She noted that Angel was all business, acknowledging everyone with a nod instead of the lighthearted greeting he usually bestowed upon his kids. He sat behind the desk, and Tommy stood next to him. As if he suddenly realized Tommy didn’t have a chair, Angel shot to his feet. “Sit, mi amor.”
“No. I’m fine, A.”
“Nonsense. I will not have my husband stand while I selfishly sit in comfort.” Angel relinquished the oversized leather chair to Tommy and retrieved an adjacent chair for himself. Angel sat in the center, commanding the large desk. He looked at Sindy and his expression softened with compassion. “There’s nothing to be worried about. This is a business meeting, but it’s very informal. There is no judgment in this house.” He clasped his fingers together in front of him. “Tessa and Lucas have told me what’s going on, but I want to hear it from you.”
He was going to make her say out loud that she was homeless and living in a self-storage unit. She couldn’t take the humiliation. Not again. Not in front of two superstars that she idolized.
Lucas placed his hand on Sindy’s arm. “Relax. It’s OK.”
“I only want to hear your story firsthand,” Angel said.
Sindy took a breath to calm herself. She had nothing to lose and everything to gain. She was never ashamed of who she was or where she came from. She was just embarrassed. Wealth was all around her, and she was the poor girl fighting for her next meal and struggling to keep a roof over her head. She didn’t know where to start, so she started from the beginning. “I grew up in the ghettos of Baltimore. I moved to New York to get away from it and escape my dysfunctional parents. I wanted to make something of myself.” She wiped her sweaty palms together. “I didn’t expect it to be so hard. I don’t have more than a high school diploma. No trade to fall back on. So I got a job bartending and another waitressing. I worked my butt off. I still do. But the club cut back on staffing, and I was one of the first to go. That was the job where I made decent money. Then I got sick. The flu. I had doctor bills. I have no health insurance. I got behind on my rent and my landlord threw me out. It was an illegal rental, so he didn’t have to go through a formal eviction process. I got tossed out in three months with nowhere to go.” Reliving it left a pain in her chest, but she forced herself to continue. “I tried to get another place, but everything is so expensive. I’m trying, though. I’m working double shifts at the diner and playing my guitar on the street for tips. I’m saving every penny. I can afford something fairly decent, but it takes a lot of money up front to move into a new place. I’m almost there. In maybe two more months I should have enough. I have a plan. I have hope.”
Angel kept nodding as she told her story, but now he was quiet. “Thank you for your candor,” he said, after a long pause. “All I ask for is honesty. It’s a quality I hold very high.”
She didn’t have much, but she had her sincerity. She hated liars and refused to be one herself.
“Whatever the problem,” Tommy Blade said. “We work it out. We help each other. We stick together in this family.”
“OK,” Angel said. “I’ll advise our attorney to proceed with your contract.”
“Really?” Giddiness filled Sindy’s head with lightness, outweighing her shock.
“Of course. Expect a written offer on the table in a few days.”
A nervous laugh floated from her lips. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” She wanted to jump up and hug someone, but she told herself not to get too excited until the offer was in front of her. She also knew she needed a lawyer. “Um. Excuse me. I hope this doesn’t sound out of line, and I assure you I don’t mean any disrespect. I don’t have any money for a lawyer, and I don’t know anything about contracts.”
“Oh.” Angel wrinkled his brow.
“Can we get her someone pro bono?” Tommy asked Angel.
“I think I can find someone.”
“You mean someone will do it for me for free?” Sindy asked.
“Yes,” Angel replied. “It’s a simple contract. I’m sure I can get you trusted representation to work pro bono.”
“Thank you.” Everything happened so fast. Her head was spinning. In the last 24 hours her emotions had been all over the place. Once again, she went from thinking all of her dreams had been shattered to finding out they were still in place and moving forward. A deep breath reminded her to slow down. Everything could still flip-flop again. She was so tired of this fucking yo-yo lifestyle!
“If you’ll excuse me,” Angel stood up. “We need to take our wife shopping.”
“We?” Tommy let his arms fall over the sides of the chair and his head fell back as if he passed out. “I have to go, too?”
“Of course, my prince. Who’s going to tell me and Jessi how wonderful we look?”
“You don’t need me for that. You tell each other. I stand there and hold all the packages.”
“You see?” Angel smiled. “We do need you.”
Tommy leaned across the table and reached for Lucas. “Help me. Help your old man.”
Lucas laughed and shook his head at his father. “Sorry, Dad. You’re on your own.”
“Tessa,” Tommy pleaded. “Don’t you need me for something?”
“Yes, I do, Dad. I need you to pick me out a new pair of shoes. Please.”
“What?” Tommy sat up straight. “Oh my God. You’re just like your mother.”
