“Because in my experience, honest hardworking men are few and far in between.”
“Well, consider me not only a good investor but an honest hardworking man.”
“I’m not doing this,” she said, shaking her head as she attempted to push past me.
I grabbed her shoulders, making her stand in front of me. “OK, IownCashville, Jameela!”
“What?”
It was like the color drained out of her face when I said it. The very reason I didn’t like telling people that I was one of the owners of the hotel and casino was because of reactions like this. It was like I was telling them that I ran the mob. There was a lot of morally gray and even black business going on behind the scenes, but no one knew exactly what the business entailed.
A certain level of wealth tended to repel some people and attract others. I liked to control the flow of both interests. I didn’t want to hide anything from Jameela though. I’d meant what I said when I mentioned wanting to know her and have her in my life beyond a one-night stand.
“Not just me. I own it with three other people.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me that?”
“Because I wanted to prolong having to see that look on your face.”
“Either way, you’re not buying me a car, Nicholas. I don’t care what you own.”
“The sales manager is probably already collecting the commission for the sale.”
She reached out and grabbed my arm. When I looked at her, she was stretching her eyes in a way that was probably menacing to her daughter but looked adorable to me.It was cute that she thought it would work though.
“I’m serious, Nicholas. I can’t let you do that.”
“You said it yourself. You need a safe way to travel with your daughter. You need help with that, so I’m helping you.”
“I barely wanted to let you help get my old car fixed. I definitely can’t let you buy me a whole new one. I know you feel sorry for me. Yes, I need help, but that doesn’t mean it’s on you to help me.”
“No, but it does mean that I won’t lose any sleep wondering if you’re stuck somewhere on the side of the road. It’s too dangerous out there for a mother and child to be stranded.”
She pouted, folding her arms across her chest as the fire returned to her eyes. Oddly, I’d missed her fiery side. “I can handle myself, Nicholas.”
“I’m sure you can, and I don’t feel sorry for you. That’s not the point, Jameela.”
“Well, what is the point? Because I’m not taking a car from you.”
“You’re not taking anything from you. You’re accepting it.”
“Well, I’m not accepting a freaking car from you, Nicholas. You have to admit this is crazy. You don’t get to come in thinking you can just buy me.”
I wanted to tell her that I could buy anything I wanted, but this didn’t feel like the time for that. Besides, I was starting to realize that Jameela wasn’t something that I could just buy. I didn’t even want her to feel like I thought she was. I just wanted to do anything in my power to lighten her load. Understanding her apprehension, I switched gears.
“OK, what if you pay me back?” I asked her.
“How?”
“I’ll figure something out. You just drive the car until I figure something out.”
“You think you’re so smart.”
“Jameela, I’m not trying to buy you or fix your life. I just want to remove some of your life’s obstacles so that you can enjoy it better.”
Those words seemed to shift something in her. She narrowed her eyes, studying my face before she answered.
“Why?” she asked, tilting her head as she waited for my response.
