Andy snuck into the room and bit her bottom lip, terrified she was going to get in trouble. She brought me a bottle of water and a bottle of super healthy green juice. The meeting was for a nonprofit building to set up an education center right outside a rougher part of the city. The goal was to help kids have somewhere to go before school and after school to work on anything they may need help with. The hard part wasn’t just the funding, but to find people who wanted to work there. The original notion was to have it be a voluntary position, but I pushed for paid workers so we could attract the attention of qualified teachers.

Of course, for my father, just having the wooden stake in the ground with his empire on the sign was good enough for now. It showed intention and intention was all he needed to point, smile, and make himself appear better than everyone else in the room.

The meeting ended sooner than I hoped when the lead financial guy - Tony - showed that funding had all but dried up and that there had been a few requested withdrawals.

I listened, nodded, in a sad way knowing my place there. I was a figurehead. I was there to have my picture taken so that it would appear in newspapers and local magazines, proclaiming that my father and The Princess were forever working for the better good of the city.

The truth was far different.

If the fund had no money then the project would become stale. And it would eventually fall apart.

I asked for a copy of the financials and Tony laughed. He winked and exited the room.

I sat at the long conference table feeling a little empty.

Whitney came into the room, dressed like she was about to go out for a night on the town. Big black sunglasses on her face. A coffee in her hand. A diamond laced bag hooked over her elbow. She walked to the table and put everything down.

“How was your night?” she asked.

“Good.”

“You were in that little town again. Nasty girl.”

“Not quite,” I said. “Just visiting.”

“Visiting,” Whitney said. “I visited someone last night. Hedge fund manager with an apartment that was all glass. Let me just say that my handprints go from top to bottom… and not just on the glass either.”

“Wow,” I said. “Thanks for that visual.”

“Hey, did you lock all that down yet? I mean, with the town?”

“I’m not talking about it,” I said.

“Right. Classified. I’m the enemy, huh? Well, I got a tour of that town myself. It’s a great blueprint town. Meaning if it gets fucked up, nobody has to know.”

“Except the people there?”

“The people? They aren’t people. They’re like rats, you know? Just looking for a scrap of food or something. It’s better off probably. How do people live like that?”

I felt my anger rising. Sometimes I wanted to slap Whitney.

Before I could retort, the door opened and in came my father.

Whitney quickly popped up and grabbed her stuff. Ninety-nine percent of the world was terrified of my father.

Not Whitney.

She got right in front of him. She grabbed his tie. Anyone else who did that would have paid dearly. But not Whitney. She slowly stroked my father’s tie, smiling.

“You look good, Sterling,” she said in a purring voice.

“As do you. Tell your father I said hello.”

“You know, there’s a really good way to get his attention…”

I turned my head. I couldn’t stand the mindless flirting. Not to mention it was gross. Whitney was six months younger than me.

“How is your father?” my father asked Whitney.

“You know him. Forever working. I was actually just talking to Olivia. She was back in our favorite little town last night. She really wants the jump on this. I better hurry and tell my father. So he can get the jump on you, Sterling.”

“He can be an Olympic pole vaulter and still not jump higher than me, Whitney.”

She giggled like a fool and kissed my father’s cheek.

Then she left.

My father looked right at me. “I knew you had it in you. You get what I want?”

“Not exactly,” I said. “It’s not as easy…”

“Yes it is. Money. Money is easy. Money is king. Money is everything. I just need to know where to hit the weak spot.”

Oh, let me see… his business is barely alive because he keeps everyone else afloat. There’s a huge secret he’s hiding regarding Nikki and Ava… something to do with his brother that he won’t talk about. Nikki is depressed and grieving so I assume Gavin’s brother…

“Olivia, look at me.”

I looked at my father. “Yes?”

“The weak spot.”

I swallowed hard. “Why did you take money out of the funding account for the education center?”

My father waved a hand. “We knew what that project was for. Hardly any good can come of it once it’s built. It’ll get run over with issues and tarnish my name.”

“The Sterling name,” I said.

“Exactly.”

“You never use our last name. What’s wrong with Breckning?”

My father’s nostrils flared. He put his fists to the conference table. “I built this. Not you. Not anyone else that has the last name. Sterling built this.”

I stood up. “Well, I wish I had more for you but I don’t.”

“You spent the night there and have nothing?”

I looked at my father. Years taught me how to be as fake as he was. Or maybe it was just in my genes.

“I left in a helicopter to get out of there. It’s not worth the time or the effort.”

“It’s my money,” my father growled. “I decide the time and effort. If I don’t move on this…” He pushed away from the table and pointed to the door. “I bet you Whitney is on her way there right now. I will not lose this opportunity, Olivia. And I don’t expect my daughter to let me down. After all I’ve done for you. Given to you.”

“And I’ve given right back,” I said. “I’ve spoken at events. Organized events. Took care of business while you were tending to other business. Forever keeping potential clientele happy.”

“What about Parker?” he asked. “Those pictures of you and him were perfect.”

“My heart is not for sale.”

My father laughed. “Try me, Olivia. There’s a number for everything in life.”

“Not here,” I said. “Not with that. Not with Parker.”

“Look, it’s simple, Olivia. The Princess meets her Prince. You make this work. I get a leg up in the financial world for a little while. Best case you have a kid with him. Then it can fall apart.”

“So I become a single mother?”

“Not the single mother’s you’re used to seeing. You know that.” My father touched my face. “I would never let anything happen to you. But this is what we’re building. You can be the hard nosed bitch that kicked the Prince out for not being a King… and then take his empire.”

I swallowed hard when I saw the greed and hate in my father’s eyes. I was not comfortable with anything he was suggesting.

“I think I better go,” I said.

“Olivia, I want to make something clear. Your mother knew what I wanted to achieve. She supported it.”

“Was that why you had me?” I asked. “So you would look better? Have that family image?”

My father grinned. “You get feisty like her sometimes, you know that?”

I opened the conference room door. “Before you ask, no, I’m not done with that town. Let me do this my way.”

“Of course, Olivia. And best of luck on your upcoming event for that poor little girl. I’ve petitioned the hospital to have a section named after her. In your honor for her. It’ll cost well into seven figures, but I know you’re good at bringing that back to me.”

I left the conference room and had to get out of the building.

Andy was with me when we got outside. There were a few people lingering around with thousands more all walking. Car horns beeping. The rush-rush life of the city. Someone always ready to run you over if you weren’t going to run someone else over.

“You look stressed,” Andy said. “Why don’t we…”

“Take the rest of the day off,” I said.

“What? I can’t do that. We have…”

“Nothing,” I said. “Clear it all out, Andy. I’m not available. I have to do something else.”

“Okay. Where are we going?”

I threw my left hand into the air and waved for a cab. Could you believe I never did that before? Living in the city my entire life… I was used to a car waiting, just like the one I stood next to.

“Olivia…”

“That’s for you,” I said. I walked to the cab and opened the backdoor. I nodded. “Go. Now.”

“I don’t like this,” Andy said. “What are you up to?”

I took money out of my bag and handed it to the driver. “Take her wherever she wants to go.

“Hey, I know you!” the driver said. “You’re The Princess…”

“So don’t piss me off,” I said to the driver. Then I looked at Andy. “That goes for you too. Don’t piss me off, Andy.”

“Olivia, you have to give me a hint here. If your father calls. If something…”

I touched her arm. “I have to be somewhere. Alone. I have to do something.”

“Just give me something.”

“Fine.”

I thought for a second and then gave her a name.

“Gavin.”

 

* * *

 

Gavin agreed to meet me just about halfway. I was a little closer to him than he was to me, but whatever. The driver parked in a little parking lot at what looked like a roadside ice cream place, but it was a small pizza shop. There were two picnic tables outside, and it felt so good to eat a real lunch. Not some flown in, fresh caught, weird sauce kind of lunch that was served on a giant plate and took two bites to eat.

A little pizza grease was sometimes good for the soul.

Hell, it eased my twisted stomach.

Only until I saw Gavin’s truck swing into the parking lot.

He got out and had a cigarette between his lips. He was everything I wasn’t. He was the opposite of everyone I knew. If Parker stood six feet tall, a perfect height, wearing a custom fit suit, a tie that matched his eyes, sporting a three hundred dollar haircut and a ten thousand dollar smile, Gavin was… so opposite. Gavin was six-six, arms packed with muscle, one arm with tattoos. He plucked his cigarette from his mouth, threw it to the ground and stepped on it. His boots were beat up and definitely not shining. His jeans were stained and worn, doing wonders for his tree trunk like legs. His t-shirt came up to the button of his jeans, as filthy as his hands, a man’s t-shirt. Everything earned through working with his hands… and his heart.

It left me breathless as he walked toward the table.

He put a foot up on the one bench and grinned at me.

A man I had no business being attracted to, let alone do what I was about to do.

“Gavin,” I said.

“You look fucking gorgeous, Olivia,” he said. “Or should I call you Princess?”

I froze. I swallowed hard. “What?”

“Nikki recognized you. Showed me a picture after you left. What’s the deal there?”

“You want some pizza?”

“No.”

“Right. I just wanted to be someone else for once, Gavin.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Exactly what I said. I sometimes get tired of it all, okay? Being something like that. And sometimes for every good thing there’s a bad thing.”

“Like that little girl that died?”

“Yeah.” And plenty other stuff, Gavin. “It’s not what it seems.”

“Seems like you’re stinking rich. Which makes me wonder why the hell you’re in my town, in my house, in my arms…”

“All of that was real,” I said and grabbed for him. I stood up and moved around the picnic table. “I swear.”

“Was real?”

“Is real. Whatever, Gavin. Listen to me, I have to tell you something. You cannot get mad.”

“Most conversations that start out like that are the ones that get me mad.”

“Ever hear of a company named Sterling? The Sterling Empire?”

“No, sorry, I don’t get fancy newspapers delivered to my door dipped in gold.”

I rolled my eyes. “Jesus, Gavin. I’m not being rude to you. I’m asking a question.”

“Fine. I don’t know who Sterling is.”

“The company,” I said. “But the man behind it all is my father. And I’m… I’m The Princess. My mother died when I was young and this is all I know.”

“So you’re not a business consultant?”

“Not exactly. I do work for my father’s company. I’m not just some rich snobby girl. I work, Gavin. Not like you do, but I do work.”

“Okay. So why the halfway meeting here? Huh? Am I on camera or something? You meeting with some scummy looking guy to build your image?”

“No,” I said. “I would never think of you as that. I’m just trying to tell you what I can.”

“What you can. What does that mean?”

“You’ve been hiding yourself from me too, Gavin. Whatever the situation is with Nikki and Ava.”

“Whoa, whoa, darling,” he said.

When he said darling my heart fluttered.

“You don’t get to bring my family into this,” he said. “You spent all of two days in my town and you think you belong in the shit? I appreciate what you did for Nikki. Helping out. But don’t get confused here…”

“You won’t even tell me anything about your brother?”

Gavin stepped back. He ran a hand through his hair. “What is this? Are you setting me the fuck up? Are you some reporter? Trying to get the story here?”

“What story? I’m not a reporter. I… I don’t know, Gavin, I like you. I like being near you. I know it’s crazy to say that.”

“You know what, fine,” he said. “Nikki got pregnant by my brother, okay? She gave birth to Ava. Ava never met her father though. Okay? Let those numbers roll through your head for a second there. My brother fell in love with Nikki when we were all seven years old. And he waited for her. And he got her. And just when everything looked damn near perfect… he died. Okay? There it is, Olivia. My fucking brother is dead. He never met his daughter. And Nikki still isn’t over it.”

I swallowed hard. “Oh, Gavin.”

“No. It’s not Oh, Gavin. No. It’s life. It’s the way shit goes. Sometimes you’re rich and sometimes you’re not.” He paused. He looked away. “Anything else here?”

“Yes,” I said. My mouth went dry. “My father… he has a plan for your town, Gavin. I swear on everything I didn’t know what was happening until after I was there and gone.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My father wants to buy your garage. The land. A lot more. He wants to rebuild the town his way. Which is usually to profit him and nobody else. But I don’t want that for you. For anyone…”

Gavin grinned and looked away again. He shook his head. “Fuck me. So that’s what this is. You show up at the bar with your friend. The two of you working any angle you can to get attention. And I gave you attention.”

“I just told you I didn’t know…”

“Whatever,” Gavin said. “I’ve got nothing else to say here, Olivia. You got what you wanted from me I guess.”

“No, I didn’t.” I ran after him and grabbed his hand. I put my hand into his. His rough hand. His strong hand. “Gavin, I promise…”

He shook his head. “I don’t want to hear another word. Have your helicopter fly you somewhere else, Olivia. Do not come near me again. My town. The bar. My garage. My house. And if your father wants to destroy everything, then bring it the fuck on.”

“I want to help you, Gavin. I can help you. We can help each other here…”

He pulled away from me. “Serves me fucking right. I let my guard down for one minute, Olivia. One fucking minute.” He slapped his hand to the hood of his truck. “And this is what happens.”

“I’m telling you the truth, Gavin,” I said. I felt my heart twisting. “I swear…”

Gavin got into the truck and backed up. He then flew forward and the back of his truck cut left to right, throwing rocks as he sped away.

I took two steps and breathed in the dust that lingered in the air.

I really hadn’t known what to expect by telling him the truth. A part of me wished he would have understood what I was trying to do. But I couldn’t blame him for being mad.

I sat on the bench of the picnic table and covered my mouth.

My heart ached.

I didn’t ask for this bullshit in life. Neither did Gavin. That’s why we clicked.

“Ma’am?” a voice asked.

I turned my head and the driver of the car stood a little way away.

He nodded to me.

I touched the corner of my eye and nodded back. “I’m okay.”

“Just making sure,” he said. “What’s next?”

“Right now I need you to go back into the car.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I sat there, alone, and thought for a little bit.

Gavin could be mad at me and he probably had the right to be that.

Maybe I had fucked up. Maybe I hadn’t fucked up.

I didn’t know.

In so many ways this was new for me.

Finally, I stood up.

Left to right, there were two choices. Go back or go forward.

Then an idea came to me. I smiled.

I ran toward the car and the driver hurried to get out.

I put my hand out.

“Ma’am?”

“Do you have a phone on you?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Good.” I walked around him and grabbed at the open driver’s door. “You’re going to need to call for a ride.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry,” I said.

Then I got into the car and shut the door. I hurried to put the private car into drive and sped away, kicking up rocks.

I looked in the mirror and saw the shock on the driver’s face.

I gave a wave that he wouldn’t be able to see through the dark tinted back window.

But face it, I wasn’t waving at the driver.

I was waving at the life I knew… risking everything for a man I barely knew.