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Piper wanted to stop bumming off her parents and move out. Hello adulting. “I’m in.”
Dahlia smiled big. “Knew you would be, and I’ll give you two thousand to get the hockey team to attend.”
“All of them?” Her voice squeaked. The impossibility of that feat crushed her hopes of seeing the money. Could she prorate the amount based on the number of players or the effort put forth?
“Not all the guys, just a few.” Dahlia’s tone was reasonable, while her request was sky high out there.
None of them would come. “I’m not tracking as to how I can make that happen.” Her IQ was as high as Dahlia’s. She should be winning at life, instead of being on the butt end of this favor-turned-job-interview.
“The men would watch, not pledge themselves, unless they want to. The purity ceremony is a charity.”
Is it? Piper held in her doubt.
Dahlia opened her palms. “The players have to do a handful of charity gigs each year.” She wrinkled her nose. “We’ll gently steer them away from topless car washes toward more genteel, higher-minded pursuits. Basically, anything without an actual display of female body parts. That guidance will come out as less interfering if they hear the invitation from you and not from me.”
Dahlia sounded so reasonable, Piper put her chin in her hand and simply listened.
“You present the charity to them—not the Anne Boleyn’s wisdom, of course. Just let them know that some special girls need their cheering on. They’ll show up, clap, high five, bump fists, whatever guys do, and take off. Their being at the purity pledge will reinforce for the girls that if they want to target hot millionaires, this is the kind of trick they need to know.”
Target? Cray-cray. How did she politely phrase her opinion? “A thousand for finalizing the pamphlets, presenting the secret to your sorority, and two thousand to entice the hockey players to attend? Three thousand?” That would be enough for first and last month’s rent. This offer, plus a few more gigs, and she’d be on her way out the door of casa childhood. “Sounds brilliant.”
“Yes, and I may have a few other jobs for you. You’ll sign a confidentiality agreement, all will go well.”
Dahlia might need more hours than she could give. Piper was a full-time graduate student and could only take on part-time work. Plus, Dahlia was over-paying. Ugh, Piper’s conscience bit at her. “I can only work part-time, and the salary is honestly too much.”
Dahlia gave her the side-eye. “Number sixty-five got fifteen million for the year.”
What? Piper’s head twitched. Why the hell hadn’t her parents pushed her into sports?
“Still think that the organization would be shelling out too much to give you three thousand for a bit of graphic design work, two presentations, and some supportive project management on the day of the ceremony?”
Nope. “Feeling underpaid now.”
Dahlia nodded. “Exactly. The organization will love our improved social media.” She rubbed her hands together. “And my sorority sisters are so going to thank me too.”
“Are they?”
“Of course, too many of them give up their v-chips for a box of discount brand chocolates at the local movie theater. I’m giving them a means to aim higher. All of them, but especially for the girls who chose liberal arts, like you. This is a legit path to the lux life.”
Piper couldn’t argue with Dahlia’s logic, because no one was giving her fifteen million for her paper on the Tudors. Her diploma was actually stealing her pride. “And if their roses have already been plucked?”
“Pfft. No one cares about physical virginity, that’s the past. This is a tool for handling future bedroom-decisions, abstinence as a choice. I can see the next decade now. Me, and my sorority sisters all married to captains of industry or wealthy sports stars. Together, we’ll sponsor even more charities, the times we will have. All, in part, thanks to you and me.”
“And they are welcome.”
Dahlia handed her the pamphlet. “Your design is perfect. Just type up the acronym, and a What-Would-Anne-Boleyn-Do kind of paragraph, a catchy pledge, and email it to me.”
“On it.” Piper folded the paper into her skirt pocket.
Dahlia pointed to a team photo on the wall beside a roster. “Coach is telling the players about Dodo’s and my romantic engagement now. It’s a good time to catch the men on the ice and sign them up for the charity. We’ll host the pledge next Wednesday here after their practice.” Her glossed lips quirked. “Convenient, right?”
Was it? The timeframe gave the guys a week and a half to reconsider. “I just go down there and tell them? There’s no security to stop me?”
“If you run into a guard, have him call me for approval.” Dahlia grabbed her cell phone. “I’ll text Coach so he knows to let you steal a few minutes of practice. He won’t mind.”
Wouldn’t he? “Okay.”
Dahlia typed into her phone with the tips of her peach-painted fingernails. “Dodo’s already given Coach the head’s up that I’ll be a very involved partner, you’re my opening volley. Those players don’t know how fortunate they are.”
