“This role could afford the chance to offer a level of support that I could never do in that role.”

  He picked up a manila file, opened it and stared at its contents. Closing the file, he handed it to her.

  She opened it, leafing through the pages regarding a local business owner who’s loan application had been denied.

  Her heart lurched upon encountering the very same letter she’d received only weeks before. Her boss's signature gracing the bottom.

  Just like her letter.

  She closed the file, keeping her gaze on the cream colored folder that held evidence of how far she’d go to save her own hide. This was the reality she’d attempted to forget over the past weeks; over the past few minutes.

  “I don’t understand,” she said, her voice low as she fought to keep it from turning as rigid as she felt. “What does philanthropy have to do with loan denials?”

  She turned to look at him. “That’s not very philanthropic.”

  He nodded. Looking down at his mug again, his hands gripped the cylinder. He returned his gaze to look at her for a long moment, the jaw in his muscle jerking.

  Placing his mug on his desk, he launched himself from the desk and took quick strides to the door, quietly shutting it. Turning, he swung his gaze to meet hers.

  “Miss Williams, can I trust you with highly sensitive information? Information that could risk both of our jobs?”

  “Uhm, I don’t know. It depends on what it is,” she responded, her eyes widening.

  Taking in a deep breath, he leaned against the door. Finally, he strode to his desk and reclaimed his previous position seated precariously on the desk’s edge.

  “I’m trying to figure out if there’s a way to assist any of Howards’ remaining clients,” he told her in a hushed tone. “Mrs. Travis was helping me research options as much as she could.” He shrugged. “Obviously, this isn’t something I can do on company time. Or something I should be doing at all given that it’s a misuse of client information; particularly when I am seeking assistance from outside sources.”

  Her mouth dropped. She looked away, attempting to process his words.

  Finally, she brought her eyes to his.

  “And unfortunately, you only had one job to offer. Otherwise you’d have an army of assistants,” she said, speaking more to herself than to him.

  He shrugged.

  “So, you really are trying to help me? Help,” her hand swept the air above his desk, “Me and all these people.” She peered at him. “Why?”

  His shoulders slumped as he looked at her. And she wondered if the look in his eyes was disappointment, or something else.

  “Does it matter why?”

  “It probably shouldn’t, as long as those you’re helping benefit. But, it matters to me. I don’t want to be a charity case. No one does. Especially people who have worked and are working diligently to build a business from nothing. No one wants to be…pitied.”

  He nodded. “Do you think I should stop? Because, frankly, I don’t know why I’m doing it. It just feels right for me. Like, this is what I’m made to do. It makes me feel good. And after so many years of feeling empty and useless and directionless,” he muttered, “feeling the opposite matters.”

  Empty. Useless. Directionless.

  Boy, did those words sound familiar. That’d been every single day at every job she’d ever had before taking the leap needed to pursue her business.

  “How many have you been able to help, so far?”

  His lips bunched to one side. And he held up one finger.

  “Me,” she breathed.

  He nodded.

  “Have you ever thought about just opening your own, you know, not-for-profit? I just wonder if this is the best way to go about your mission.”

  “My mission.” He seemed to chew on the words for a beat before turning back to address her. “Funny you mention that: that was actually in the works before I was offered a better deal. An opportunity to gain access to funds that will make that road a lot easier.”

  “And you have to work here to gain access to those funds,” she finished.

  He nodded. “It’s,” he winced, “complicated. But the gist of it is, I’m here for the foreseeable future. So, while I’m here,” he looked over his shoulders at the papers scattered across the surface of his desk. “I need to do more than…this. I just need to do…something. You know?” He looked back at her and she could feel his sense of helplessness. And, once again, she felt that same tug toward him that she had earlier.

  “Yeah,” she breathed. “You can’t just sit here and rot, right?”

  “Right.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip, and looked at the array of files on his desk.

  Turning back to him, she nodded. “Sounds like you have a lot in common with those you’re trying to help, actually.” She inhaled deeply and let out the gust of air, her chest rising and falling. “Okay. You just let me know how I can help, Boss.”

  “You can start by never calling me that again.”

  “What? ‘Boss’? I was just kidding, but…You don’t like that?”

  “No,” he said, firmly. He gestured to the mess on his desk, “Any help you offer here is purely voluntary. If all you do is keep my confidence, that’s enough. Either way, your involvement is a partnership. You’re doing me a favor, and I understand that. Outside of this, though, I’m Mr. Lin. Or David,” he smirked. “If you’re ever so inclined.”

  David.

  Her eyes lingered on the man hunkered on his desk, gazing at her with his disheveled hair and softly rumpled shirt.

  She licked her lips and turned her attention to the coffee he’d positioned on his desk for her. Reaching forward, she tore open the first of several packets of sugar. She focused on the stream of glistening white granules plummeting into the tan-colored liquid.

  David?

  David.

  David and Therese.

  The parade of sugar ceased. She picked up the spoon that lay on the saucer, and stirred the contents within her mug.

  “Mr. Lin, it is.”

  Chapter 7

  “I want to donate some of the funds from my fundraiser to a local small-business incubator,” Therese announced while seated in her living room a week later with Nyla.

  Nyla looked up from the computer, a frown creasing her face.

  “Wait, you want to donate charitable funds…that you’re raising for yourself?” she asked. “I mean, Therese, I love that, but…you need money, too. How about we get you squared away first. Then you can be all generous once you’ve got your clientele set.”

  “No. This is something that’s good for me to do. I mean, look! I have you to help me and encourage me. I’ve even gotten help from a total stranger. I don’t have as much as some, but I’ve got more than others. It’s the right thing to do.”

  I mean, it’s not like I’m sacrificing my whole career to help others like David is, she wanted to say.

  “Mmmm, so your boss is rubbing off on you.”

  Therese pressed her lips together. “There are worse things than being reminded of some of my own blessings.”

  “So…is he single?”

  “What does that have to do with anything?!”

  “Yep. Otherwise you wouldn’t be so defensive. And you must like him!”

  “I’m defensive because you’re turning this conversation into something completely different. And irrelevant. I said I want to give to charity and you’re talking about a crush.”

  “Oh, so your feelings have a label, do they?”

  “You know what? There is no reasoning with you. So, I’m not even gonna try.” She inhaled deeply, raising her chin. “I’m thinking ten percent of the funds would be okay. Not too big a bite of the whole pie, but if we meet our goal, ten grand isn’t chump change, either.”

  “Mmmhmm. I see you’re changing the subject.”

  “You mean, returning to the original topic.”

  “The original topic is settled. It’ll be your money to do with as you decide. Done. Next topic.”

  “You don’t get to decide the next topic of our conversation.”

  “Okay, so this is my mouth and I get to say what I please with it. So…tell me about him.”

  Therese sighed.

  “What do you want to know? I already explained that he’s legit about helping people out.”

  “Yeah, but you didn’t give the details of what convinced you of that.”

  Therese’s shoulders lifted and dropped. “I told you, it’s confidential.”

  “Fine. What’s he look like? How old is he? Is he cute? Or is that confidential, too?”

  “He looks like my manager. I don’t know and yes.”

  “Oh, come on. I want details. And you’ve gotta be dying to share. You two have been working around each other for weeks. Have there been any long gazes, intimate conversations?”

  “Oh my gosh, Nyla. Seriously. There’s nothing there.”

  “Nothing?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Not even the teeniest tiniest spark?”

  The image of David casually regarding her from his desk that late afternoon had been a constant banner in her mind ever since. That soft smirk and his teasing her about his name taunted her, even now.

  “He’s my boss!” she snapped.

  “That wasn’t the question.”

  “Nyla.”

  “Okay, fine. You’re no fun.”

  “So, we’re about ready to launch this thing?”

  “Looks like it. Once you get all your prizes set up, all you’ll need to do is look over all of the rewards, make sure all the copy is correct. And then press the link to make it go live.” Her cousin winked. “So we’re still on target for you to publish this next weekend, right? And then the hard part begins—marketing.”

  “Yep.”

  “Great, because I already stated that in the media plugs I’ve put out there. I’ll be able to put more time into getting the word out while I’m off work. Will try to plaster it as frequently as possible before it starts and then follow it up with efforts during its first few days. After that, my time will be limited, again, but hopefully it’ll just be a matter of keeping up the momentum. It pays to know a social media manager’s assistant, huh?”

  “Nyla. Thank you so much: for pushing me to do this. And for everything. No matter how this turns out–”

  “Mmm-Mmmm.” Nyla shook her head, her eyes closed. “This is going to turn out great. It’s happening.”

  “I just want you to know I appreciate you.”

  “Tell me after we’re collecting your one hundred grand. Oh wait, ninety, right?”

  “From your lips to God’s ears,” Therese laughed.

  “Amen, and Amen.”

  Your mission.

  Therese’s words had run laps in David’s thoughts over the past week as he had worked late into the evening.

  “Where’s your head at, Son?”

  David jerked his gaze up to meet that of Mr. Hsu.

  “Just thinking about my work.” My mission.

  “That’s good, David. I’m glad to hear that. Finance is in our genes. As is a keen business sense. Now, it may have skipped your mother. But I had a good feeling my grandson would take to this realm like a fish to the water.”

  “Remember, Mr. Hsu, I'm only going to be here for three years. That was our deal. After three years, you’ll bequeath my trust to me”

  “What’s this ‘Mr. Hsu’ business? We’re in my office. Do we really need to keep up this charade within these walls?”

  “I wouldn’t want you to slip outside of these walls,” he paused. “Grandfather.” David smiled tightly. “ ‘Nepotism’ isn’t a term I ever intended to be associated with.”

  “What does it matter what everyone out there thinks? One day you’ll run this bank, Son.”

  “That’s doubtful. Again, the deal we have is only for three years. A month of which has already passed.”

  “Ah, but the door will alway remain open for you to stay, rise up in the ranks, should you choose to do so by the end of that term. Besides, I can’t live forever. And you’re my only grandchild. Who else will this go to? It’s about time you started learning the ropes. You’re going to need these skills.”

  “I may be more like your son-in-law than you think—to your great disappointment, I’m sure. Each day I’m here just proves to me that this isn’t my world.”

  Mr. Hsu harrumphed. “Looks like you’ll have just under three years, now, to confirm that theory.”

  “Unless I get married before then, of course.”

  The older man’s eyelids lowered.

  “Yes, of course. Your parents’ trust would fall to you then.” His expression fell flat. “Got anyone in mind, Son?”

  “Not yet. Not that I’d make the mistake of letting you know if I had. But three years is a long time, Grandfather. Anything can happen.”

  “Of course. It’s ironic, isn’t it, that your father was so adamant about eschewing money, unless it was to give it away to others, that is. And my daughter went along with that nonsense.” He chuckled. “And now, you can’t touch the money they gifted to you. Because of a silly clause.”

  Mr. Hsu sucked his lips and shook his head. “Perhaps all of this is an opportunity for you to become your own man. Not the man your parents molded. You have an opportunity to earn more than the paltry trust you’ve got your eyes on.”

  “I wouldn’t call three-quarters of a million dollars paltry.”

  “A drop in the bucket to what you could make. You really think that’s a lot? You’ve worked in philanthropy—you know that’ll be gone before you know it in that line of work. Think of all the people you could help if you really pursued your potential in business.”

  “You want to make an impact, David?” he continued. “Generate a constant flow of income. Gain influence with the people who run corporations; who run this country. You can do that in this line of business. I’m handing you that opportunity. Don’t underestimate it.”

  “While I appreciate the gesture, my heart is set, Grandfather.”

  “We’ll see, David. We’ve got time.”

  The next evening, Therese and David sat in his office going over some of the additional paperwork submitted by many of the business owners David had asked Therese to contact.

  “Look at this.” David said, getting up from behind his desk to walk over to where Therese had begun stationing herself during their late evenings in the office. He placed a statement on her desk. “This guy’s summary is incredible. He’s been hustling since he was a teen. Albeit, the business he was in wasn’t exactly legal. But he knows business inside-and-out. He just needs support after serving time to get his mechanic business off-the-ground.”

  “Too bad these kinds of summaries don’t matter with banks, huh?”

  He picked up the paper, shaking his head. His lips pursed as his hand ran through his hair, causing tendrils on either side to cascade down and frame his face.

  Therese looked away.

  “You’re telling me,” he huffed.

  “Sounds like he’d be a good candidate for the incubator you and Mrs. Travis found,” Therese added. “I wish I had known about that group earlier, myself.”

  “He would be a great candidate. Except with all of our other recommendations, they’re maxed out. They just don’t have the capacity for too many folks.”

  “Well, about that. What are their fundraising efforts like?”

  He turned his attention to her and blinked. “I don’t know. What do you mean?”

  “It occurs to me that, by helping them, we could also help all of these individuals we’re hoping to give a hand up to. Maybe there are connections you have that would be willing to help an organization more than an individual they don’t know. You know?”

  He nodded, his eyes narrowing as he looked away, seemingly in thought.

  “Yes. Therese, that may be the best route, for now. Attempting to help people individually is just not working. But if we can get our people into organizations like the incubator, it’d be a lot easier to get those organizations assistance than the individuals.”

  He wagged his finger at her, his eyes smiling at her. “Yes. This is the way to go! I can reach out to former employers.” He bobbed his head. “I guess it may be time to start getting to know new contacts, as well.” He grunted. “My grandfather will be happy about that.”

  “You’re grandfather?”

  David looked up and seemed to take note of Therese’s presence, again.

  He cleared his throat. “Nevermind. You know how family is. Always in your business, right?”

  She chuckled and groaned. “Don’t I know it? My cousin is deep in mine. But if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have had the energy to even consider doing a fundraiser for my own business.” She gasped, raising her forefinger. “Actually, I’d have to check with her, first; but if Nyla’s okay with it I could connect you two. Maybe a fundraiser could be an additional option for raising funds for the incubator.”

  “I’d be open to that idea! Also, I had no idea you were running a fundraising campaign. Is that what gave you the idea to pool contributions for the organization?”

  She looked away, clearing her throat as she looked back at the paperwork on her desk. “Kind of.”

  She turned back to him, shrugging as she admitted, “It’d just occurred to me that I could contribute some of the proceeds to the incubator. After you told me about it, I was so moved, it just made sense. I’ve got people supporting me. How could I not contribute the same, somehow?”

  David sank down, seating himself against the edge of his desk.

  “You mean you’re donating your funds? To the incubator?”

  “Only ten percent. It’s not like the millions of dollars that organizations like that could really use.”

  “Therese.” He regarded her for several moments. Therese shifted in her seat.

  “What?” she finally prompted.

  “It’s just,” he sucked in his bottom lip before letting it free. His gaze slowly roamed over Therese as she sat before him, his eyelids dipping as his regard swept from her head to her toes and finally retraced their steps to stop at her lips. He drug his gaze back to her eyes.