a good thing, right? Tenants with money can afford to pay rent.”

  I nod, steepling my fingers as if in thought.

  “That’s true, but many people are forgetful,” I say slowly. “Why should I give Dinah a break? Just as an aside, we keep a waitlist of hundreds of potential renters at the central office, and more than a few are willing to pay a significantly higher price than what your mom is paying for that same apartment.”

  Katie stares at me with surprise. It’s clear she wasn’t expecting this interesting tidbit. I’m not sure what she expected, but to realize that there’s a line of other renters right behind you waiting for their shot must be unsettling.

  “Well, I can make sure she pays you on time from here on out,” she says in a rushed voice. “I will personally make sure that Dinah walks her rent check in each month if it comes to that, and like I mentioned to Kenneth, I’m happy to make good on any back payments owed right now,” she says, fumbling in her purse for a checkbook. “Here,” she says, pulling out a piece of paper and holding it out to me with trembling fingers. “I already wrote it out. The three months she’s missed totals twenty-four hundred dollars, and it’s all right here.”

  I take the check and look at it thoughtfully.

  “Thank you, I appreciate this. We appreciate this,” I clarify. “But again, it’s not just about timely payments. There are people who are willing to pay a thousand dollars a month for your mother’s apartment, and that’s two hundred more than what she’s paying now. And as you know, we have every right to evict your mother. When a judge hears that she’s missed three months of payments, he or she will definitely side with Carlton Realty.”

  Tears begin to pool in Katie’s eyes.

  “I know, but you see, my mom has to stay in that apartment. It’s not that she can’t find another apartment; it’s that she can’t be bothered to, and I know she’ll just move in with me instead. You can’t let that happen, Mr. Carlton. I’m begging you with my entire heart. Please, you don’t understand. I live in a tiny one-bedroom where the tub’s in the kitchen, and there’s no way two people could live there without fighting all the time. Plus, you haven’t met Dinah. She’s so out there and spacey sometimes that living with her 24/7 would drive anyone crazy.”

  I nod.

  “That sounds bad, I admit,” I say. “I had no idea your mom was angling to move in with you instead.”

  Katie takes a deep breath, still with tears in her eyes.

  “It’s not that Dinah’s been planning to move in with me. It’s just something that’s going to happen if she loses her apartment because she’s too scatterbrained. She’s not going to secure another apartment in time, and I know she won’t even be able to pack by herself. I’m probably going to have to do it for her, and handle all the logistics because my mom is just that kind of person.”

  Frankly, it sounds somewhat familiar because my ex-wife was also helpless to a fault. Honey had to have everything done for her, from her nails to walking the dog to a professional chef who made every meal for us, including breakfast. But at least Dinah’s helplessness is a result of her scatterbrained habits. By contrast, Honey wouldn’t lift a finger if you pointed a gun to her head because she was a pampered housewife.

  But not anymore. Our divorce is over and done with, and it’s all for the better. In fact, I have a gorgeous young woman sitting across from me right now who might just be open to the DD / lg lifestyle. So I decide to go for it. I shoot Katie a dazzling grin and then put my drink down.

  “Well, I can think of a solution,” I begin.

  The beautiful girl sits up, her eyes still glistening a bit with tears.

  “Whatever it is, Mr. Carlton, I can do it. Just please, please, please, don’t evict my mom. That’s all I ask.”

  I smile again while surveying her dainty features and lithe, slim form. Hmm, she’s curvy while slender, with generous breasts, a narrow waist, and hips that are wide and made for child-bearing. In short, she’s perfect, and I can’t wait to put forward my proposition.

  6

  Katie

  I swallow hard while trying to contain my emotions. Xavier Carlton is about to throw me a lifeline, and I’m going to take it. I’m going to accept whatever offer he makes because the truth is that I can’t stomach the thought of living with Dinah again.

  After all, my mom is just too bird-brained. Don’t get me wrong because Dinah’s smart in many respects. She’s not a dumb woman, and she’s definitely very intelligent in her own way. Her thriving business is proof of that.

  It’s just that I can’t handle being my mom’s life-organizer slash mother-figure slash savior. It’s not feasible. I don’t want to be the one scheduling dentist appointments for her, while also paying her cell phone bills and making sure that her clothes are clean. I’m not her legal guardian. I’m her daughter, and I want to live my own life.

  That’s why I live in a crappy apartment even though I could live with my mother and save money. Although I’m poor, it’s totally worth it. I have space, and even more importantly, I have peace. I can ignore Dinah’s latest astrological prediction, and also escape her batty ways without offending her.

  “Please, Mr. Carlton,” I murmur. “I’ll do whatever you want. I just can’t have my mom move in with me.”

  He throws his head back and laughs, showing off even white teeth.

  “It’s that bad, huh?”

  I nod.

  “It’s worse than you think. Imagine living in a tiny space with Pippi Longstocking crossed with Mary Poppins. It’s not fun. She’ll be in my business non-stop, while making all sorts of New Age-y proclamations.”

  He laughs again, and I marvel at his good looks once more. How does he do it? Literally, the man looks like a movie star, and not businessman who sits in front of a computer all day.

  But then Xavier grows serious.

  “Well, Katie, I do have a position to fill, but it’s different from a regular nine to five.”

  I look at him with confusion.

  “You mean in real estate? With your company? But I’d be utterly unqualified, Mr. Carlton.”

  He chuckles again.

  “Yes, I know. But it’s not a job precisely. Or it is, sort of. I’m looking for a companion, you see. Someone who can satisfy my tastes, but who also has the discretion and maturity to know her place.”

  I’m flummoxed. What does he mean?

  “I’m sorry?” I ask. “I’m not sure I understand because right now, I’m working as a home health aide, so I’m a companion of sorts already. I work with an older woman who has severe diabetes. As a result, I’m in charge of helping her with almost everything: her meal schedule, her daily exercise, and also the insulin shots. I’ve learned to give her those in order to make sure that her sugar levels stay stable.”

  Xavier nods thoughtfully.

  “Being a home health aide isn’t an easy job, and I respect you for taking on such a challenging position, Katie. Tending to the elderly and ill is difficult, not to mention emotionally taxing. But I’m not looking to take you away from your job. I’m looking for after hours companionship of a different kind.”

  I
stare at him again.

  “Are you looking for a friend?” I ask slowly. “Because we can be friends, no problem Mr. Carlton.”

  He throws his head back to laugh again, and suddenly I feel really dumb. Oh my god, I’m completely out of my league and I know it. This man is a billionaire who can run circles around me, and I suddenly feel very foolish and young.

  But then his eyes grow serious and he leans forward.

  “No, not a friend, Katie, because you would be my friend for free, wouldn’t you? I’m looking for something else.”

  With that, Xavier’s blue eyes seize mine, and my pulse skyrockets. What does the CEO want? Because as my body goes soft and hot, suddenly I know I’ll give him whatever he’s looking for.

  7

  Xavier

  Katie’s so innocent that it’s charming. She’s sitting on the sofa, looking stricken, and immediately, I want to comfort her.

  “But you’re on the right track,” I begin. “I’m not looking for a friend exactly, but something along those lines.”

  She nods before taking a deep breath and throwing me a dazzling smile.

  “I didn’t think so because you seem like a man who probably already has a lot of friends. Why would you need a friend like me?”

  A smile quirks my lips.

  “Well, that’s a good question. In fact, I think I would really value a friend like you because many of my existing so-called “friends” aren’t real. They’re generally people who want something from me, like my money or my connections. Those aren’t true friends.”

  She purses her lips, and then shakes her head.

  “You’re right. They’re not. I hadn’t thought of that because I’ve never been in your shoes. I come from humble circumstances, as you know,” she says with a sassy smile. “But is there something else you’re looking for Mr. Carlton? Again, I can be a companion, no problem. But I just have to understand what you’re looking for exactly. You’re not sick, are you?”