Page 208 of Savage Bosses

We make our way to the pedestal standing on the stage in the front of the room. Drew makes it there first as Marsten, Haddon, and I stand behind him. "We almost refused to come tonight because we just donated to the cause. When we were called the second time, the three of us found out it was due to a special type of foundation we started."

He turns and smiles at me before going back to the microphone. "Marsten, Haddon, and I turned to Nixon and told her to find a charity for us to donate to. She took it a step further and started a whole foundation. Can you tell us about it, Nixon?"

"Go and tell the people about what you've done," Haddon whispers playfully as Marsten's hand on my back pushes me to the podium. Drew stands back, glowing at me.

I take a deep breath and take one step to the podium. Lightly, I clear my throat. I don't mind if they stick me in front of all these people; I just would like to have had some type of warning. "Hi. Um, this is a bit unexpected, so I'm not prepared. Please excuse my ramblings until I get myself together." A small titter flows through the crowd. "Um, anyway, the foundation gives life scholarships instead of just paying for school. There are cases where school is paid for, but books and life necessities aren't."

The crowd has quieted down, giving me their full attention for some reason. "We provide a full college experience for each person. We take away the boundaries that would prevent them from giving their all to get their degrees. It's been successful. We have a hundred percent graduation rate so far."

Four of the recipients come to the stage. I recognize all of them. The first one to step in front of me and give me a tight hug is a young lady named Natalie. Then she turns to the podium and speaks as the other three give me a hug. "Hi, I'm Natalie Raines, and I was the first recipient of this scholarship. My first impression of the opportunity when it came was that it was too good to be true. Nixon came and spoke at my school about the scholarship. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. You didn't have to have excellent grades; it was more about the person." She rubs the side of her leg with her hand before continuing, "I figured I had nothing to lose, so I applied." The room is so quiet, when someone dropped their fork, the whole room jumped. A few giggles spread throughout the room before quieting again. "Imagine my surprise when I was called to the principal's office and told I was a finalist. Me." She puts her hand to her chest. "Who carried a C+ average and was on the one team at school no one knew about. The Art History Club. I was the only member, and it was something I could do at home because I have to babysit my brothers due to my mom working three jobs to support us."

My hand goes to her back, and she glances back at me, tears rolling down her cheeks. She gives me a watery smile before turning back to the crowd. "I expected to be interviewed by some random in a suit but imagine my surprise when Nixon herself was there to interview me. I literally got an interview with the horse's mouth." I laugh at the analogy. "I was so scared, but she spoke with me like she knew exactly where I came from, like she's been in my place. At the end of the conversation, I felt like even if I didn't get the scholarship, I still won. She provided me with the tools I needed to get through college and life. Nixon also provided me with her personal phone number just in case I needed anything or had any questions. She became a mentor to me. When she told me I won, I was ecstatic but couldn't figure out how to go to my dream college without destroying the precarious life my mom had provided for us."

I look at the ground, remembering the emotions that crossed her face when I told her she won the scholarship. Her eyes showed a mix of joy and worry, then disappointment. It was one of those times where she got a chance to live her dream but couldn't take it. At that moment, I knew I had to make another change to the scholarships I gave out. Marsten's hand comes to my back, rubbing. Soothing. I lean back into his touch, Natalie's voice bringing me back to the present. "Nixon asked me what was wrong and although I didn't want to make my problem her problem, I told her everything. About my mom and how she's working three jobs to support my brother and me. How I get him ready for school in the morning and pick him up in the evenings, while she goes from job to job. I poured out my heart to her and how if I go to my dream college, I'll mess up what she has worked so hard for." She paused, standing straighter. "Do you know what she did? Nixon sat down with my mother and went over her qualifications. She helped her get her resume together, and then she helped her get a job that paid enough to take care of us without working herself into an early grave. She did it without expecting anything back except for me to go to my dream college. Not only did she do that, but Nixon also helped my mom find a job where I attended college, so we could move as a family. I was able to go to school and help my brother. My mom was able to have a better quality of life. I graduated last year with an engineering degree and got a great job with a great company. I wouldn't have been able to do it without her." She turns to face me again. "Thank you."

My arms go around her again, and we hug it out. The next three go to the podium one at a time and tell their stories before the award is given to us, and we finally take a seat.

Mom hauls me into a bear hug. "I'm so proud of you." Kissing me on the cheek, she then releases me.

Sam side high fives me and pulls me into a quick hug. "Good job, sis!"

I take a seat, and we quietly listen as the rest of the presentations are given. Then the music starts. The guys take turns dancing with me, Mom, and Sam. Then they sit, and we women hit the dance floor together.

I was enjoying myself, forgetting that Smarmy was here, when he approached us. I jumped when he tapped on my shoulder. "What?" Mom gives me a strange look.

"It was low how you removed me from my company-—" he starts.

I shake my head. "Number one, it stopped being your company the day you signed on the dotted line and got paid for it. Two, I'm not the one who you should be talking to." I point at Marsten, Drew, and Haddon who are about to rise from their seats. "I have nothing to do with what happened. It's all on them."

They quickly move in our direction, and Smarmy gets a panicked look on his face. "I'll be back." He scurries away before the guys reach us. Haddon stays with us while Marsten and Drew follow Smarmy out of the ballroom. "What did he say?"

"He was coming at me with why he was removed from his company. I reminded him the second the money went into his account, it stopped being his company. Then when he saw you all coming towards us, he ran away," I tell him as we make our way back to the table.

Marsten holds out the chairs for each of us, before taking a seat beside me. "We won't be here too much longer. Maybe another hour. Then we can go have a late dessert someplace before heading home." He looks at Mom. "Are you two joining us for the late dessert?"

Sam and my mom both shake their heads. "When we leave here, the two of us are going up to the room with some junk food and veg out in front of the television." She turns to me. "We're sleeping in tomorrow, so don't bother us. We'll call you when we're ready."

I nod, completely understanding. "Enjoy. I plan to do the same."

Drew and Haddon weave through the tables to get to us, Haddon sitting on the other side of me when they reach us. "What did he say to you?"

"He said he'll be back. I don't know why he wants to mess with me; it's you three who make the decisions." I shrug. "He's barking up the wrong tree."

Marsten's hands reach for mine, lacing our fingers together. "He knows how much leverage you have with us. Everyone in the business knows you have a say in what goes on with what we do. What he doesn't know is you're not the weakest link. We don't have one. You're coming into the office around ten in the morning, right?"

"I'll be there about that time, but remember, I can only be there for a couple of hours. I'm spending time with Mom and Sam." I lean into him as his thumb caresses my hand.

Haddon's hand discreetly touches my leg. "We remember. You'll be just a phone call away."

Chuckling, I shake my head. These three.

We spend another hour networking and doing a little more dancing, before leaving Mom and Sam at the elevators of the hotel. I give them both a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon. Just let me know when you're ready."

Both give me a small wave before getting on the elevator. When the doors meet, I turn to my guys who are waiting for me a few feet away. Strolling over to them, I ask, "Am I going home tonight, or am I staying with one of you?"

Since we've started our relationship, we rotate where we stay. Everyone has their own place, so we've had to come up with some sort of schedule.

"You get to go home tonight. We know you have a lot to do in the next few days. We'll even give you the night alone," Drew tells me with the other two nodding in agreement.

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