Читать книгу Secret Miami Nights - Pamela Yaye - Страница 13

Chapter 4

“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Becca quipped, her voice slicing through the noise in the staff room of The Aunt Penny Foundation. Grabbing the remote off one of the round, oak tables, she turned off the TV and hitched a hand to her hip. “How was your date with the president?”

Glancing up from the coffee machine, Haley rolled her eyes. It was 7:00 a.m. on Friday, much too early to be interrogated, but if she didn’t respond Becca would hound her for the rest of the day. Soon, the room would be full of staff, and they’d have zero privacy, so Haley said, “His name is Ashton, and if you must know our business meeting went very well.”

“Business meeting? Girl, please, it was a date and you know it.”

Haley unzipped her nylon lunch bag and took out her breakfast. A creature of habit, she ate a banana and a whole wheat bagel every morning upon arriving at the office. She appreciated having a few quiet moments to herself to plan for the day and review her schedule, and hoped Becca didn’t grill her about Ashton while she was eating. “Is that why you’re here an hour early?” she asked, gesturing to the decorative wall clock above the door. “Because your nosy behind wants to find out what happened between me and Ashton?”

Becca giggled. “Heck yeah! I’m dying to hear all of the scandalous details.”

Laughing, Haley cut her bagel in half, dropped it in the stainless-steel toaster and eyed Becca with fondness. Her best friend used to hide her long, lush curls in a bun, and her womanly curves under loose clothes, but once Becca met Joshua DeLong she’d revamped her look. Last month, they’d gone shopping at the most exclusive shops in Miami, and now Becca came to the office dressed like a participant in America’s Next Top Model. Chic hairstyle, nails tastefully done, form-fitting outfits, designer accessories and shoes. Joshua had swept Becca off her feet, and everyone had noticed a big change in Becca, even Aunt Penny. Haley was thrilled for her best friend and hoped the happy couple had a long and prosperous marriage.

Not like me, she thought sadly. I’ve never had a successful relationship.

“I waited up for your call, and when I didn’t hear from you I figured you gave Ashton the cookie and fell asleep at his gorgeous, to-die-for estate!”

“Wrong again.”

Becca raised an eyebrow, and crossed her arms. Her belted shirtdress accentuated her slim body, and the indigo shade complemented her flawless brown skin. “You didn’t spend the night at Ashton’s place? Then why didn’t I hear from you?”

“Sienna phoned me, crying hysterically, so I left Ashton’s estate to go pick her up.” Haley filled her pink, oversized mug with coffee and added a splash of cream. “I got in late, and since I knew you’d be sleeping, I figured we’d touch base today.”

Concern covered her features. “What happened? Is Sienna okay?”

“No.” Recalling her conversation with the high school sophomore last night as they sipped hot chocolate inside Haley’s kitchen caused her good mood to fizzle. In the three years she’d been CEO at The Aunt Penny Foundation, she’d never seen a case as troubling as Sienna Larimore, but she was determined to help the shy, honor roll student. “Her mom’s new boyfriend is saying and doing things to make her uncomfortable, and she’s scared to be alone with him. Until I can arrange a meeting with her mom, she’ll stay with me.”

A frown crimped Becca’s mouth.

“Don’t look at me like that. I did what I thought was right.”

“What happened to keeping your professional life and your personal life separate?”

“I know, I know, don’t read me the riot act. It’s just for a few days.”

“You said that the last time, and Aaliyah and Faith both lived with you for months.”

“What did you expect me to do? Sienna was upset and I didn’t feel comfortable taking her back home,” Haley explained, feeling the need to defend herself. “She’s a sweet girl with incredible potential, and I’d never forgive myself if something bad happened to her.”

Sighing, Becca shook her head. Haley couldn’t tell if her bestie was on her side or not. In her heart, she knew she’d made the right decision and wished Becca couldn’t give her a hard time about it. “Sienna said her mom’s boyfriend teases her about her body and makes dirty jokes when they’re alone. There was no way in hell I was taking her home to him.”

“Creep,” Becca spat, her tone full of disgust. “I wish I could be alone with him for five minutes. I’d put my self-defense training to good use.”

“That makes two of us. I have a meeting with Sienna and her mom tomorrow, and I hope Ms. Larimore will take my concerns seriously.”

“She better. Screw her boyfriend. She needs to do what’s best for her daughter.”

Becca bumped Haley aside with her hips, opened the fridge and grabbed a chocolate chip muffin, a can of orange juice and a cup of Greek yogurt from off the top shelf.

“You’re trouble, you know that?” Haley said with a smile.

“Funny, Josh said the same thing last night when I handcuffed him to the bed!”

The women cracked up.

Becca sat down at the table. “Get over here,” she ordered, pointing at the chair across from her. “I want a play-by-play of your date with Mr. President, and don’t skip over the juicy parts. I want to hear it all.”

Mug and plate in hand, Haley stared longingly at the staff room door. She wanted to make a break for it, to run full-speed down the hall and into her office, but reluctantly sat down. She was attracted to Ashton, but that was all it was—a silly, hopeless crush that wouldn’t amount to anything—and she’d rather discuss work than her feelings for the sinfully handsome COO.

Over breakfast, Haley gave Becca the CliffsNotes version of her evening with Ashton, careful to leave out how delicious he smelled and how wonderful his touch had made her feel. “I thought Ashton was going to be smug, like some of the other wealthy executives I’ve met in recent months, but he’s actually a really nice guy. Down-to-earth, chivalrous and genuine.”

“I don’t know, girl. Josh is a great judge of character, and he thinks Ashton’s trouble.”

“Of course he does. He’s a corporate raider. He’s suspicious of everyone!”

Becca laughed, and her dark brown curls tumbled around her face. “Good point, but...” Shaking her head, she trailed off speaking, and waved a hand absently in the air. “Forget it. I’ve said enough.”

“No, go ahead, Becca. I want to hear what you have to say.”

Several seconds passed before she spoke.

“Josh said there are things about Ashton people would be shocked to know. Things that would jeopardize his presidency and ruin his family’s reputation.”

Haley chewed slowly. Needing a few moments to gather her thoughts, she considered her best friend’s words. Yesterday, Joshua had implied that Ashton was as shady as a mobster—but Haley wasn’t buying it. Not for a second. Whatever Becca’s fiancé thought he knew about Ashton couldn’t be so bad. The Rollinses were a respected family who had supported local charities for decades, and Haley was glad she’d met Ashton at the Millionaire Moguls meeting. He was throwing his support behind The Aunt Penny Foundation, and that was good enough for her. The organization was strapped for cash and could use a man of Ashton’s influence in their corner.

“Everyone has secrets, Becca. Even you.”

“No, I don’t. I’m an open book.”

Haley wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Oh, really? So, Josh knows about the time you went skinny-dipping with your cousins at that deserted beach in Tijuana?”

“Hell no!” she said with a laugh. “I’m taking that secret with me to the grave!”

“My point exactly. We’ve all done things we regret. Me, you and even Josh.”

“Girl, I agree with you, but Josh is on a mission to unearth the truth.”

“If Josh has something to say why hasn’t he come forward? Where’s his proof?”

“So far, it’s nothing but hearsay.”

“Then Josh should keep his opinions to himself.” Haley picked up her mug and sipped her coffee. Her gaze strayed to the window. Dark clouds sailed across the sky, obscuring the sun, and a blustery summer wind shook the plants and trees. Haley hoped it didn’t rain. She had errands to do at lunchtime, and she didn’t want her ivory dress and wedge sandals to get soaked.

“Do you want to date Ashton? Is that why you’re defending him?” Becca asked.

To avoid answering the question, Haley took a bite of her bagel and studied the children’s artwork displayed on the walls. “I know Ashton’s way out of my league, but we really hit it off last night, and I want to see him again.”

“Out of your league?” Becca puckered her lips and shook her head, her chandelier earrings swinging furiously back and forth. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the total package.”

Haley nodded, but deep down, she knew she’d never measure up to Ashton’s ex-girlfriends. And there were a lot. Last night in bed she’d made the mistake of Googling him and found hundreds of images of the dashing Miami bachelor with women who looked like runway models.

“Be careful, Haley. Take things slow. Don’t rush into anything.”

“Said the girl who got engaged only weeks after meeting her new boyfriend.”

“Touché,” Becca said with a laugh. “But when a girl knows, she knows, and the first time Josh kissed me I knew he was the only man for me. I tried to fight my feelings and keep him at bay, but he easily won me over, and I’m glad he did.”

“Girl, stop! You sound like an online dating commercial!”

Stars filled Becca’s eyes. “I love my man and he loves me, and that’s all that matters.”

They’d been friends for years, and Haley couldn’t recall ever seeing Becca this happy. It warmed her heart that after countless disappointments, her BFF had met someone who cherished her.

“Are you seeing Ashton again tonight?”

Yes, and I can’t wait! she thought, resisting the urge to break out in song. Feeling giddy, Haley pursed her lips together to trap a squeal inside her mouth. Now she was the one with the dreamy expression on her face and the goofy, lopsided grin. “I told Ashton I was volunteering at the soup kitchen, and he offered to help out.”

“Yeah, right, and I’m going to remain celibate until my wedding night!”

“Why is it so hard for you to believe that Ashton’s volunteering tonight?”

“There’s no way in hell he’s going down to the mission to feed the homeless.” Standing, Becca dumped her trash in the garbage can. “He’s a zillionaire. That’s beneath him.”

“It shouldn’t be. If the Obamas can serve dinner to the homeless, anyone can.”

“Good point, but men of Ashton’s stature usually don’t. Just sayin’.”

“That shouldn’t be the case,” Haley argued, rising to her feet. “Everyone, regardless of their social status, has a duty to help those in need. Aunt Penny always says, ‘Giving to the less fortunate nourishes the soul,’ and I wholeheartedly agree.”

A grin curled Becca’s lips. “Does that mean you’re going to give Ashton some tonight?”

“You’re a mess, you know that?” Haley rinsed her dishes, put them in the dishwasher and slammed it shut with her hip. “What happened to the kind, sweet girl I used to know?”

“She got engaged to a man with six-pack abs!” Becca shrieked, fanning her face.

“You’ve changed for the worse,” Haley teased. “You used to talk about social issues and saving up to buy your first home, and now all you talk about is sex.”

“It’s not my fault my fiancé’s fine as hell. I can’t help myself!”

Giggling, the women left the staff room arm in arm, swapping stories about the rivals of the Millionaire Moguls of Miami.

* * *

Three hours later, Haley was sitting at her desk, buried under a mountain of paperwork, listening to her favorite radio station. Jazz music was playing on Lite FM, and thanks to her aromatherapy candle the air smelled of roses and lavender. She’d accomplished a lot since arriving at her office that morning, but still had a hefty to-do list. Haley was craving another cup of coffee, but she decided to finish editing the monthly newsletter before taking a break.

Her gaze fell across the picture frame on her desk. The photograph was taken last summer, with all of the students in the mentorship program, and Haley marveled at how different Sienna looked. In the picture the teen was laughing, but these days she rarely smiled. Curious how she was doing, Haley made a mental note to call her at lunchtime.

The phone rang. Recognizing it was an internal call, she answered on the second ring.

“I hope you’re sitting down, because I have bad news.”

It was Mr. MacTavish, the foundation’s part-time accountant, and Haley could tell by the strain in his voice that he was upset. “Calvin, what is it?”

“The check we received last week from Mr. and Mrs. Polanski bounced,” he explained. “The bank just called to inform me, and I wanted to give you a heads-up about it.”

It wasn’t the first time a check had bounced, and since it probably wouldn’t be the last, Haley took a deep breath and channeled positive thoughts. “How much was the check for?”

“A hundred thousand dollars.”

The phone slipped from her hand, but Haley caught it before it hit the desk. A burning sensation warmed her chest, and knots formed in her stomach. She loved her job and couldn’t imagine ever returning to the corporate world, but she was tired of donors letting them down. And she could do without living paycheck to paycheck as well. The nonprofit sector was not for the faint of heart, and if Haley didn’t love her staff and the students they mentored she would’ve thrown in the towel years ago.

Telling herself there was nothing she couldn’t handle, Haley said, “We received several checks last week. Did they all bounce?”

“No, thankfully, the other three cleared just fine.”

Haley sighed in relief. “So, we’re in good shape, then? Everything’s okay?”

“Not exactly. Without those funds, we’ll have to veto the Third Annual Girls’ Day Extravaganza in September. We just can’t afford it.”

“No way. We can’t do that. The students are pumped about the event. Calvin, we’re not canceling.”

“We have to. We have no choice.”

“Becca and everyone else on the team has worked tirelessly to organize the event, and we can’t disappoint the community,” she said, raising her voice to prove she meant business. “Parents are counting on us, our girls too, and I won’t let them down.”

“Haley, your heart’s in the right place, and I know how passionate you are about the foundation, but the numbers don’t lie. If we don’t cancel Girls’ Day and tighten our spending going forward, The Aunt Penny Foundation will have to close its doors forever.”

His words were a powerful blow, like a fist to the gut.

“We’ve been operating in the red for years, but we can’t go on like this much longer.”

“Calvin, don’t talk like that.”

“I’m not trying to dampen your spirits—”

“Then don’t. Give me the numbers, so I know exactly where we stand.”

Haley grabbed her ballpoint pen and made notes in her agenda, diligently writing down everything Calvin said about the finances. “I’ll think of something,” she promised, refusing to concede defeat. “I’ll find another donor. A hundred donors if that’s what it takes.”

Calvin chuckled, and his hearty laugh temporarily brightened her mood.

“We’ve worked together for years. I should know by now not to doubt you,” he said. “You always come through. That’s what makes you a great CEO. You’re a go-getter who’s a hundred percent committed to this foundation, and the best person to lead us.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Calvin, and for bringing me up to speed on the finances. I’ll call you once I have some fabulous new donors lined up.”

“Sounds great. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

Enjoy the rest of the day? Fat chance of that happening, she thought, dropping the phone on the cradle and her face in her hands. A country music song was now playing on the radio. The female singer was lamenting the loss of her no-good, cheating boyfriend, and Haley wanted to gag. You think you have problems? Try living in my world!

What was she going to do? Haley wanted to call Aunt Penny, but thought better of it. Her aunt needed to rest. Home recovering after having a mild heart attack weeks earlier, Aunt Penny insisted she was fine, but her doctor was concerned about her declining health, as were Haley, Becca and everyone at the foundation. Aunt Penny used to be a regular fixture at the office, dropping by weekly with baked goods and treats for the staff, but these days she spent her time napping and knitting in her favorite chair.

Drumming her fingernails on the desk, racking her brain for answers, Haley considered returning to Fisher Island. Going door-to-door to solicit donations was risky, and since she didn’t want to make enemies of Ashton’s wealthy neighbors she abandoned the thought.

An image of the handsome COO with the dark skin, chiseled features and megawatt smile flashed in her mind. He spoke about causes and issues that were important to her, and was passionate about helping others. Ashton was a doer, someone who made things happen, and Haley could use his advice. Should she call him? Should she ask the Millionaire Moguls for help? Begging didn’t sit right with her, not even on behalf of the foundation, so Haley considered other options that didn’t involve her dreamy, brown-eyed crush.

Ten people with deep pockets, she decided. That’s all she needed to reach her goal.

Feeling hopeful, she opened her drawer, grabbed her address book and flipped it open. Time to work her magic, because there was no way in hell she was canceling the Girls’ Day Extravaganza. The students were worth it, and she wasn’t going to let them down.

Names and faces flashed in her mind. Haley thought of all the charity events The Aunt Penny Foundation had hosted over the years, of all the people who’d supported the organization since its inception, and hoped they’d come through for her one more time.

Swallowing her pride, she swiped the phone off the cradle, prepared to say and do anything to keep the foundation afloat, and dialed the first number in her address book.