Page 91 of Greed

“Isn’t that usually a bad thing?”

“In your case, it is endearing and as beautiful as you are.” Her cheeks flushed instantly, warming beneath my hands. “Come, we are almost there.”

The long corridor opened up into a much smaller lobby. This one held a number of doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff as they stood around drinking sparkling cider and nibbling on the gourmet brunch I had delivered. Tables were decorated with flowers and balloons, and a massive drape hung from the ceiling covering the main event. A wooden podium was situated near the stairs, and I nodded to the head of the hospital.

“What’s going on?” Minny leaned in and whispered. “Is someone special speaking?”

“Wait and see.” I offered her a small smile, and she didn’t question me further, but the raised eyebrow she gave me said plenty. The fluttering in my stomach turned up another notch, making me wish I’d ordered something stronger than the fake champagne.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, now that our guest of honor has arrived, I’d like to get started.” The man who I only knew as Roberts was the one who had spoken, and the room quieted down, all eyes turning toward the podium. “This hospital has always strived to provide the best care to its patients—care that often, even with our best efforts, ends up falling short. The ever-increasing costs that many cannot afford and the lack of equipment that has been too expensive to replace have caused far too many to go without the critical treatment that they so desperately need. It is only through the donations of very generous individuals and companies that have allowed us to keep our doors open. Every year it has become more difficult to meet our goals, but this year we had a new sponsor step forward out of the shadows and become not just a donor, but a major contributor to this hospital.”

Roberts stopped and smiled as people clapped with the news.

“Yes, please do clap,” Roberts said and clapped himself. I smirked as Minny began clapping as well. “Not only has this new sponsor offered to build a new cancer wing for this hospital complete with all the newest and cutting-edge equipment that will undoubtedly save countless lives.” Roberts stopped and made sure the clapping had died down before continuing. “This sponsor has also offered enough annual funding to hire fifteen new doctors, a hundred new nurses, and….” He paused again as a gasp rose from the crowd. “This generous person has also offered to fund five thousand surgeries for those that otherwise couldn’t receive treatment.” Roberts clapped, and everyone paused and started looking around to find the source of this donation.

Minny, on the other hand, was smiling up at me. I gave her a wink and turned my attention back to Roberts. The best was yet to come.

“Without any further ado, we are honored to name the new cancer wing in honor of this charitable person.” Roberts walked over to the tie that released the drape, and I couldn’t help but stare at Minny. Her face went from a smile to one of shock, and then she quickly covered her mouth as tears welled in her blue eyes.

“Minetta Johnson, it is with great honor that we name the new cancer wing and all those lives that will be saved in the memory of Douglas Johnson. Your father was a cancer fighter that lost his battle, but his legacy and memory will forever live on with your unbelievable kindness. Thank you, from all of us to you.”

Claps erupted, and people turned in our direction as Roberts pointed to Minny beside me. I slowly stepped away, clapping and smiling wide at the woman that had a heart made of the pure gold I’d coveted for so long. She looked to me and then back up at the golden sign proudly announcing Douglas Johnson Cancer Wing. People swarmed in to shake her hand and offer their personal thanks. For as long as I had lived and watched this world change, I knew I would never forget the happy smile on her face and the appreciative look in her eyes.

I gave her space to talk to those that approached her before I wandered over and smiled at the handsome surgeon that was spending a little more time than necessary with my Minny.“Excuse me, but I must cut in.” I smiled at the man, but my eyes clearly shouted, ‘back off, she’s mine.’

Taking the hint, he shook Minny’s hand, and we were blissfully left alone. “Are you really okay with this? I know you’re not a fan of me spending great gobs of money on you,” I asked, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“Riker…I…I have no words to tell you what this means to me. You gave me this, but really you gave something far greater than either of us. Do you even comprehend how many lives you will change with this?” She pointed to the sign. “You’re an amazing man Riker. I don’t care what you think of yourself, or who you were, or even how you ended up here on Earth. What I see, what I know is that the man before me is a man that has a beautiful soul. Tarnished maybe, but beautiful nonetheless.” A pooling of warmth spread from my stomach to fill me up with a strange giddy sensation. I hadn’t smiled this wide in so long, and it was all her fault. “Kiss me,” she whispered.

“Gladly.” Placing her hand over my heart so she could feel it pound, I lowered my lips to hers. As always, they were warm and soft and tasted divine. I didn’t give a shit if the entire hospital saw us, and I deepened the kiss as if no one could see. Breaking the kiss before I pulled her to the floor, I stared at her swollen lips then into her glazed eyes. I opened my mouth, trying to say the words, but nothing would come out. How could three little words be so difficult to speak?

Minny placed a finger over my lips and smiled. “I know,” she said. Rising on her tiptoes, she kissed my cheek. “You’re amazing, Riker. Never forget it.”

She hadn’t been this happy since before her dad passed away, and her entire world shifted. Even with the sadness of losing Toby, what Riker had done would ensure the kindness and warmth of her father’s heart would live on forever. In essence, they would both live on since Riker was also increasing the funding to the therapy dog program in honor of Toby.

She hadn’t even known what to say to him. It was way over the top, which was totally him, and yet it was done in a way that would help others. She didn’t need expensive things, but this…now this she could accept. She glanced up at him as they walked and realized that he’d always be greed, yet he was different. She hadn’t believed Michael, but what he’d done today was proof that he could be a better version of the sin, a better version of himself. And suddenly, she wanted to be here for every second of it.

They stepped outside, and the night was perfect. The heat of the day was gone leaving the warmth, but the gentle breeze in the aftermath of the humidity left a freshness behind.

“Wait here, I’ll go get the car,” Riker gave her lips a quick peck, and he began weaving his way through the large, busy parking area.

Minetta took a deep breath, the joy of the day filling her. She was sure she was glowing because she was that happy.

A sound reached her ears, and she looked to her left, not seeing anything, but she was sure that she’d heard crying. When she didn’t see anything, she turned her attention back to Riker and could no longer see him among the throngs of endless cars. The sound reached her again, and her head snapped in the direction of the crying. This time she did see movement. Off to the side of the building, there was a small, huddled figure in the shadowed area.

It looked like a small girl, long hair hanging around her face. She couldn’t make out all the features, but the child was certainly in distress.

“Hey there, are you okay,” she asked and stepped toward the child. “Do you have parents around here?” She looked around and didn’t see anyone that seemed to be missing a child. In fact, there were only a couple of people, and neither was close. No one was running out the door looking for a missing child. Did she wander over here all on her own?

Minetta took another step toward the child, and she sniffed and wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Can you speak?”

The dark-haired child looked up with wide eyes and darted away. Not giving it a second thought, she took after the child. She was way too young to be out here all alone.

“Hey, stop, I won’t hurt you,” Minetta called out as she jogged around the corner of the hospital into the darkened alley. “I promise I won’t hurt you. Did you need the hospital? Is that why you’re here?” She could just make out the small shape crouched by the dumpster. She took a few small tentative steps toward the terrified child. When the little girl didn’t bolt, she took a few more steps.

“My name is Minetta, but everyone calls me Minny. What’s your name?” She mimicked the position and crouched down, keeping some distance not to scare the frightened girl.

“Rabbith,” the voice hissed. Minetta froze—the voice was way too deep to be that of a little girl. A coolness brushed over her skin as she shivered, and the hair stood up on her arms. The small shape of the child began to morph and twist, and shock kept her paralyzed in place. Her eyes were glued where the small child had once been.