Page 77 of A Million Times, Yes
She folded her legs in front of her and rested the dish of pad see ew on top of her knees, moaning as she took several mouthfuls. “You know, this is enough food for us, my roommates, and probably my next-door neighbors.”
“I want you to have leftovers. You can take it for lunch tomorrow. Just don’t let Bettie smell it. She loves Thai. That’s usually where we go when I take her out for lunch.”
“It seems you and Bettie are very close.”
I chomped on a piece of beef. “We are.”
“Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about her?”
“Please do.”
She set the container on the bed and held her beer with both hands. “She doesn’t carry the Worthington name, so I’m guessing she’s your mom’s mom?”
I nodded. “I could tell you things about that woman that would blow your mind. Unless you’ve already googled her.”
“I haven’t, I know nothing.” She picked at the label on the bottle. “But from the moment I met her, I’ve been fascinated. There’s something so intriguing about her.”
“Here’s a little Bettie history for you, then.” I found a napkin in the bag and wiped my mouth. “As soon as Bettie’s mother became pregnant with her, Bettie’s father left Poland and moved to America. He worked as a tailor, and after a year of saving, he was able to bring his wife and Bettie to the States. They lived in South Boston, which was much different back then, in a one-room efficiency above the shop.” I rubbed my hand over my jeans. “Bettie would help out her dad, learning everything she could about fabric and clothing, textures and designs, determined to create a better life for her parents and siblings. So after graduating high school, she went to New York and got her degree in fashion.” I laughed at the humbleness in which my grandmother always told this story, despite there being books written about her. “She worked for several different companies in Manhattan, but Boston was where her heart was, and she came back home and designed her own line of textiles that eventually was purchased and used by almost every major clothing designer in the world.” I smiled, shaking my head. “One year before my grandfather died, Bettie sold her business for over five hundred million.”
Maya’s eyes went wide. “You’re kidding me.”
“You’re right, she is fascinating. She taught my brother and me everything we know about business. She did the same with my father and mother too.”
“Wow.” She took a sip. “I’ve spent hours and hours with her, and I never would have expected any of this. She never mentioned a word about it and never gave off any vibes.”
“Rich vibes, you mean?” I knew the fucking stickiness of that topic, so rather than wait for a response, I said, “She’d be happy to hear you say that.”
She took another bite of the fresh spring roll. “Did your mom work for Bettie?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Bettie wouldn’t allow it. She wanted her children to find their own passion, to work hard and create their own dreams. If those passions and dreams required a loan to get things started, Bettie provided, but the deal was that every cent must be paid back. She doesn’t believe in handouts.”
She finished the bite and said softly, “You’re telling me Bettie funded your father’s business, aren’t you?”
“My mother met my father when she was sixteen. They were married by twenty. This was a dream that my parents shared—the real estate, the sports teams, the entire Worthington empire.” I paused. “Yes, Bettie funded that dream.” I paused again. “And they paid back every dime they borrowed from her.” I let out a long breath. “I know how you feel about my family, Maya. I know what they did to you and what it ultimately caused. But I want you to know that they’re good people. Hardworking people. They care, they give back, they donate, they help others. If they had any idea what their buyout caused or what that meant for you and your mom, they wouldn’t have allowed it.”
“Jordan . . .”
“I understand how you feel. I would feel the same way. There’s no question, I’d have hate. I’d have resentment. I’d have a hard time even looking at me because I’m one of them.” I gently put my hand on herankle. “But I want you to know who we are and what we stand for. That’s the person I want you to see when you look at me.”
“I want to.” Her voice was barely there. “I really do.”
“To every other woman, I’ve been the NHL star. The Worthington heir. A man with every fucking resource at my fingertips.” I let out all the air I’d drawn in. “You didn’t see that because you didn’t know, and I can’t tell you how refreshing that was. I wanted to soak in every second of it—even though I knew it was wrong.” I pulled my fingers back, leaving her ankle free. “You don’t have to say anything. You don’t have to respond to any of that. I just wanted you to know. No, Ineededyou to know.”
She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. “I’m happy you told me.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Maya
Me:I’m not sure if I thanked you for dinner. If I didn’t, I’m sorry. I really loved it. I’m even eating the mango sticky rice for breakfast, lol.
Jordan:Sounds like I need to surprise you with Thai again.
Me:I mean . . .
Jordan:You want me to, but your head is all over the place.
My thumbs hovered over the screen as I debated whether I should tell him that before I’d gone to bed, I spent some time researching his family. Everything I’d learned confirmed what he had said. They were extremely philanthropic; they had multiple charities supporting the residents of Boston along with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They offered scholarships to athletes to keep them in state and internships for colleges in and surrounding the city.
