Page 33 of Daddy's Game

Then I actually got the building I wanted, thanks to a ton of donations from private altruists as well as a Gofundme page, and the zoning board decided that it wasn’t safe enough to hold classes in. You’d think they'd have told me that in the beginning, but no.

During my many appeals and visits to the zoning board meetings, I’d come across one man who actually seemed to have my back–Alderman Nathaniel Gray. The portly, balding man had come across as a kindly grandfather. While he couldn’t do much to actually help me with the zoning board’s more ardent members, he at least took the time to explain to me what was going on.

I’d been dating Brock for just about a month and a half when Alderman Gray came calling in my office. I smiled weakly when I looked up from my spreadsheets and saw him. I didn’t want to make him feel unwelcome, but on the other hand, he usually only came around to deliver bad news.

“Hello, Mr. Gray.”

“Oh, please, call me Nate, Grace. I thought we’d established I hate being called Mr. Gray ever since those tawdry novels came out.” His smile faded, and I knew I’d been right on the money about it being bad news that brought him around.

“What’s happened this time?” I asked with a resigned sigh.

“I’m afraid that a new measure came up for vote in our latest meeting.” He shook his bald pate sadly. “I tried my best to stall it, because I knew the outcome was inevitable.”

“Maybe you could tell me what the outcome actually was?” I asked, my voice a bit terse from anxiety.

“The zoning board has voted that you have to have full coverage insurance.”

“Full coverage?” I sputtered. “I have the fire insurance, and that was supposed to be enough.”

“It was decided that not for profits have to follow the same rules as traditional businesses.” His lips grew thin and tight. “I’m sorry, Grace. I voted against the measure as a matter of record, but the vast majority were in favor of it.”

“I guess there’s been some money spread around downtown,” I said bitterly. Before I’d gotten to know Brock, I would have thought he had a hand in greasing the palms of the zoning board. Now, I didn’t suspect him at all. Going behind my back didn’t seem like Brock’s style. After all, he’d been quite blatant about his desire to get the corner lot off of me.

No, Brock was too bold, too proud to be underhanded and sneaky. Or so I told myself.

There were plenty of other suspects, though. New York is silly with real estate developers who wanted my corner lot.

“Probably.” He scratched under his collar and gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry that you're going to have to shut down now.”

“Who said anything about shutting down?”

His mouth flew open.

“I didn’t mean to upset you, I just thought there was no way you could pay the higher insurance premiums.”

“It’s going to be tight, but I can handle it for a few months at least thanks to some, ah, generous donations.”

Thanks to Brock, offering to donate in exchange for just hearing him out over dinner. But for some reason, I didn’t want to tell Alderman Gray about my new boyfriend.

“Oh,” he said stiffly, wincing at my words. Then his brows climbed high on his face. “Well, that’s good. This means that you can keep the lights on for a while.”

“I’ll figure something out. I always do, when the zoning board puts another hurdle in front of me.”

“Of course,” he replied. His smile seemed a bit strained.

Poor guy. I guess he feels sorry for me. I feel sorry for myself, too, this is a tough break.

Nate took his leave, and my bravado left with him. I had no idea what I was going to do. My savings wouldn’t last forever.

I vowed I wouldn’t tell Brock about it, because I knew he would offer to help. I didn’t want his help. I wanted to take care of it myself, not have my sugar daddy take care of it for me.

But Brock had learned to read me fairly well at that point, and he knew something was bothering me. Something bad. He managed to coax the truth out of me.

“Why haven’t you just asked me for help?” he asked over a glass of merlot at his posh midtown penthouse.

“You know why. I don’t want you to think I’m only dating you for your deep pockets.”

He shrugged as if that didn’t bother him, but I didn’t relent.

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