Sophie
Was this for real? I held Phoe’s gaze and then glanced about for a camera. This was too good to be true. There was always a price to this kind of aid. I hauled the kids in closer, on guard, and saw awareness and sympathy in Phoe’s eyes.
“We’re not here to harm anyone. But to give you a leg up. Do you know my story?” Phoe asked.
The teenager pressed nearer to Phoe; I’m sure Phoe had introduced her as her daughter.
“Not really,” I replied.
“Hey, there’s a corner over there for kids to play. You can see us directly, why don’t I take the kids,” Eddie suggested with a concerned look. I judged this wasn’t suitable for children. Mark and I exchanged a glance before nodding to give permission.
Eddie grinned and led them away, and Phoe offered Eddie a fond glance before it faded, and she began to speak. “I lived in England until…”
Mark and I stared horrified at Phoe ten minutes later as she gave us a brief description of her life. It was a tale that belonged in a fiction book. And she’d lived this. When you thought nobody could be worse off than you, along came somebody who made you think twice.
“While my charity focuses on my three projects, this is something I do privately. I just want to help people. I wish there’d been someone around to aid me, but there hadn’t been, but the path I walked brought me to here,” Phoe concluded.
“There’s a genuine job?” Mark asked hopefully.
“Yes, and the moment you sign, you’re covered by The Trust’s medical insurance, which means you’ll see the best doctors. The same for you, Sophie. You can come and join us if you like one of the positions. There is a daycare at HQ and a bus which takes the children to a private school I own. If you wish, your kidscan attend there, or keep them in their current school; it’s your choice. It’s a benefit I offer employees,” Phoe added.
Private school? My kids? That was something we’d never considered, even when we had money. But here we were being informed it was a perk. What the fuck?
“What if we quit or are fired? Do the children lose their places?” Mark asked suspiciously.
“Nope, I sign a contract guaranteeing them a place until they graduate,” Phoe said.
This seemed unbelievable.
“Look, you’ve got a room in the homeless shelter tonight. But I brought this: a key to the house I’m prepared to let you stay in rent-free until you get on your feet. Lockdown for the shelter is at nine o’clock. It’s six now. If you want, we can view the house, and maybe you can move in tonight,” Phoe suggested.
Mark asked some more questions while my mind whirled. “Babe?” he prodded.
“Yes?”
“Want to see the house?”
“I don’t believe this,” I said, shaking my head. Hope was rising as I stared into the kind eyes of Phoenix Michaelson, who might be my own personal angel.
“This is real; I can guarantee that. Sophie, you can always say no!”
That was so true. Bemused and dazed, I got to my feet and began following Phoe and Mark out. Hopefully, towards a better life! With Phoe at our side, we can conquer the company and everyone else who’s kicked us while we were down. Finally, things appeared brighter.
Eddie
Happily, I smiled as the three children ran after their parents, who called to them. They were going to take Mama Phoe up on her offer. And good luck to them. A hand landed on my shoulder, and I glanced up at Fanatic with tears in my eyes.
“That could have been Tony and me,” I whispered.
Before Fanatic could speak, someone else did.
“No. That would never have been you.”
Slowly, I turned and faced Dante. Damage had been done between us, and I’d never forgive his words, but there was something in his expression that made me pause.
“As much as I hate to admit it, you were meant to be my sister. I’d have found you somehow,” Dante said.
Both Fanatic and I stared in shock, me ready to blast Dante if he was smirking. Instead, there was genuine emotion on Dante’s face, and it wasn’t loathing for once. “I’m an asshole, we all know it, but we’re family,” Dante said. He kicked his toe into the ground and walked away.
