Mia

Mia stood in front of the Paramount Theater in Downtown Denver and tried to take deep, steady breaths. Even the outside of the building was decorated and beautiful. There was even a red carpet rolled out along the big white 1920's style theater. She could hardly wait to see what the inside would look like. There was a sea of limos and fancy cars surrounding the place, and Mia could only imagine the amount of money coming to an event like this.

“You must be Mia,” a male voice greeted her. A tall man in a tuxedo walked over with a smile on his face. He looked just like the photo Carter had shown her with dirty blond hair in a casual style and bright green eyes.

“You must be Ethan,” she replied, holding out her hand. He shook it firmly before offering his arm to escort her inside. She took it but found herself missing Carter. Ethan was great, but she wasn't in love with him.

“So, we're at the half million mark, and...” he informed her as they walked the red carpet. She froze, and he nearly pulled her over. He quickly turned to face her. “What's wrong? We'll get up higher, the evening's just beginning.”

“No, no...” Mia shook her head. He thought she was concerned that it wasn't enough money when just the opposite was true. “You said we're already at half a million? Already?”

He nodded, and she thought she might faint right there on the red carpet. That was so much more than she'd ever thought possible. She felt ready to cry tears of joy.

Ethan chuckled and realized she was happy. He took her arm again. “And that's just the start.”

Ushers opened the big heavy doors to the theater and Ethan took her inside. Everywhere she looked were people wearing beautiful, fancy clothes and servers walking around with champagne and ornate appetizers. Carter must have spent a fortune on this, and it was all for her.

“Carter made sure everything is taken care of,” Ethan explained as they walked in. “He's expecting a minimum of two million raised tonight.”

Mia froze again, but this time Ethan was a little more prepared and didn't keep walking. He smiled at her shock and waited for her to find words again.

“What do I need to do?” she asked after a moment. She was ready to sell her soul for that much. That much money would help so many kids. That much money would go so far towards making their lives better.

“You don't have to do anything,” Ethan told her. “Just smile and tell these nice folks how much their donations are appreciated. Carter's taken care of everything else.”

Mia needed to kiss Carter. The thank you she said earlier was in no way close to telling him how grateful she was for this. She needed to kiss him and tell him a million times how much this meant. He had no idea how much she needed this today.

“We'll go over and talk to the Vanderbilts. They are a large donor tonight,” he said, taking her arm and guiding her further into the party. They took a couple of steps, and it appeared the Vanderbilts were busy, so he stood off to the side. “We'll find the Tudors instead.”

“Thank you, Ethan,” Mia said, giving him a smile. “I don't know any of these people.”

“That's why Carter sent me. I do these fundraiser things all the time, though usually in Colorado,” he replied. He smiled and cleared his throat. “I hear that you have become a regular on the ranch.”

“Yes. Three of my foster kids help out with the horses,” Mia said with a nod. “They've really stepped up since Laura had to take some time off.”

“Laura?” Ethan' voice cracked slightly on her name. His whole body froze as if her name had power over him.

“Do you know her?” Mia asked.

“I met her once.”

Mia raised her eyebrows. There was so much more to that statement than he was saying. His body language was screaming that he had a crush on Laura and there was much more than just a simple meeting. She was about to ask him about it, but the Vanderbilts spotted them.

“Ethan,” Mrs. Vanderbilt greeted him. She was an older woman who glittered with every motion she wore so many diamonds. “It's so nice to see you again. We've already donated, but I'm interested in doing more. Is there a foundation set up for these kids?”

Mia's heart fluttered. It was her dream to set up a foundation. The fact that someone was asking about it gave her hope that someday it could become a reality.

“Mia can tell you more,” Ethan told her, motioning to Mia. “She's the star of the show tonight.”

Mrs. Vanderbilt smiled warmly at her and Mia's smile grew.

“There's a couple of charities I can recommend,” Mia said, slowly gaining confidence. “Your donation here goes a long way. Let me tell you about some of our kids...”

Ethan winked at her and Mia focused on telling the donors about her sweet Grayson and how they could help him and others like him. A fresh wave of optimism swept over her. This was going to be amazing. She was going to make sure a lot of kids got help tonight.