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“No . . . no, sir,” I answered back, suddenly on the defensive. I crossed my arms over my chest, and he quickly pulled them back down to my sides before resuming his intimidating dance around me.
I saw his eyes light and a small smile grace his full lips before it fell away. He looked entirely comfortable in his skin. It was the first time in my life I had ever envied a man. I assumed he was just home from work considering the hour. He was far better looking than I remembered with deep blue eyes and sharp features. His light brown hair was tamed and perfectly shaped to suit him. He was half a foot taller than me with a strong build, but it was the air about him that was intimidating. I wanted to have that air.
He commanded respect at all times and would not settle for anything less. This I knew from our brief meeting a year ago and even more so as I stood under his scrutiny.
“So, you want to attend Harvard? By my calculations, that’s four years at around sixty-five thousand dollars, an apartment around another hundred and twenty. Prep school is going to cost me around another fifty thousand. Then there are your tutors, which will be another thirty or forty grand.”
I stood as he listed just how expensive Harvard would be and felt the large lump of defeat fill my throat. I knew it would be impossible. I mentally kicked the imbecile in me that wanted to believe that I had a chance. The endless hours of studying I did in Dyer. All the extra attention and effort I put into my education would be fruitless.
“I understand, sir.”
“You understand what?” he asked, discarding his jacket. He rolled his sleeves up while he tilted his head at me in question.
“Harvard, the cost, it’s too much.”
“So, you are saying you aren’t worth half a million dollars, Taylor?”
I was finally free from the hell I’d endured for eighteen years. I was free from Dyer, from my mother, from Laz. I had nothing to fear except where to find my next meal, and I had absolutely nothing to lose either. Digging in, I suddenly had the courage to answer him.
“I guess that’s a question you should be answering . . . sir.”
“You do understand what I am proposing here?” he asked as he stood in front of me.
“Yes, sir.”
With a snide smirk, he looked me dead in the eye. “Well, if I do decide you are worth it, I think that may just make you the highest paid whore in Tennessee.”
With confidence I didn’t know I had, I gave as good as I got. “A whore that is going to attend Harvard, sir.”
Nina walked in just after my lunch hour and sat across from me without a word, but expectant just the same.
“I have a sister,” I said absently, clicking my emails to avoid her confrontation.
“I saw that one that looks very much like you,” she said in a way I knew she was chewing her cheeks off to keep from prying.
“She’s staying with me now,” I added, giving her more.
“Taylor,” she warned.
“When I took time off, I went to get her. She lost her son in a custody battle, and she’s here to get him back. She needs my help, and I want to help her.”
“Wow, a full confession in less than a minute. I’m impressed,” Nina said, standing. “Whatever you need, whatever resources we have.”
“I am giving her a temporary to permanent position with us. I cannot vouch for her character.”
“And I don’t need you to,” she said confidently.
“Why thank you, Mrs. McIntyre,” I said, getting a playful dig in.
“Bitch . . . I’m leaving,” she huffed and shut the door behind her. I laughed softly as I thought of the hundred and one ways things could go wrong having Amber in Charleston.
I texted Cedric, who was probably ready to strangle me for lack of communication. And the irony was he was my protector and the person I trusted most in the world.
Me: Amber is here.
Cedric: That is good news.
Me: Laz may not be far behind.
