Page 26 of Billion Dollar Lesson

Oh God, now he’s a cat-saving hero, too? The universe really wants to test me these days.

„Of course not,” Paula says. „It was so good of you to save their lives. Especially these little ones, I’m not sure they would have made the night.”

She bends down to have a look inside the carrier with the kittens.

„Looks like they’re about six to eight weeks old, I think,” she says. „More like eight, probably, judging by their eye colors. Do they eat well?”

Professor Jones nods. „Yes, they eat like crazy.”

„Good, very good then,” she says. „Well, we might be able to find fosters for them, and I think a visit to the vet may be in order, if we can afford it—”

„I’ll pay for that,” he interjects, and Paula raises her eyebrows at him.

„I thought you were trying to get rid of them?” she asks, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

„I…no, I just thought…” Professor Jones stutters, and he seems to become more uncomfortable by the second, while Paula and I pin him in place with an expectant stare.

He looks at me for a split second, and I almost take a step back, because of the intensity in his gaze. It feels like he’s touching me, every time he lays his eyes on me—in a very good and very bad way.

„Never mind,” he says eventually, grabbing both of the carriers with a resolute motion. „I’ll take care of them for now. It’s…I think that’s for the best.”

Paula regards him with a puzzled look. „Sure, if you’re able to. Do you have everything you need? We may have some food or toys we could spare.”

„No, absolutely not,” he says, and his eyes trail around the shabby little hut we’re standing in. „Who is financing this place?”

„We’re mostly working on a donation basis,” Paula responds.

„I see,” he says, still scanning his surroundings, and looking visibly displeased. „And is that enough?”

„Well…” Paula begins, shifting on her feet. „It suffices for the most part. We can’t help as much as we would like to, but every little bit counts, right? And we have quite a few volunteers helping out for free, just like Claire here.”

She juts her chin in my direction, and a wave of heat cloaks me when he looks at me, his eyebrows raised in appreciation. For a moment, it looks like he’s about to say something to me, but then he turns back to Paula, throwing her a friendly smile, before he says, „Thank you, for what you’re doing out here. I’ll foster this bunch for now, I think. But I’ll be in touch.”

Paula gives him a puzzled look in response.

„Okay, sure, let us know if we can help with anything,” she says.

Professor Jones nods at her before he does the same to me, and then he just walks out, quickly followed by his weird bodyguard dude, who’s been standing behind us without saying a single word the entire time.

„Wow, what a handsome mystery man,” Paula whispers as soon as he’s out the door.

„Um, yes, I think I’ll…Excuse me,” I say before I run out of the tiny building to follow him.

He’s walking fast, as if he was trying to get away from this place—or me—as quickly as possible.

„Is that true what you said?” I ask, loud enough for him to stop in his tracks, and look back over his shoulder.

„You really found these cats in a cardboard box under your stairs?” I elaborate, as I catch up with him.

„Yes, why would I lie about that?” he retorts.

He never stops walking, so I’m forced to keep up with his hurried steps.

„I don’t know. I was just wondering,” I say. „What are you going to do? Do you know how to take care of cats? And kittens especially?”

He side-eyes me, never even slowing his pace, as he flees toward the gate of the premises.

„I’m pretty sure I can handle it,” he says. „It’s not rocket science.”

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