Page 7 of My Mystery Billionaire

“Jared, you remember that time we met at the CrossFit club? What was it that made you talk to me that time?” I knew the story very well, but this was one of my ways of reminding him of his great potential.

“Well, you was stripped naked getting ready to get into the shower. Ahem, I mean you were already stripped naked for the shower,” I nodded at his correction, “And I saw your awful scars. Then we got talking about where they came from. Like that, Professor.”

“Then you told me as how you had moved into my neighborhood right out of high school, as soon as you had a little money ahead. With the little money you had in those days, you said it was the most you could afford and it was right in the middle of my gang's territory. I was just initiated when you moved in.”

I nodded.

Exciting days.

I shivered from the memories.

“Then a rival gang saw you as a good mark and went at you with the knife during a mugging. How long was you in the hospital again? Ahem. How long were you in the hospital, Professor?”

“Four days. We met two weeks later after my stitches firmed up a little bit.”

“Yes, sir! I remember how angry those cuts looked even then. I wasn't the leader then. But we got back at the one who done this to ya. Ahem. We got revenge on the one who did this to you, Sir. And we've been watching out for you ever since.”

I looked at him and nodded with gratitude. “Yes, you have. And I know you don't like to hear these words, Jared. But I love you and every member of your gang for doing this for me.”

Jared looked embarrassed but only for a couple of seconds.

The young man cannot fool me! He's full of feelings.

And where are mine? Buried down deep in a cave full of grief?

After tonight, with that rambunctious woman, maybe not so deep.

“I appreciate you, watching out for me after the club. Did the men follow me to her place?”

“Yes, sir, Professor, as usual, we make sure you be safe. Ahem, we are making sure that you are safe. Jeffrey came to report, and Davy stayed over there to make sure nothing happened to your lady. He'll stay all night, you never fear. And the hood, ahem, the neighborhood is quiet, sir.”

That was our deal. I taught them to read, speak and write standard English. I taught them what they needed to launch and manage online businesses. Legit businesses.

They watched my studio, my possessions, and the building it was in. And me.

A fair trade. More than.

Chapter 10

Beatrice

Ihadn'tbeenonmy own long enough to have much stuff. My cousins brought over some old boxes and some big plastic crates out of their dad's garage.

My mom's brother made sure he watched out for his sister and me after my dad flew the coop. And I had a really good connection with my cousins, Jim and Mark. Mom made sure of that.

They are like brothers to me. Gadzooks, I love ‘em!

“Bea, I think we've got it nailed. Do you wanna follow us over there in my buddy’s jalopy or leave it here for now? Since we’re all gonna come back over here to do the last scrub-up anyway, we can take his car then.”

“Yes, Jim, let's leave it here. But before we all come back to do that cleaning, I'm gonna buy us some lunch.”

I didn’t own a car. In fact, in this huge metropolis well-served by a great subway system, I didn’t know more than five people who actually owned and used cars every day.

Who needs ‘em?

Jim and Mark made sure that my possessions were in the right place in the new apartment. We went back and spent the afternoon giving the old place a final once-over; they stayed with me to return the keys and get my security deposit back. I sent them home later after buying all of us some takeout for dinner.

“Tarnation, BB! You worked us to the bone!” But I knew they wouldn’t have let me do it alone or hire anyone.

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