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Mick was silent for a long moment. Maybe he was being played. Harry could easily go back to his buddies, tell them what he knew and blow the entire operation. It was an enormous risk. But at the same time, it wasn’t. Because looking at Harry’s expression, it was obvious. The fear in his eyes that he might not be able to protect those women today was unmistakable.
“Fine,” Mick said with a sigh and the wave of his hand. “Write what you can. Make it helpful and then go back to work.”
Relief washed over him. “Thank you.”
Mick ordered coffee and watched closely as Harry jotted everything down frantically. This might work. This might actually be enough. Hope filled Mick and he shoved it quickly aside. Hope was distracting. There was no time for distractions.
CHAPTER 21
Charlize sat across from Brenda in the small, tidy office, her heart pounding with anticipation. She had just shared what she considered a game-changing discovery—the ideal grant for Angels of a New Day, a grant worth a staggering twenty-two million dollars. She explained to Brenda that she’d meticulously researched the grant's criteria, and their charity ticked all the right boxes, making them prime candidates. The prospect of such a significant windfall had left Brenda practically giddy with excitement.
The truth was, this was a grant Carmen had created and made look incredibly official. It was the perfect grant because it was not real.
"That's incredible, Charlize," Brenda exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Just imagine what we could do with that kind of funding. The impact we could make."
Charlize nodded, her mind racing with the possibilities. "Absolutely, Brenda.” Charlize needed to keep planting important seeds. “That’s a lot of money. Can you imagine getting our hands on that?” She winked, subtlety trying to let Brenda know she was interested in lining her own pockets.
Brenda smiled back devilishly as Charlize explained more.
“But there's one crucial element we need to secure this grant. I’ve got to nail the powerful testimonials from the women we've helped in the past. Personal stories that will resonate with the grant committee."
Brenda's initial enthusiasm waned slightly as she considered Charlize's request. "Can't we use the ones we already have on our website? They were curated by our marketing team, and they're quite compelling."
Charlize had prepared for this argument. “Using the existing testimonials won’t be enough. They need to be authentic, in-depth conversations with the women themselves to provide a more profound insight into their experiences. Those testimonials on the website are excellent, Brenda, but we need to take it a step further. We need to connect with these women on a deeper level, to truly understand the impact the organization has had on their lives. I made such a great connection with Rose the other day."
Brenda hesitated, her brow furrowing. "I understand your point. It’s tough though. Healing is not linear. Some of these women are never truly done with the work.”
The irony in that statement was tough to swallow, but Charlize let Brenda continue.
“Rose, for instance, hasn't been feeling well lately. It might not be the best time to approach her."
Charlize knew that Rose was ready to talk. She was at a breaking point and with another long conversation, maybe she could get her to go on record with what was really going on. She couldn't afford to wait. “The grant application deadline is rapidly approaching. Urgency is paramount. Rose doesn’t need to be perfect, but I do think she’s vital. She must be someone special as you had her featured at your last fundraising gala. We’re talking about twenty-two million dollars. I appreciate your concern for Rose," Charlize replied, her voice firm. "But we don't have the luxury of time. We need to act swiftly.”
Brenda still appeared reluctant, torn between the fear of being caught in her web of lies and crimes versus the allure of twenty-two million dollars. Charlize sensed that greed was beginning to overshadow Brenda's initial fear.
“Maybe next week she could—"
"The opportunity would have passed by then. This grant is tailor-made for Angels of a New Day. Another like this won’t come along for at least another calendar year. There are only nineteen other organizations that have applied. You have a one in nineteen chance of being granted millions of dollars. And with me spearheading the endeavor, your odds are even better. Why are you hesitating to let me speak with Rose, is there something else I should know?” This was a daring move. If she spooked Brenda, there was a chance the whole thing was scrapped. Inquiring about something being wrong could have been enough to send Brenda running for the hills.
“It’s not that at all. Rose just might—"
“I don't mean it has to be Rose necessarily, but it has to be someone, and it has to be immediate." Charlize was channeling the boss-babe power of her tailored suit and glamorous jewelry. She was not going to back down and she looked the part of a corporate powerhouse so she might as well act like one.
Brenda sighed, realizing she might not win this argument. "I'll make a phone call," she conceded, reaching for her cell phone. "I'll see if we can arrange for Rose to come in today. If not her, then someone else."
Charlize's heart soared with relief. She knew she had pushed Brenda to the edge, but it was a necessary gamble. Time was of the essence. Now, all she needed was a way to get Rose alone, away from Brenda's watchful eyes, so they could have the candid conversation. Shaking Brenda would not likely be easy, but hard things always paid off.
It was nearly an hour of waiting in her office, pacing around and texting Mick before Brenda came back in. Rose was standing timidly behind her and trying to look cheerful.
“It’s good to see you again Rose, please come sit down. I’m sorry to have pulled you away from whatever you were doing. Hopefully Brenda let you know how important this is.”
“She did,” Rose replied, keeping her back arrow straight. “Just let me know how I can help.”
“As I said,” Brenda explained, gesturing to one of the chairs in the room, “Charlize will ask you some questions and you’ll share with us your experiences. That will help us possibly secure more funding from a very important grant.”
Us. That part was going to be tough. I meant that Brenda intended to stay for the conversation. She settled into a chair and looked tight and uncomfortable in her own skin.
Charlize sent the message she’d typed into her phone for nearly thirty minutes. The plan would need to be put into motion now that Brenda was here. All she could hope was that Carmen was able to make it work.
