Unwanted Fate (30 page)

I
browse the celebrity gossip page because I know somewhere along the line, I was mentioned being linked to Kenneth. Which caused an influx of calls and emails for Kristin to be handled. Being linked to someone famous isn’t a huge deal, but when it’s new and people think they have a story, they will try any angle to get the first story out to the masses.

“Ken Reeves finally gets the girl and weds longtime love over the weekend.”

“Ken Reeves reveals he has two children with longtime love.”

“Actor Ken Reeves’ daughter Emily Janes with the CFO of CU Gold Company, Patrick Matheson, do we hear wedding bells for them too?”

These headlines have a spin of the truth, but the articles are complete nonsense. Emily isn’t pregnant, Cassandra wasn’t in a mental institution…I hope Emily doesn’t read this garbage. I close my browser and prepare for my meeting with the board, and I hope I find out something about the grant for the center.

My phone notifies me of a new text, probably Emily’s reply to my last message, and I see I also have a new message from Addison. I really need to call her.

A
DDISON:
I’m mad at you, Patrick Harrold! I had to find out that you’re dating Ken Reeves’ daughter from a gossip rag! SERIOUSLY! Dad is making slow improvements.

M
E:
I’m sorry. You have the right to be mad. I should have called and told you. Good on Dad. I’ll be in to see him. I told Emily I would try to forgive him.

A
DDISON:
Whoa. I need to thank her. Actually, she told me at lunch a few weeks ago about her dad and asked me to keep it hush. I knew you knew so I didn’t say anything. I need to get to class. Love you.

M
E:
Love you too.

I stand up, putting my phone in my suit pocket, and walk out my office to see Kristin on the phone talking to someone who obviously isn’t listening. I stop, waiting on her to finish the call and she politely hangs up on them.

“The media?”

“Yes, these people are ruthless.”

“I’m sorry. Damn vultures.”

“We’ll get through it, Patrick.”

“Thanks. Board meeting in ten minutes. Call me if you need anything.”

“Will do.”

“Oh, can you pick up lunch for us, you and me?”

“Of course. The deli on the corner?”

“Yes, my normal, ham and cheddar on wheat.”

“Got it.”

“Thanks.” I walk to the staircase and double step it up to the boardroom. As I enter, I feel all eyes are on me, but no one says anything and the meeting commences. I’m glad to be in a room of professionals who don’t give a shit who you know or who you’re in bed with as long you represent the company in a good way, and I try my damnedest to do just that.

The meeting goes longer than I expected, but we go over the profit and lost for the second quarter and the numbers look on track for a record year. All donations and grants are approved for this quarter and that makes me excited to know that we are able to help the center again. I can get the check for the center before I leave today and drop it off when I pick up Emily, this should make her day.

T
he rest of the day flies by with calls about adjusted budgets and getting expenditures approved. I think some of the calls were just to talk to me for the hell of it. I turn off my computer a little before four; I’m done looking at numbers and spreadsheets for the day. I want to stop and pick up flowers for Emily on my way to pick her up. The grant check was inter-officed to me so I have that in my inner suit pocket, ready to give to the center.

I pull into a parking place in front of the center, and I look around a see a few people in cars who look like they might be media people but I’m not sure. Get out of the car, juggling the flowers and my keys in my hand, and shut the door. I walk to the entrance with a vase of cream tulips in hand. When I saw them, they reminded me of Emily, stunning without the fuss.

The center is full of activity when I walk through the doors. Children are running and yelling in the hallway, parents pulling their children who don’t want to go home, and children quietly sitting along the wall reading. I open the door to the main office, and the chaos from the hallway quiets when the door closes. I see the assistant and wave at her. She waves as I go to Emily’s office. Her door is open when I get there, and she looks in deep thought.

I knock on the door, startling her. She looks up and smiles a big smile of happiness.

“Hey, handsome. You’re early.” She stands up, stretching and walks over to me, kissing me on the cheek. “Are these for me?” She eyes the flowers.

“Yes, they are for you and I have something else for you and the center, so I thought I could come a little early.” Her eyes widen, she takes the flowers and sets them on her desk.

“We got the grant?”

“Yes.”

“Ahh. Yes. Thank you so much. So when should I expect the check so I can tell Kelly?”

“How about now?”

“Fantastic! Let me get Kelly.” She rushes pass me and I can hear her heels quickly clicking on the concrete floor all the way to Kelly’s office, where she stops and I hear a loud, “Yes!” Then two sets of heels rapidly clicking toward me.

“Mr. Matheson! Great to see you again,” the older woman cheerfully boasts as she enters the room. She takes my hand and shakes it excitedly.

“Mrs. Lui, likewise,” I say, smiling. “I have something for your center. I’m glad that CUGC could help you.” I pull the check out and hand it to her.

“Thank you so much, this will allow us to reach out to a lot more people. Thank you, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I appreciate you dropping this off. Oh, I hope you will be joining us at the Gala on Thursday, Mr. Matheson. CUGC will be mentioned as one of our supporters.”

“I think I saw the invitation on my desk. If Emily is attending, I’m sure I’ll be there.” I look at her, questioning if we are going.

“Um. Yes, I forgot to say something.” She begins to bite her nails.

“Perfect! I think you’ll enjoy yourselves, but I’d better let you two get going. See you tomorrow, Emily. Mr. Matheson, stop in anytime.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Lui.” She turns and leaves the office with a little skip in her step.

“You made her day, Patrick,” Emily says as she snuggles up to me.

“Good, I hope I made yours too.”

“Everyday, babe.” She hugs and kisses me quickly on the lips.

“So what is this Gala?”

“Basically, all of our donors and other supporters are invited to the event to raise more money for the Greater Centers of Reno via donations or through the auction. Also, they recognize people’s work in the community, companies’ donations, and give a basic run down of where the money raised is used. Most of the time the event is stuffy—I kind of feel out of place.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m taking their money to do the work I do… I mean I love my job, but wouldn’t you love to be able to take your money and know firsthand where that money is going. Physically hand someone food that you know is going to keep them from going hungry.”

“I can see your point, but I guess I get to be that person for CUGC. I’ve seen what the grant has purchased and I’ve seen who that money has helped.”

“Maybe I’m being crazy. Anyways, let me save my work and get everything turned off, and I’ll be set to go,” she says a little frustrated.

“Alright.”

She quickly clicks buttons on the keyboard and then turns off her computer, desk lamp, and unlocking drawers to get things out and locking them. She looks up at me with a smile and I know that she’s ready to get out here.

“Finished?”

“I am,” she answers excitedly.

“Let’s get out of here.” I walk out behind her and I step out of the way so she can lock the door behind me. “What sounds good for dinner?”

“Anything. I’m famished.”

“Chinese?” Sesame chicken sounds good.

“Yes, please.”

I get her in the car and look around, trying to see what cars are in the parking lot. I get in the car and take the long way to the restaurant, looking behind me frequently to see if anyone is following us. There’s no one suspicious around, and I hope the calls and emails are as far as these people go.

T
ears run down my face as I write another entry into my letters to Nate journal.

Thursday, July 21
^st

Nate,

I miss you everyday, but even more today, our birthday. How I wish I could celebrate twenty-four years with you. I’m thankful I got to spend as many years with you as I did. I’m thankful that you were my brother. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to grow up with.

I hope you’re looking down on us, keeping us safe. Everything is a little crazy since the media is finding out that Dad had us and no one knew about it until recently. I don’t understand why they think our personal lives are any of their business anyways.