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"Oh." On the surface it didn't seem like it was that big of an infraction, but in any business operating with government funds, the rules were hard and fast. "How much money did you put in the envelope?"
"All of the cash I had in my wallet."
"Which was how much, Win?" She didn't want to tell me...
She sighed heavily and then she answered. "Two hundred and some odd dollars."
"Shit."
"I know."
"And the gift card was for how much?" I asked.
She sighed heavily before answering. "Five."
"Please tell me you mean 'five' as in the number of fingers on one hand." I knew it wouldn't be as soon as the words left my mouth.
"Hundred." She wiped under her eye as if she might be brushing away a tear. "It's just…they need help so badly, and the rules make it next to impossible for me to do anything for them that might actually do some good. I have money, far more than one person could ever need, and I could put some of it to good use if my hands weren't tied working within the stupid system." She sighed heavily and threw her head back into the headrest of the seat. "I fucking hate it."
"So, if you had the opportunity to do your own thing, what would it be?" I asked the question, but I had a pretty good idea where this was going.
"I would start my own program for mothers and children—something like a private shelter where the decisions wouldn't be dictated by a governmental agency, but guided by a board of directors with the same vested interests as mine. Essentially, I'd be able to help whomever I wanted to help." Which she would.
"So, what do you need in order to start up something like that?"
"I'll be qualified with the state in a matter of months, and could therefore run the shelter, but the only thing I don't have is the money. I need my trust fund money, but I can't touch it for six more years."
I know how to get you your money. My heart started thumping hard in my chest as I connected the dots. "Have you spoken to Caleb about your idea?"
She shook her head. "I've thought about it, but I know he's really busy with running the bulk of everything, plus now he has Brooke. He's just been so happy for the first time in forever, so I've left him alone to enjoy it."
"I am sure he would be willing to help you get something started." Or I could.
"I know he would, but this is something I want to do on my own, you know? For once I'd like to be able to do some good without having to answer to some long list of policies and restrictions."
"You can get into your trust fund before you're thirty." I couldn't believe I was actually going there with her, but once I started speaking the words out loud, it was useless trying to rein them back in. "All you have to do is get married, preferably to someone who doesn't care about your fortune."
She scoffed as she looked over at me in annoyance. "That's a low blow, even for you, James."
"I'm not talking about someone like Shelton."
"Well, unfortunately I haven't found this hypothetical man who would marry me so I could tap into my hundred-million-dollar trust, but not want any of it for himself," she said sarcastically. "Like that guy even exists," she mumbled while shaking her head back and forth.
"Oh, he definitely exists, Win."
"And you know this how exactly?"
"Because that guy is me."
Chapter Ten
WINTER
There was no way he just said that to me.
Just. No. Way.
I stared at James, certain my hearing was off from the late night-trip to the ER, and possibly some kind of latent trauma response confusing me.
