Friday was two days away and I didn’t have plans. I probably shouldn’t say yes, but something about the randomness of it allappealed to me. Her persistence. Her loyalty. Her insistence that it was for afriend.
Either this girl was legit crazy, or she was one of those people who were increasingly rare these days. Those genuinely good, absolutely loyal people who would move mountains for the ones they loved. I liked to think of myself as one of those people, so I decided to give her the one chance she’d asked for back in that coffee shop.
Me: Sure. Why not.
Three dots blinked for a few moments before her reply came through.
Stella: You won’t regret it. You can’t miss her. She’s gorgeous. You’ll know her when you see her.
I huffed out a laugh, tossing my phone onto the counter and shaking my head at myself. “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”
CHAPTER 7
CHARLOTTE
Islipped into Alex’s office clutching the folder to my chest like it contained state secrets. Thankfully, my planning had paid off and he wasn’t at his desk, so I made my move. I slid the papers out of the folder and positioned them just beneath a stack of contracts he would definitely sign without reading. Anything that ended up on this desk had already been vetted by his secretary, which meant that if it made it that far, it was as good as approved.
Today’s cause was a STEM camp over Thanksgiving break for one of my girls. Alex would never notice. He would sign it, his finance team would process it, and boom, another scholarship for the camp was funded, another smile on a kid’s face.
What my dearest brother didn’t know was that he had also funded at least three field trips this year, a small library renovation, and he’d single-handedly bought more than fifty thousand dollars’ worth of Girl Scout cookies.
Every time I snuck one of these folders in here, I told myself it was good PR for the Westwoods. He would thank me if he ever found out, but he’d probably have a minor heart attack first.Still worth it. We’ve got good doctors.
Everyone thought my life was all brunches and boutique openings. A whole lot ofprancingaround, as my brothers liked to call it, but in reality, I was busy.
And proud of it.
I was knee deep in half a dozen foundations and programs around the city, most of them for school-aged and teen girls. Especially kids who’d lost one or both parents.
When there was no one else in their lives to do it, I went to their middle school graduations. I volunteered for field trips. I took girls to the mall and bought them ice cream while we talked about periods, crushes, and how to stand up for themselves.
It wasn’t glamorous, not in the way people imagined a Westwood’s life would be, but it was real. It filled a hollow space in me which had opened up when Mom had died. There had been no one to do those things with me.
I’d navigated my periods by myself. I’d figured out discreet, surreptitious ways of asking my brothers about boys when I’d had crushes. A nanny who’d been temping for us at one point had briefly taught me the difference between wearing clothes and styling them for my body as it had grown.
Sometimes, when I was laughing with the girls or helping one of them pick out a prom dress, I forgot all about how alone I’d felt. For a little while, I got to fill the gaps in my own life for someone else. I got to be there for a girl in a time of need.
Thatwas how I lived out my passions. No one could complain about it because, naturally, a Westwood wasexpectedto be involved in charities. They simply didn’t know how deeply rooted I’d become in some of these organizations.
It was my not-so-secret secret.
After making sure the sponsorship form wasn’t sticking out in any way that was suspicious, I slipped out of Alex’s office and nearly collided with a brick wall. Well, technically, with Nate, but all my brothers were tall and addicted to working out.
He caught me by the shoulders before I could stumble back, his dark blond eyebrows raised. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t my favorite little criminal sneaking around the executive floor.”
I pressed the folder I’d been carrying against my chest out of habit before realizing the evidence was already planted. “I’m not sneaking. I was dropping off something for Alex.”
His mouth curved into that older-brother,I know you’re lying but I’m too entertained to stop yousmirk. “Uh-huh. Let me guess, something to do with your Big Sister thing?”
I sighed. “It’s not athing. It’s a legitimate foundation with measurable outcomes and?—”
“—and a lot of forms you keep smuggling onto Alex’s desk.” He grinned. “Don’t give me that look. You’re terrible at being stealthy, Lottie.”
I crossed my arms. “It’s for a good cause.”
“I know.” He softened, that teasing glint in his blue eyes fading into something warmer. Nate had always been the bridge between me and the rest of the brothers. Less bossy than Alex, less chaotic than the twins. “Next time, just come to me, okay? I’ve got discretionary funds that don’t require you to risk your life in hostile corporate territory.”
“Hostile corporate territory,” I repeated, deadpan. “Alex’s office is not a war zone.”
