Beauty and the Billionaire

"Evan! You surprised me. How did you get this number?" I asked.

"Well, you did not accept our dinner invitation, but you did tell me your name and that you were a local so I looked you up," Evan said. "Now I understand about not wanting dinner, but my parents and I would really like to thank you."

"Please don't. It was nothing," I said. How could I explain how exhilarating I had found his accident?

"It’s not just us that thought so," Evan said. "The EMTs were pretty impressed too. We all got

to talking and I think we've come up with a great suggestion."

"You talked about me on the way to the hospital?"

"All good things. So, as a thank you, my parents and I would like to offer to pay for your EMT training and certification. To be honest, we did the research and it may have cost more to take you to that five-star restaurant," Evan said. "This way, we figure our thank you will end up helping a lot more people."

I laughed. "That is very generous of you, but I cannot accept that much money from you. I'm just glad you are okay."

"Just consider it," Evan said. He gave me his number and hung up.

I was still smiling when my mother came in carrying the pizza. "I paid for it in the driveway," she said. "I hope that's okay."

"Thanks." I pulled out an extra plate and napkin for her.

"So," my mother said as she sat down at a kitchen stool, "what are you smiling about?"

She was so relaxed and calm it was hard not to feel at ease around her. "I think I know what I want to do," I said.

"Are you up for giving me details or are you going to keep it under wraps?" she asked. "Your sister always kept everything under wraps until she had it perfectly thought out. She liked the big reveal."

"Yeah, I guess that's a good idea. There are a lot of details to figure out," I said.

"Well, at least give me the general idea." My mother smiled and took a large slice of pizza.

"I think I found a way to use my talents to earn enough money to get certified in the perfect career," I said. "And the best part is I can do it all on my own. No offense."

"None taken," my mother said. "I sometimes think I would feel stronger, more steady, if I had made my own way. I don't regret marrying your father, but he pays for everything and it leaves me, I don't know, adrift."

Her eyes started to get a familiar faraway glaze. I could feel the relaxation and contentment evaporating from her. My mother's mood swings always made me nervous. I chewed my pizza carefully and wondered how to ask her about them. Did she know Sienna had the same sharp ups and downs? My mother had to know it was dangerous. She had to feel it.

"Oh, your phone's buzzing," my mother said. "I'm just going to run upstairs and get an aspirin." She disappeared up the staircase, and I had the sinking feeling I would not see her again for too long.

I looked at my phone and saw Owen's name. I froze. Part of me wanted to throw my phone across the room. Wouldn't life be simpler without Owen? I wondered. The majority of me, including my leaping heart, knew that Owen would always be the one part of my life I could count on no matter how messy things got.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Quinn, is there any way you can come over? The cops are here again and I feel like I need someone to be my witness," Owen said.

"The cops are at your apartment again?" I asked. I slid reluctantly off my stool and looked up the stairs after my mother. "Shouldn't you call a lawyer, instead?"

"Yes. I don't know. I don't know how to handle this. They're not finding anything and I don't want to blow it out of proportion. It would just feel better if I had someone here on my side. Besides, your father is a lawyer. You'll probably understand all this legal talk better than me."

I promised I would leave soon and went to the foot of the stairs. "Mom? Are you okay?"

"Just tired, darling. I think I'll turn in," she called down, her voice fuzzy.

"Do you mind if I run out? I'll call Father and let him know," I said.

"Sure, sure," her voice disappeared and I heard her bedroom door shut.

I was relieved to get my father's voicemail. I told him I was running out to the store to grab a few things and would be home soon. Then, I drove as quickly as I could to Owen's apartment and found three squad cars parked haphazardly outside his building.