Jeannette woke up on the couch and fixed her eyes on her daughter's concerned face. Her head was throbbing and she reached her hand back and felt a goose egg.
"Sorry about that, I didn't catch you in time." Sam apologized.
"Mommy, are you sure you are OK? "
"Yes Sweetie, Mummy was just a silly girl and didn't eat all day long and Mr. Seaborn caught me by surprise."
"Is he really my Daddy?" she asked.
"We will discuss this at home. Rhonda be a dear and take Chantal to the car please, I will be joining you in a moment."
"Come on Chantal, we'll ask the Prince for a plate and get your Mom something to eat for the car." Rhonda took her hand and gave Jeannette one of her this conversation hasn't' even begun looks.
Jeannette waited for Rhonda and her daughter to leave and then closed the door.
"Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you blurt out your suspicions to my daughter? You have no idea if you are her Father yet you just introduce yourself? Do you have ANY idea that you could have scarred my daughter for life?"
"Jeannette, one look and I knew she was my daughter. The look of horror on your face only confirmed it. How dare you not let me know I've had a daughter for five years? I shouldn't have just blurted it out, but while you were unconscious I observed my daughter and no harm was done."
"How was I suppose to find a man, who's name I didn't even know, to tell him I was pregnant.? For the record, she is MY daughter, one little sperm does not make you a Father. If you'll give me your address, I'll send you some pictures. Now if you don't mind, my daughter is waiting for me."
"You think you can send me a few pictures and everything will be all right? I've missed out on the last five years of our daughter's life, I'm not about to miss out on another moment." Sam opened the door to the sitting room and motioned for Jeannette to lead the way.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"I don't know actually, I suppose to your home."
"Bloody hell you are. Good night Mr. Seaborn."
Sam bent over slightly and whipped Jeannette into his arms and walked out into the hall knowing she wouldn't shriek in the Palace. "Now where is your car?"
"Put me down this instant before I scream bloody murder." she hissed.
"Go ahead, I'll just tell everyone you are having a drug induced episode. You are a skinny actress who fainted twice, it won't be hard for anyone to believe my little tale." Once the words were out of his mouth Sam regretted them.
"I can't believe I slept with a snake like you."
"If you are reasonable, I can be reasonable."
"Go to hell."
"Fine, if that's the way you want it." Sam didn't say another word, he followed other people leaving and found Rhonda and Chantal waiting in a Bentley right near the door. He knocked on the door and Rhonda got out.
"Why are you carrying her? Did she faint again?"
"No Rhonda, he won't put me down and I didn't want to make a scene in the Palace but now I don't care. Unhand me Mr. Seaborn or I will call the Police."
"You will not make a scene in front of our daughter. Rhonda take Chantal home. We will see you in the morning."
"I do not take orders from you and the name is Ms. Kensington. Jeannette?"
"Mr. Seaborn, Chantal and I were going away in the morning for a week. My driver will drop us off at home and bring you to your hotel. You are welcome to wait until our return and we can discuss whatever you wish then. I'm tired, I've had a horrible day and my head is aching. I'm trying to be reasonable."
"Fine Jeannette, but I'm not going to let you leave for a week without discussing this further. I have a car waiting for me too. We can talk in the car and you are welcome to use my couch at the Ritz. I'll have you back at your house in plenty time to pick up Chantal. I'm trying to be reasonable too. I'm trusting that you won't take Chantal and disappear forever in the morning."
"Rhonda take her home. I'll see you in the morning."
"Are you sure?"
"No, but I seem to lose my mind around Mr. Seaborn."
"Thank you."
"Mr. Seaborn, I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for myself. I'm in no mood to lose my temper with my daughter sleeping upstairs. I think your behaviour is reprehensible for the record."
"Oh this should be fun." Sam said dryly, rolling his eyes.
"It's your idea so no one else is to blame." she said curtly.
"You know other than your hair being a bit darker you are still the stunning vision I met in that bar." Sam said trying to ease the tension.
"Umm, so where is this car?"
"Right over here." Sam led her over to the waiting limo and gave the driver instructions.
Jeannette got in the car and proceeded to pour herself a glass of water, took two aspirins and closed her eyes. She let her head tilt a bit hoping Sam would think she was asleep and she could think before having to talk to him. Sam knew a distraction technique when he saw one, but figured from the size of the bump on her head she must have a wicked headache and didn't' say a word. He watched her instead, which was a mistake because he found that uncontrollable lust he felt for her five years ago was back and stronger than ever. The limo pulled up at the front entrance and Sam tapped her on the shoulder. He watched in amusement as everyone at the hotel jumped to attention when they saw her and gave her the royal treatment.
"They know you I take it?"
"I'm very well known and adored in London Mr. Seaborn. Hell, I'm well loved all around the world."
"I see."
"I don't suppose you have anything to eat in your room?"
"No but I could order you something. What would you like?"
"All you have to say is Miss Pierce would like her usual."
"Jeannette would you please call me Sam. Mr. Seaborn is my father."
"Whatever."
Sam opened the door to his suite and watched her slink in before him. Her dress was a stretch black lace and seemed to be painted on her body. He wondered if she was still in the habit of not wearing underwear or if that was an island thing. The dress dipped very low in the back and he remembered the silky smoothness as if it were yesterday. One night with her, remained with him all these years and he often wondered what became of his mystery girl and who she was. He heard the phone being dropped back on the receiver and looked up.
"I ordered my own food." She kicked her heels off and sat down on the edge of the couch.
She took her first good look at him all night and tried to ignore the rush of adrenaline that invaded her entire body. Time had only improved Sam in her mind. His body was now as chiseled as his face and she found the tiny little lines around his eyes gave him a more distinguished look. His hair was shorter and a little bit darker but that was about all that changed. His eyes still drew her in and she looked away before she got lost in them once more.
"So Jeannette, tell me about my daughter."
"Chantal means the world to me Sam. She has an incredible imagination and a great capacity to love. She likes to think she takes care of me and she tries so hard when she has me to herself on Sundays. She's got a stubborn streak in her and she knows how to manipulate Mandy and I already. She..."
"Who is Mandy?"
"My dear friend and Chantal's Nanny. I spend most of my nights in one theater or another so Mandy looks after her for me."
"You know she could have been taken care of by her father, if I had known."
"Look Sam, had I even known your name I might have tracked you down just to let you know, but it's impossible to notify a nameless man. If you are constantly going to remind me that I didn't tell you, I'm just going to leave now."
There was a knock at the door and Jeannette looked at Sam and curled up on the couch. "That should be my dinner, kindly get the door."
Sam got up and watched as a large room service cart was wheeled in and left in front of a lounging Jeannette. "Miss Pierce, I'm afraid we were all out of Vidala onions."
Every last ounce of patience she had was lost, normally she wouldn't care but right now no Vidala onions was the straw that broke the camel's back. "What? Oh this just won't do. There must be a market opened somewhere."
"We tried Miss Pierce, but none of the local markets carried any. We import them weekly and our shipment was delayed."
"If there are Spanish onions in this take it back."
"No Miss Pierce, there are no onions in it. We know you hate Spanish onions and the red onions were not sweet enough so George simply omitted them and included extra mushrooms."
"I'm not happy but I am starving so I will eat it." She took a sip of her tea and spit it back out. "This is peppermint tea, I only drink spearmint tea. Rectify this situation at once!" she demanded.
"I'm so sorry Miss Pierce, I'll just take that away and bring the proper tea."
"I want a fresh pot up here in five minutes or heads will roll. Now go!" she snapped.
Sam grimaced at the waiter and opened the door for him. "Jeannette you didn't need to snap at him."
"You know the point of having a usual is that it is made the same each time and you don't have to deal with surprises. Then again, nothing has gone right tonight so why should my dinner be any different?" she lifted the silver dome and placed it beside her on the couch. She started picking at her egg white omelet.
"That looks pretty good to me."
"It's OK, it's much better with the right onions. Would you like a taste?"
"Sure, thanks."
Sam moved the silver dome and sat down beside her on the couch. He picked up the fork and cut off a sizable piece and put it in his mouth. He placed the fork down and looked up at Jeannette.
Her lips were mere inches away and once again logic went out the window in one fell swoop. He leaned over, bracing her neck with his hand and kissed her hard. His hands moved to her neck and down her shoulders pushing the thin straps of her dress off her shoulder. Jeannette wrapped her arms around his neck and let the kiss intensify. The past, the fact that she didn't know Sam and didn't particularly like him, meant nothing as his tongue found hers and a hungry tango began. Sam lowered her to the couch and pulled the clingy lace dress down her body getting the answer to his earlier question. He closed his mouth over a hardened nipple and began sucking on it as his fingers traced the edge of her sheer and velvet floral French cut panties. She moaned as his tongue made a circle around her belly button and his fingers started to move inside her. Her back arched wildly and Sam picked her up and carried her over to the bed, quickly shedding his tux before joining her. They didn't even noticed the persistent knocking on the door.
Jeannette woke up and found herself once more wrapped in Egyptian cotton sheets beside Sam. She carefully left the bed and went into the living room to retrieve her dress. She wiggled her way back into it and picked up her purse and panties. She left a note on the table for Sam and left before he woke up. Sam shifted in his sleep and went to pull her closer to him. When his hands meet he woke up and called out to her. When he didn't get an answer he hopped out of bed and noticed the note sitting on the bedside table.
Sam we have to stop doing this, but wow, you still have it. I'll contact you here when I get back.
Later,
Jeannette
"Bloody hell she does it to me again. At least this time I know her name and I'll know where she lives in a matter of minutes." Sam picked up the phone and dialed Ron to ask him a favour.
Ron was surprised by Sam's request, but since he rarely asked for anything Ron, knew it must be important and personal. He called his contact at Scotland Yard and told him that the First Lady would like to send her some flowers and they needed her address.
In the meantime, Sam was launching an Internet search on her. He wished Ginger was around to help him but she had stayed behind in Washington. He thought of Donna, but decided she couldn't know before the President did. He was not looking forward to that particular conversation. CJ is going to kill me, he thought and decided he'd only tell her once he was away from the city.