“Good, I’ll call you tomorrow, and we can talk about this some more.”
As the line went dead, I sat in shock. I couldn’t believe that Mr. Preston hadn’t gotten the message. I didn’t want him in my life. I wondered what I’d done to make him so interested in me, because despite the fact that I wanted to hate him, whatever he was doing was working. I felt my heart rush, and I was heated and sweaty. His pursuing me with such intensity actually felt amazing. I couldn’t believe I was reacting the way I was. I sat there on the couch numb, tingling with disbelief. He was going to pay me a million dollars. A MILLION DOLLARS. Most likely, I would never see that much money in my lifetime, and there it was dangling in front of my face. I would be an idiot to pass up this opportunity, and yet my body was raging with conflict and confusion. All I wanted to do was cuddle in bed with Gran and just talk about nothing or watch one of her terrible horror movies so I could forget that my life was such a mess.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe there was something more to this man. Maybe even my own subconscious knew more about him and his potential than I did. Perhaps Google and all the headline news that penned him as a monumental asshole were wrong. Or maybe I was an idiot. There was no denying the magnetic sense of attraction I felt when he came waltzing back into the diner. God, my heart raced, and I thought I was going to throw up. He came back. A rich, gorgeous, and sexy man came back for me. It was so romantic until he opened his mouth, then it all fell to shit.
He came in wanting to sweep me off my feet like this was Pretty Woman or something. I didn’t need rescuing. I didn’t need his money, and I certainly didn’t need to sleep with him or anyone to get it. I guess that was what made me so angry. He just assumed that I would be so thrilled and overjoyed by the fact that he liked me, I would do whatever he wanted. Why did he want me anyway? Did he have a bet with another one of his producer friends that he could bag a beautiful nobody? Boom, there I was hating him all over again. I had to stop.
Once I got to the hospital and saw the pitiful shape Gran was in, I couldn’t bring it up. Couldn’t burden her with my stupid lovelorn longings when she was lying in a hospital bed hanging onto mere life. I decided to do what any good Scarlett O’Hara would and not think about it anymore today. I would simply think of a way out of this mess tomorrow.
With that righteous notion in my head, I drove home and headed straight to bed. I considered taking one of Gran’s sleeping pills so as not to have a night of incredible sex in my sleep, but then the idea kind of made me feel hot. I sort of did want another raucous night of lovemaking. That way, maybe I could start to like the bullheaded billionaire.
When I woke up, I was sad to discover I only slept, nothing more. No hot sex, no princely gestures, no wet panties… just sleep. It was for the best. I looked at the clock and realized it was time for me to go to the art center so I took a shower, dressed, and pretended like I was someone else so I wouldn’t have to face my life.
I called the hospital to check in on Gran, and she was sleeping comfortably which made me feel sad, confused, and unsure. Sleeping comfortably meant they either had her well sedated, or she was really sick, because she never slept comfortably in the hospital.
I didn’t have to go into the diner that day, so when I was done at the center, I planned on spending the rest of the day with Gran. The thought hit me. If I agreed to sell my paintings, I would never have to go back to the diner ever again. I could spend all my time with Gran and still work with the kids. This bastard, unbeknownst to him, may have afforded me the greatest of luxuries. Time with Gran when her time on this earth was growing short. I wanted to cry; my thoughts were in knots. What was this man doing to me?
When I walked into the Youth Center for the Arts, I was greeted by the program director who asked me to step into his office. He seemed happy, almost elated. However, I had a cold sense of dread shiver up my spine. What could he possibly want? I didn’t think I could take any more craziness in my life at the moment.
“Is everything okay?” I jumped right into the conversation.
“Everything is more than okay. I just wanted to bring you in here and thank you personally for all you’ve done for us. You’ve been such an incredible inspiration to the students. I hear nothing but praise and admiration for you and all that you’ve accomplished with them. Many of the students have told me how much you’ve inspired them. I’ve been more than impressed with your work, and I value all you do here, but when I got the news today about what you did on our behalf…” He shook his head, as if trying to clear it. “I have to confess, I am absolutely overwhelmed. I had no idea you were capable of raising this kind of money, and I wholeheartedly applaud you.” Tears actually welled in his eyes.
Oh shit, what did he do now?
“I’m sorry, what money?” I asked, bracing myself for the answer.
“I think it’s all well explained here in the note that Kembrough Preston emailed me this morning,” he remarked, obviously overjoyed.
I glanced at the email and immediately started to feel sick.
“To the Director of the Youth Center for the Arts Foundation,
I am sending a cashier’s check for five million dollars over by messenger within the hour. I would appreciate either you or someone able to handle such an item signing for the package. Also, if you could let me know when you’ve received the check, I would be ever so grateful. I was inspired by your employee, Caitlyn Ashcroft, and her undying commitment to the work you do. I am an avid believer that every child, given an opportunity, can reach the greatest heights of achievement with proper inspiration and training. I am very impressed with the work you do for the children of our community, and I wanted to help support your institution. I hope that this will assist your group in reaching out to as many students as needed. I intend to also discuss an annual scholarship fund for graduating seniors going to college. I would be happy to have my assistant arrange a meeting, please contact her at the numbers below. Give my regards to Ms. Ashcroft and commend her again for her loyalty, commitment, and care she gives your students. I must admit, I was very impressed.
Best Regards,
Kembrough Preston, KP.
I almost fell over. What was this? He hardly knew me. He didn’t know me. What game was he trying to play?
“We just got the check before you arrived. I’m amazed and so grateful. Thank you for speaking to KP on our behalf. We are all so excited, you have no idea what this will do for the center and our students, and future students. It’s mind-boggling, and all I can do right now is just say how grateful I am.” Now, he was crying.
Shit!