Page 79 of Love In The Spotlight

“It’s not protected,” she said. “It’s just being private. What is wrong with that?”

“Nothing,” her mother said. “But you work for one of the wealthiest men in America. Not just work for him, but are his sister. Talia, Rowan and Elias don’t have to deal with it as much as you. Not even Foster. But you, Braylon and Nelson are right by his side. You knew that going in. You wanted it.”

“I did,” she said. “I don’t even mind my picture with West.”

“Because it’s work. But your private life you always wanted separate. That is what happened with you and Alex. We know.”

Why was his name being brought up so much lately? “Alex was immature and liked the attention. I didn’t. He knew it and still made sure he got his way.”

“And when you found everything out, you ended things.”

“Which only caused him to talk even more,” she said. “I don’t want to go through that again but don’t think it’d happen with Jamie. Though he has a lot of eyes on him, he’s spent the last two years making sure it was only him.”

“It won’t be that way much longer,” her mother said.

“No. And he will let very little about his daughter out. We are working on that still.”

Today she’d spent a few hours at Jamie’s. She played with Penelope. She laughed and she had a great time.

She almost didn’t want to leave but did when Penelope went down for her nap after their early lunch.

Janelle had the day to herself until Jamie left, so she and Jamie snuck into his bedroom, locked the door and had an hour together before she kissed him and walked out the door.

“There are two people in your life that are used to this. I’d think Jamie would do right by you the best he could because he’s going to do the same for his daughter.”

“Which is why I’m not too concerned about it.” She decided to tell her mother how Jamie asked about them being out in the open when Penelope was introduced. “I told him to keep them separate. It’s the way it needs to be.”

“Hmm,” her mother said.

“What was that for? You’ve got an idea about something. Are you going to share?”

“I want to, but then the other part of me isn’t so sure it’s a good idea,” her mother said.

“Now you’re only saying that for me to beg you to share.”

She heard more laughter on the other line. Her mother was good at manipulating to get her way. Gently doing it.

“That wasn’t my intent, but I don’t want to cause problems with you and your new boyfriend.”

“I’m not sure you can do that,” she said.

“I could be putting ideas in your head and I don’t want to do that, but it’s something that popped into mine.”

“Tell me,” she said. “I’m too tired for games.”

“You need an assistant,” her mother said.

“Don’t change the subject.” No reason to admit she’d figured that out on her own and would be meeting with West this week about her idea there. The next step would be Braylon.

“Fine,” her mother said. “You would know that I had to do some digging on Jamie myself.”

“Of course you have,” she said. Which was why she wasn’t volunteering too much information. The fact that her mother knew about Penelope meant that Nelson slipped and their mother had a way of getting him to talk more.

“There is nothing out there about him dating women in the past few years.”

“No,” she said. “He keeps a low profile. When he has to attend any events he goes solo.”

She knew that too. He was asked a lot to attend charity functions. One in March that he’d mentioned. She wondered if it was a hint that she’d offer to go too.

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