This chapter is dedicated to all you awesome JECA fans.

Chapter five

Beca took off her headphones and rubbed her tired eyes. The dining table was littered with all her papers and notes and there were at least ten screens opened on her laptop. She should done all this work in her studio; it would have been more comfortable, but the appointment was tonight. She would be meeting Clark again tonight. Beca took a gulp of the cold coffee next to her elbow, mulling over her thoughts. She did not know exactly why she asked for that dark haired man. Well, the other two Trebles had been disasters. At least, that Clark guy had been a little bit different. As if on cue, her phone rang, jittering across the glass table.

"Miss Beca, there's a gentleman caller by the name of Clark down here for you."

Beca smiled on hearing Lou's voice from Security downstairs. He was a lovely old man, almost like a grandad to her. At the moment, Lou's voice over the phone sounded like he had a million questions and Beca suppressed her laugh.

"Yes, can you send him upstairs, please?"

She was by the door when the bell rang precisely at seven p.m. Right on time, just as arranged. That was pretty good. Beca opened the heavy door and he was standing outside, all smiles and dimples, dressed in a light jacket, a nice blue shirt, opened at the neck and expensive jeans.

"Hi." he said.

"Hey," Beca replied. "Come on in." She moved to one side to let him enter and the door fell shut behind them. "Did you find the place ok?"

"Yeah. Only the most prestigious address this side of town," he commented, giving her a wry smile. Damn it, she forgot how cute his smile was. And contagious. His smile was contagious. She couldn't help giving a small smile back.

His forehead wrinkled. "Wow, the security's pretty tight in here, huh? I swear the guy downstairs nearly gave me a cavity search."

"Yeah. Don't mind Lou," Beca said dismissively. "He's a sweetie, really; just a tad protective. He just wanted to make sure you're...you know, not a serial killer."

"Not a serial killer," he said, pointing his thumb at himself.

Beca squashed that smile itching to creep further across her face. She was leading him deeper into her huge penthouse and he followed after.

"Thank you for inviting me over," he said behind her. "I was not expecting it, to be honest."

"What?" Beca said, looking over her shoulder. "You were not expecting to come here? Would you prefer to meet at the hotel?"

He looked a little uncomfortable.

"No, I'm happy to meet up wherever you want," he answered. "I was not expecting to be invited back at all."

Beca frowned.

"It's easier here," she replied nonchalantly. "And more private. You've proved to be quite harmless so I'm ok with you being here."

He nodded back at her like it all made sense.

"I wasn't briefed what you wanted for this booking," he was saying now as they walked towards the living room. "I'm not sure whether I'm underdressed or...overdressed."

He trailed off at that point, sounding a trifle embarrassed, like he suddenly realised what he was saying. Beca was rather glad she was ahead and her back was towards him because her cheeks felt a bit hot all of the sudden.

Beca cleared her throat. "You're fine. We're staying in."

"Ok," he replied. "Nice place you've got here."

"It's alright." Beca shrugged, playing it cool.

They were in the living room now and Beca smirked a little at the awestruck look on his face. Her place was not just "nice": it was fucking awesome. Especially that floor to ceiling window running along one side of the wall, opening up to the balcony with that stunning view of the skyline. That was the reason she bought the place. So she could see the view while playing at the baby grand she had installed right in the middle of the room. The sunsets were always spectacular.

"Umm..so. Quick tour," Beca spoke up. "Here's the living room. Tv's over there." She gestured at the 72in. plasma and the state of the art entertainment system. "I don't know how to work the bloody thing but I guess you'll figure it out. Bathrooms over there. Dining room here and let me show the kitchen."

He followed at her heels like a puppy.

"Just help yourself to anything," Beca said once they stepped into the kitchen. "There's some food in the fridge. Mrs. Thomas always keep some dinner in there, just in case I got hungry."

He whistled in appreciation at the gleaming kitchen, his face creasing into a smile, "Nice kitchen. Cook much?"

That earned him an eye roll and a scoff. He was obviously teasing her. Did she look like someone who knows how to use a stove? She had staff for that. Beca lounged by the doorway, watching him walking round the kitchen. It was kind of endearing the way he was nosily checking everything out. He stopped in front of the stainless steel fridge and opened the huge door, poking his head inside.

"We've got chicken salad. Oh. And lasagne," he was saying from the depths of the fridge. Beca was too busy noticing how nicely his jeans fitted him. Yeah, his ass was nice but who knew jeans-clad thighs could be so hot? He drew back, looking round the door at her. "So...what will it be?"

"Huh?" "Beca snapped out of her ogling.

"Dinner. Would you like me to warm up the lasagne?"

Much to Beca's embarrassment, he seemed to know she was checking him out.

"Umm...no. Just get something for yourself," she said, colouring a little. "I'm...I'm not hungry. I've got a lot of work to do."

He took another moment to scrutinise her. "I'll get something later," he replied, looking back into the fridge. Then he clocked something and that face splitting grin was back on his face. "Hey, you've got juice pouches! Aww, I knew you liked them."

Wait. What?

"What juice pouches?" Beca muttered, coming over. She peeked round, underneath his arm and true enough, gone were her cans of Coke Zero, to be replaced by rows and rows of juice pouches.

"Ugh. God no," Beca groaned. She elbowed he in his ribs and he yelped a little. Her elbow was pretty sharp. "This is ALL your fault," Beca said accusingly. "Aubrey must have seen that obscene amount of juice pouches on the hotel bill and thought it's my thing now."

He did not look contrite at all.

In fact, he was chuckling in response to her annoyed outburst and Beca just stomped away in irritation, leaving him in the kitchen. She returned back to the dining table, intent on getting some work done. Beca settled into her chair, grabbing her headphones and putting them on. Just when she was about to lose herself into her music, Beca caught him skulking at the periphery of her vision. Beca frowned, looking up from her screen to find him standing feet away, looking somewhat sheepish.

"What do you want, nerd?" Beca said waspishly, pushing the headphones off.

"Didn't want to disturb you-" he spoke up, rubbing the back of his neck. "- but I'm kinda wondering what you want me to do?"

Her sigh was long drawn and dramatic.

"Anything you want," Beca said. "Just don't disturb me."

She pulled her headphones on, already thinking the conversation was over but it was not. He was still rooted to the spot and Beca looked up at him peevishly, pushing her headphones off again.

"What?"

It came out a little sharper than she meant.

"Here's the thing -" he said, his brow wrinkling in confusion. "If you don't want to be disturbed, wouldn't it be better not to ask me to come?"

Beca was pulling the headphones off and tossed them on her laptop. "I'm beginning to regret asking you to come at all," she muttered, scowl firmly on her face.

His eyebrows lifted before he shoved his hands into his jeans and took a step back. "Ok," he said slowly. "I'll speak to Bumper and say there's been a mistake." He was already turning away and walking towards to the main door.

"Wait."

He stopped in his tracks. It took a few moments but he finally turned around with a stoic expression on his face. She was already on her feet. Beca gazed at him intently, her head tilted to one side.

"Alright, you can stay," she said grudgingly. "We've paid the Treble House in full anyway. At least, if Aubrey asked, I can say you were here."

His eyebrows shot up.

"Thank you," he said. There was a slight trace of sarcasm in his tone, which she did not missed.

"I don't know why you're complaining," Beca retort back. "You're being paid to do nothing. I wish I had that luxury."

He gave that some thought and a lazy smile spread across his face. "You know, you're right. So.. I can do anything I want, huh?"

"Anything," Beca replied emphatically. "Watch tv. Have a bubble bath. Try on my clothes. I don't care. Just don't disturb me while I'm working."

That final sentence seemed to shut him up. He went back to the living room, leaving her where she was. Beca sat back down and tried to get back into her work. Fifteen minutes later, she was still staring at her screen. Nothing seemed to make sense. Why couldn't she focus? This is stupid. This must be his fault. He interrupted her train of thought and now she couldn't focus. Why did she even ask for him?

Beca snorted out in the frustration, drumming her fingers on the table.

Actually, if she was being honest, it was kinda nice having him here. The apartment did not seem so empty; or too quiet with him around. Like now, for instance. He's probably watching a movie, being the weird nerd that he was. She could hear the music coming from the tv.

Wait. Hang on.

Beca frowned, her ears pricking up. That was not the tv. She rose up from her seat and made her way towards the living room. She was half expecting to see the back of his head as he sat on the sofa in front of the tv, engrossed in whatever 80s movie he was hung up on. The TV was not even switched on. Yet, that music. It sounded like...

Beca wheeled round slowly and there he was, sitting by her piano, playing it. He didn't notice her standing by the doorway, too rapt in what he was doing He had his eyes closed, a happy smile tracing his lips.

And he played beautifully.

She recognised the piece. Chopin. Notoriously difficult. Beca was gobsmacked he was actually playing it from memory. She didn't know how long she stood there staring. She must have stared too hard because his eyes suddenly popped open and he saw her by the doorway.

"Sorry," he said as his playing stuttered to a stop. "Did I disturb you?"

His face blushed red and he looked momentarily shy. It was kinda adorable.

"No," Beca replied, slowly walking over, standing next to the piano. "Please. Keep going."

He seemed to hesitate before placing his hands back on the keys. Slowly he started playing Fur Elise. It was a much easier piece, something beginners would start on and God knows how many versions of this piece was all over the place. In bad films, in commercials, in tinny sounds plinking from jewellery boxes. But Beca was enchanted. He played the arpeggios beautifully, the transition to the lighter mood was flawless, that thrill of notes and that segue to the heavier section. All was so beautifully done. The pauses as he built and crested each section were leaving her breathless. She almost wanted to clap when he finished the last note.

"Where do you learn to play like that?" Beca asked.

"Same as other people, Miss Lane," he quipped. "I had piano lessons." His fingers ran a playful riff up the scales and he smiled up at her. "Would you like another song? I take requests."

Beca just stared at him.

"Something heavy?" he prompted, unfazed by her silence. He bashed out Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with a heavy hand and a mock scowl. He chuckled at the look of horror on Beca's face "No? Maybe some jazz?"

His fingers coaxed out a jazzy tune.

"Not your thing?" he asked when she still didn't respond. He regarded her with a serious look on his face."Hmm. You're a tricky customer, Miss Lane, but I'll work you out yet."

Beca scoffed.

"You think you can work me out?"

"Sure," he replied confidently. "I just need to find...hmm..Ok, let me try something."

He started playing something that sounded familiar. Beca couldn't quite place it until he began to sing.

"I'm just a bachelor, looking for a partner," he sang. "Someone who knows how to ride, without even falling off.

Beca didn't bother to hide her surprise. "What? Seriously?"

"Pony by Ginuwine," he replied with a shrug. That irrepressible smile was still on his face. "It's a classic."

"In what world?" Beca answered back.

He didn't reply, breaking into song instead. "Gotta be compatible, take me to my limits. Girl, when I break you off, I promise you won't wanna get off."

She tried not to let that laugh escape. He was being ridiculous. There he was playing this song on her piano, giving her a cheeky smile and winking up at her. Not in a million years would she expect something like this.

"Come on, you know you wanna sing with me, You know the words," he said. "If you're horny, let's do it. Ride it my pony. My saddle waiting, come and jump on it."

No. She was not going to join in.

"This is a great song," Jesse said, still playing the the tune. "You should really embrace it."

"No."

He chuckled at her stubbornness.

"Sitting here flossing, peeping your steelo" Jesse sang out. "Just once if I have the chance...the things I would do to you."

Ok, there must be a scientific explanation for that sudden heat in her face and that little frisson running up her back.

"..you and your body, every single portion..."

"Please don't sing the next line," Beca interrupted loudly. He stopped singing and grinned back up at her.

"What do you have against juice?" Jesse commented with a mock scowl.

"Ermm...I think we both know they were not talking about juice pouches in that next line," Beca scoffed back.

"Why, Miss Lane, you are not shy, are you?" he teased. "It's just a song."

No. It was not just a song. It happened to be a sexy song, sung very well by this rather cute guy with a freaking hot voice. Seriously. That voice should be illegal so no, she would not stand there listening to him singing about juices running down her thighs.

Wait. What?

Her thighs?

Ok, this was enough. She need to do something now to get back the upperhand. He was being far too cocky. Beca came round to the front of the piano.

"Move," she ordered.

When he shifted down the bench, she sat down, wriggling a little against him. She placed a hand on the keys, gave the song a moment thought before playing it perfectly note by note. Jesse watched her fingers on the keyboard, listening to her play. Of course, she would get it right the first time.

She then tossed her hair over her shoulder and turned her face towards him.

"If we're gonna get nasty, baby" she sang, the corners of her mouth turned in a sexy smirk. "First we show and tell... Till I reach your ponytail..."

Jesse laughed.

"I don't have a ponytail," he said, gesturing to his short hair.

Beca shrugged. "I don't know. You're the one with the pony."

"This song is ridiculous," he answered, still laughing.

"Yes, it is." Beca said. "But, you know...If you are horny, let's do it. Ride it, my pony. My saddle waiting, come and jump on it."

She gave him a slow wink, still with that smirk on her lips. He laughed and joined in the chorus, both of their voices melding effortlessly. When they came to the end of the song, her grin as wide as he was.

"Let's do another one," she said, launching into another song, her fingers nimbly going across the keyboard.

Jesse just stared at her profile, seeing that flush on her cheek and that smile on her face.

God, she's hot.

"So you play the violin too?"

Jesse looked up from wine glass he had been sipping on to find her gazing at him. They had a blast playing duets on the piano but all that singing was thirsty work. She seemed to be in a good mood and left the room, only to come back with several juice pouches; one she tossed carelessly at him. Somehow the juice pouches graduated to a bottle of chilled white wine and now they were seated on the opposite ends on this long couch, facing each other, talking.

"Among others," Jesse shrugged. "Clarinet. Cello. Guitar. A bit of drums. I can play all those. I suck at drums though."

She had an incredulous look on her face. "What are you? Some sort of music prodigy?"

"Just interested," Jesse replied non-commitedly.

He had started music lessons young. His parents could very well afford all those extras then. He had lessons; he attended summer camps. There was a music room in the house with just his stuff. It was hard giving them up one by one when money became tight; harder still when he had to flog his beloved instruments to pay an unexpected bill. Jesse had been sad about that but he had consoled himself that he was too busy working to even play anyway. So it was a good thing to get rid of the stuff. They had bills to pay.

"You ok?"

Jesse snapped his attention back to the present. Again she was scrutinising him with those blue eyes, like she was trying to read his mind.

"Yeah," he answered quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Beca took in that smile on his lips. He took another sip of the wine, breaking eye contact. She was sure she saw a flash of sadness in his eyes just now but it was gone just as quickly.

"You play really well and you are obviously into it" she continued. "Why don't you...you know, be a musician full time, instead of..." Beca faltered to a stop.

"Instead of being a prostitute?" he finished her question for her. "Is that what you're thinking of?"

She could feel how hot her cheeks were.

"Well..." Beca flustered.

"You should really read the contract before these dates. Didn't your manager... Aubrey, was it?.. brief you about this?" His tone was scolding yet gentle. "I'm not a prostitute. Gigolo. Male hooker. Whatever you are thinking of. I'm an escort. And I don't do is full time."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." Beca started, trying to find the right words.

He seemed to take pity in her discomfort.

"Please don't be embarassed, Lane. I'm really ok with this. It is just a job," he replied. "But you should know there are differences in what I do and what a rent boy at the corner of 45th and South do."

Beca was a little curious now. "How is it any different? Don't both of you guys provide..uhh.. You know.."

"Sex?"

Beca flushed again. Was it the wine? Her face kept getting hotter and hotter and there he was sitting over there looking cooland collected. It was unfair.

"You have to stop finishing my sentences for me," she said a little crossly.

"Then you should really finish them yourself."

Beca narrowed her eyes. That was a little bold.

"Ok, tell me what's the difference between you and a rent boy?" she said. "From what I can see, it is purely geographical. You both get paid for sex."

"I like to think I provide a better experience," he answered without any trace of embarrassment. "I work as an escort, that means It's little more than just a quick fumble in a dark alley or the back of a car. With me, sex is not guaranteed. Don't get me wrong. I have my price. But most of the time, it's not the sex that women want."

Beca shook her head. "I don't think I understand."

She heard a soft sigh and a low chuckle from him.

"Do you want to know what I think?" he replied. "I think you are a little hung up on the labels and you are overthinking this. Why don't we just relax and talk? I'm really here to spend some time with you."

Beca was eyeing him warily.

"Promise you won't go...umm... full hooker on me?" She could not believe those words came out of her mouth. She didn't even know what she meant by that. It didn't seem to bother him because he was chuckling yet again. This guy was far too cheerful for his own good.

"Don't worry. If it comes to that, it's only when you ask for it, ok?" he assured her. "And we talk prices before anything happens. Deal?"

He didn't offer his hand. The deal was explicit in the way he arched his brow. Beca chewed her lower lip, thinking about what he said. She felt much more comfortable now and yeah, he was quite good company.

"Yeah. Ok. deal."

"Tell me how you got into this."

Jesse wiped his mouth carefully with the napkin, biding his time. The lasagna was delicious. Her tummy had rumbled and Jesse had suggested perhaps she should eat something. She agreed and he had heat up the lasagna in the fridge while she tidied up and set the table. She was sitting across him now, playing with her fork.

"You should eat up before it gets cold," Jesse replied, nodding towards her barely untouched food.

Beca looked down and grimaced a little.

"It's delicious. Why aren't you eating?" he asked.

"Nothing. I'm not hungry," she said, putting down the fork and taking another swig of her wine. "And you are changing the topic."

He was trying to deflect the question. No client had ever been that interested to ask and he was not entirely sure how he should answer. He definitely didn't want to drag his personal life into this.

"The money's good," he replied. "And I'm working my way through nursing school."

She scoffed in disbelief.

"That was Channing Tatum's line from SNL," Beca answered back. "If you are going to lie, at least be original."

"Not a lie. At least, not all of it," Jesse shot back. "I'm telling the truth. The money's good."

Beca pondered about that. OK, he was being cagey. But she was being a bit of a bitch, trying to find out things about him that was probably personal. She was really intrigued though. He was turning out very different from what she expected.

"You are overthinking it again," she heard him saying. Beca raised her eyes to meet his. He had that smile on his lips again like he was thoroughly amused. He carefully placed his fork to one side and spoke up. "Ok, I got a feeling you are dying to know more about this whole...business." He waved his hands vaguely. "So, ask me anything. I'll give you a crash course. It's educational."

Beca tilted her head to one side.

"I'm just curious," she said. "I've never met someone in your job before. What do you have to do? Do you have qualifications? Are there like.. what? Night classes?"

"No. No night classes," he answered, shaking his head. "No special qualifications. Just an eagerness to please."

"Really? I thought you have to be...you know, hypersexual or something?" Beca said, her brow creasing. "Or at least loves sex. I mean, you have to satisfy all those... clients..."

The chuckle coming out of him was almost teasing.

"Not really. Those coming into this game thinking they are a stud usually don't last," he replied. "It's not all about sex. Although it does help if you know what you are doing. Most of the time, the sex is secondary. It's the experience before. Women are complicated creatures. A lot of times it's the fantasy that they wanted us to provide."

He was frowning thoughtfully and then continued.

"There's a Treble who is a fantastic salsa dancer. Most of his bookings are clients wanting to dance with him. They said dancing with him was better than sex."

She could not help that bubble of laugh coming out of her. That seemed to encourage him and he gave it a little more thought.

"Umm... we have the usual fantasies, of course. The Christian Grey experience. Very popular; after that book came out. The boyfriend experience. The voyeur window cleaner. Pizza delivery man..."

"What? Pizza delivery?" Beca interjected.

"Yup. I've heard that could go very wrong, very quickly though."

Beca's jaw dropped. "You mean..."

"Yep," he nodded. "Poor guy didn't know what hit him. He was really there to deliver pizza. The Treble turned up about ten minutes later."

"Oh my god. Does it always go wrong like that?" Beca replied, trying to stifle her laugh.

"No, most of the times it goes great," he answered. "It's just a matter of knowing what makes your client tick."

"Oh?" Beca said, her eyebrow arching. "So you think you know what makes me tick?"

"I do."

"What? You knew me, like for five seconds. What makes you think you know what makes me tick?"

"Please," he scoffed. "Yours is so obvious, it's almost unfair."

Beca tried to think where she had been so transparent.

"Music." he answered. "You told me the first time we met. And I think us singing at the piano just now proved it. "

God, she was transparent.

"If you don't mind me saying, I think you look really beautiful, just as you are."

Beca frowned hearing the compliment. What was he playing at?

"The lasagna is really yummy. Your housekeeper is a talented cook."

Beca looked down at the plate in front of her. Mrs. Thomas was really a good cook and the lasagna was her favourite. She also had a photo shoot tomorrow and her insecurities about how she looked had surfaced. Her eyes landed on the man before her. He was smiling yet again, gazing warmly at her. He had picked up his fork and took a large mouthful of the lasagna. Beca shook her head. This Clark guy must have some sort of psychic power. She picked up her fork and began to eat.

"I had a great time," Jesse said. "Thanks for having me."

"I had a good time too. Thank you," Beca replied.

The two hours were up and they were at the doorway. He was just leaving. Beca watched as he put on his jacket and checked he had everything. She nervously shoved her hands into her jeans.

"So... will you be free next month?"

Jesse turned towards her, looking slightly surprised.

"Next month?"

"Yes."

"I need to check my bookings," he said carefully. "Why don't you get in touch with Bumper and ask for me? He'll work something out."

"No. I need you for a week," Beca blurted out, aware that her cheeks were flushing now. He was looking slightly shell-shocked and she felt she had to explain. "I've got a wedding to go to. I think it would be great if you... if you come with."

"A week?"

"Yes. It's in London. The wedding's in London," she answered hurriedly. "They have this whole schedule before the big day. Stag do, rehearsals, so much stuff...We'll pay the full rate, of course. Plus all travel and expenses. You'll need clothes. We'll pay for that. And shoes. Any other stuff you need and incidentals.."

"I'll love to."

That halted her nervous verbal diarrhoea.

"You'll come?"

"Yeah." He smiled at her. "Just get in touch with Bumper. He'll arrange everything."

"Ok."

Beca nodded slowly.

"I'll wait to hear from Bumper."

"Ok."

"I'll see you then, Lane."

Beca nodded mutely. He was already turning away, that smile on his face.

"Wait," she spoke up. "There's one more thing."

He had stopped and turned back to face her.

"What is it?"

Beca took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"You'll have to pretend to be my boyfriend."

AN : Hello all. Thank you so much for all the love you've sent through the reviews and PMs. You guys are amazing. I really don't know what I'll do without my Jeca squad. I will continue working on the stories, please rest assured. It might take some time but I'll finish them, damnit! I hope you like this chapter. There will be a lot of talking and getting to know before I dive into a shmex scene or two. Please don't get bored. They are getting to know each other and as much as I love the whole "love at first sight" trope, I am of firm opinion they need to get to know each other before they fall in love.