From Rags to Riches

Breaking down walls

Rebecca:

I stare into his cloudy grey eyes and I am hypnotised. Can I really walk away from this man? He's offered me a place to stay until I sort myself out, and I need this chance to be able to care for my daughter the way she should be cared for.
"I'll take it" I say with all the confidence I have. The smile that breaks out on his face takes my breath away. This has got to be too good to be true, how can someone this attractive also be so caring and selfless? I'm brought out of my thoughts when I feel Sienna pull at my hair.
"Mumma?"
"Yes baby?" I answer her as I look into her gorgeous blue eyes.
"More pan'akes with Jordy?" She tilts her head to the side and points at Jordan. I can't help the laugh that escapes my lips and Jordan joins in.
"Yes baby we will be having more pancakes with Jordy" I say and she grins.
"Yay Jordy!" She exclaims and leans away from me with her arms extended. Jordan grins and takes her from my arms; holding her above his head.
"We're going to eat pancakes, play in the park and eat lots and lots of sweeties" he says and my heart melts at the scene before me. I can see that Sienna is going to become very attached to Jordan, and when we go I don't know if I can deal with the tantrums I know she'll throw.
"So what do you say to a day of shopping?" Jordan asks me and I frown in confusion.
"I don't have any money Jordan, you know the whole point of me staying here is to help me get money" I say and Jordan just chuckles.
"I know that, but how about I buy the clothes?" He says with a smirk that make my knees go weak every time.
"I can't let you do that"
"Becca it's fine" it comes out so casually that I almost miss the nickname he gives me. I look at him with my eyebrow raised and I can feel the blush form on my cheeks.
"Becca?"
"I-I'm sorry Rebecca, it just-" he stutters and I just giggle.
"I like it. I've never had a nickname before" I admit and his eyes widen a little.
"No one ever called you that?" He asks in astonishment and I shake my head.
"No, but I think it's sweet. Erm, are you sure you don't mind buying clothes?" I bite my lip and I see his eyes change. I can't quite put my finger on what I see; desire, lust? Whatever it is, it makes me feel emotions I haven't felt since I was with Sienna's father. He clears his throat as he holds Sienna on his hip; letting her play with the end of his tie. Does he always wear a suit?
"It's fine, I insist. I do have to go into work, that's why I'm dressed like this. But I will be back by eleven and we can go out for lunch and get some new clothes" he puts Sienna on the floor and grabs his briefcase.
"I will see you soon, feel free to look around or put the TV on" he walks towards the elevator and steps in.
"See you later Becca" he winks just before the doors shut. I stand there just looking at the closed elevator doors; replaying what just happened in my head. After a few seconds I break out of my thoughts and take Sienna's hand.
"Let's go on a tour babygirl" I tell her with a grin and we walk hand in hand around this immaculate apartment.

By twelve o'clock we arrive at this store and I immediately feel so overwhelmed. Obviously I have been shopping before with my parents, but now all I notice is price tags. Jordan's carrying Sienna and she's babbling to him about pretty much anything she can think of. We walk into the store and a short blonde woman walks up to us.
"Mr. Matthews, how are you?" She greets him with a huge smile and I suddenly feel a pang of envy. I shouldn't be feeling like this, I've just met the guy and he's only doing us a service. 'He doesn't mean it really, he'll be happy to see us go' I tell myself as I look around the overly expensive clothes.
"I'm very well thankyou Kayla. This is Rebecca and her daughter Sienna, and we're looking for clothes for all occasions please" Jordan explains and Kayla looks at me with a forced smile.
"Certainly. Would you like my help or do you just want to browse?"
"I'll just browse thankyou" I tell her with a small smile and she nods.
"I'll be out back if you need me" she smiles again at Jordan before walking out of sight.

I'm standing in the changing room looking at myself in the mirror in awe. I look totally different. Jordan helped me pick out a load of outfits and I'm currently trying on an elegant silver gown. Why I would ever need this I don't know, but Jordan insisted I had at least one ball gown. I step outside and Jordan's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.
"Rebecca, you look... You look beautiful" he tells me and I blush so red I'm sure I could be mistaken for a tomato.
"Is this really necessary?" I ask him again and he nods.
"Yes it is. And you should get it, it's perfect" I nod and go back to change into my normal clothes. He's already spent nearly four hundred dollars on Sienna, I'd hate to think how much all of my clothes are going to cost. I step back out with all of my clothes and hand them over to Kayla who rings them up.
"That's going to cost seven hundred and sixty Mr. Matthews" she tells him and my jaw drops.
"Jordan no you cant" I protest, but he just glares at me with a look that tells me I should know better than to argue with him. Without a word he hands over his card and with one swipe seven hundred and sixty dollars has just come out of his bank account. I take the bag and we walk out of the store, Jordan once again carrying Sienna who's head is buried in his neck trying to stay awake. We climb into the car and I look over at him.
"Thankyou so much Jordan, you really didn't have to spend that much on us" I tell him with guilt evident in my voice. He just smiles and strokes Sienna's hair.
"It's been my pleasure Rebecca. I don't know how to describe it but I feel, I feel very protective of you. I want to care for you" he admits. Woah. What do I say to that? I reach over and place my hand on top of it; giving it a slight squeeze.
"I really appreciate it. It's definitely been a tough few years" I look down, but quickly look up again when Jordan squeezes my hand.
"We'll talk later, enough of that now though ok? I'm spoiling you today" he smirks and I automatically smile as I nod.

"Thankyou" I take the glass of white wine from Jordan as he sits next to me on his oversized sofa. Sienna fell asleep about an hour ago after I bathed her and put her in her new baby pink nightwear with butterflies printed on.
"So. Tell me about you" Jordan asks as he takes a sip of his wine. I follow suit and I'm grateful for the crisp taste it leaves in my mouth.
"Well I've always lived here in Seattle with my parents. I'm an only child so we were really close. Erm when I was eighteen I fell pregnant with Sienna, and I gave birth about two months before graduation. Luckily my parents supported me and I went off to WSU to study English Literature" I take a steady breath and another sip of wine to help me explain the next part. I look down at my glass and run my finger around the rim.
"About a year later I got a call saying that my parents had been in a car accident. My mother was pronounced dead at the scene and my father two days later in hospital" I can feel the tears spilling down my cheek and I feel Jordan's hand come to rest on my back; rubbing small circles.
"Becca I'm so sorry" he starts but I just shake my head.
"Don't, it's ok. So I dropped out of school, became a single parent with no support, lost my job and my house. Three years later, a selfless, kindhearted man takes me and my daughter into his home and makes me feel hope for the first time since I was nineteen" I bite my lip and look into his eyes, and they soften at my admission. I clear my throat and quickly wipe my eyes.
"So that's me. What about you?" I take the attention off me and try to put it on him. he shifts in his seat and runs his hand through his hair.

"Well I was born in Detroit, and came here when I was adopted at four years old by my parents Colleen and Jack Matthews. My mother is a paediatrician and my father a lawyer. I have an older brother called Dominic and a younger sister called Hope. I went to Harvard but dropped out after my first year to build my own company, Matthews Enterprise. That's it really" he took a long swig of his wine in an effort to control himself and I frown slightly.
"I looked around your place today and I've noticed you don't have many photos of your family. Why is that?" I question him and he stiffens.
"I was very detached as a child. I er... I didn't feel worthy of their love, or anyone's love. I still don't" he admits with the saddest eyes I've seen.
"Is it to do with your life before being adopted?"
"I was brought into the world by a woman who loved drugs more than her son. Her pimps used me for anything they needed at the time. If my own mother couldn't love me, why should anyone else?" He asks to no one, and I instinctively reach out to run my hand through his hair. He flinches for a split second before he relaxes into my touch.
"I also noticed that you froze when Sienna touched your chest. Is that from the... Pimps?" I ask and he just nods.
"Well let me tell you something Jordan. People love you because you're kindhearted, passionate and selfless. Your family are so lucky to have you, and even though I've never met them, I can tell your parents love you. I also know another girl who is quickly falling for you too" I say and he frowns.
"Who?"
"She's in the guest room wearing butterfly pyjamas" I whisper in his ear and he lets out a genuine laugh that is like music to my ears.
"I'll have to admit, she's got me wrapped around her little finger" he says through his laughter. I finish my wine and stand up.
"If you don't mind I'm going to join her. Goodnight Jordan" I say and he stands up.
"Goodnight, thankyou for opening up to me, and letting me open up to you. I've never told anyone about my past, and it feels good to get it off my chest"
"Don't be afraid to talk to me, you can trust me" I smile and he leans in to give me a soft kiss on my cheek.
"Sweet dreams Rebecca" he says and walks off to his room. I go upstairs and change into a silk nightdress before climbing in beside my daughter. I close my eyes with a smile on my face as I fall into a peaceful sleep.