Gabriel has never seen a check this large with his name on it. He just started culinary school it was going to be a struggle to go to school full time, work part time and live in NYC. This money is a God send!
* * *
"You just started culinary school. I check up on everyone before a meeting. I will give you $10,000 towards your tuition to consider my offer." Minerva said.
* * *
"I'm listening." Gabriel said.
* * *
"Two sisters, one is Alison Gray she's starting an organization and one of her things is making sure her people eat well and eat healthy. Camryn Morgan the young woman scooped up by three tornadoes a few weeks back she likes to attend cooking classes. So what I'm thinking when you reach the point of your training for internship my staff can created a personal chef website? You could host cooking classes and get hired to cook for people. The sisters will be one of your clients and or student." Minerva said.
* * *
Gabriel did like the idea of meeting Camryn before telling her he's her bio dad.
* * *
"Why?" Gabriel said.
* * *
"The less you know the better this will work. They both have a nose for hidden agenda's so if I don't tell you some things there isn't anything for them to discover or for you to give away." Minerva said.
* * *
One lesson he learned well from prison is trust no one.
* * *
"I will have to consider this offer." Gabriel said.
* * *
"Of course. I give you three days and the offer expires." Minerva said.
* * *
Gabriel left Minerva's office. He filled out the paperwork for his direct deposit. He gave them account info for a credit union he rarely uses ...in case these assholes were trying to steal money.
The study is lined with shelves of books in English, French, German, Japanese and Italian. Wesley wonders if anyone has read the books. He had a roommate that liked purchasing books. The guy rarely got past page ten of any book he liked the appearance of being an academic. People are strange. Wesley thought.
* * *
An elderly man enters the room.
* * *
"Hello, son. The invitation was for both you and Camryn." Mitchell said.
* * *
"Yes, it was." Wesley said. "I want to have a chat first." Wesley said.
* * *
Mitchell wonders how much this will cost him.
* * *
"You had 34 years to contact Camryn...why now?" Wesley said.
* * *
"No small talk for you huh?" Mitchell said. "I've kept my eye on Camryn throughout her life. My foundation granted her the full scholarship to attend Columbia. The scholarship included a stipend for her to live on. She's one of the few people of her generation to get a full scholarship. So, son, this is the first time I'm speaking to her not the first time I've approached her." Mitchell said.
* * *
"You didn't answer my question, sir." Wesley said.
* * *
"Witnessing her bouncing around in those tornadoes I said if she survived I would contact her. The Morgan family asked me to keep my distance and well...after a while, I figured the time to contact her had past. But the storms...the Williams the people that found her right after the storm were on I think it was 'Good Morning America' they were going on about what a kind young lady she is. Camryn's birth mother Kara my daughter no one would have ever described her that way." Mitchell said.
* * *
"Camryn's dealing with a lot sir. I'm not sure when or if she wants to meet with you. "Wesley said.
* * *
Wesley wants Camryn to speak to the tornado scientist first and then make one appearance on a TV show first before speaking to Mitchell. If this sad looking old man has made some deal with reporters or a network the interview offer will be void if Camryn makes a statement before this meeting.
* * *
"I imagine she is dealing with a lot. Would $3 million help encourage her mind to meet with me?" Mitchell said.
* * *
Wesley laughs. "You're sitting on a lot of money, Mr. Westbrook." Wesley said.
* * *
"Negotiations have started...what do you feel is a far price Wesley isn't it?" Mitchell said.
* * *
"Yes, sir my name is Wesley James Hunter. This has to do with money...not in the way you think." He said.
* * *
"You want me to give you money so Camryn will come and talk to me." Mitchell said.
* * *
"No sir." Wesley said.
* * *
"No?" Mitchell said. He's intrigued.
* * *
"I did some research and you've always had a lot of money. You could have easily hired nannies, sent Camryn to boarding school but you opted to allow the Morgan's to adopt her. Why?" Wesley asked.
* * *
"... A conversation between Camryn and I." Mitchell said.
* * *
"You want that opportunity... you talk to me." Wesley said.
* * *
Mitchell hasn’t seen this sort of resolve in a young man in years.
* * *
"Camryn came into this world on a scandal. My daughter was convicted of raping a boy and became pregnant. It wouldn't matter what boarding school I sent her to a student, teacher, someone's parent would have recognized her and she would have had a target on her back her entire life. Marked by something she had absolutely nothing to do with. I didn't want that for her. One of my income streams back in the day was an entertainment promotions company. The band Ralph played in was part of the lineup and I made a point of checking on my investments at least once a year. Ralph's wife had a third miscarriages...this time when the baby was six months old and they didn't have it in them to try for another. My partner and I realized we were too old to chase around a baby...it seemed like a win-win." Mitchell said.
* * *
Wesley nods. Camryn told him she was ostracized because people around her feared her ability. Poor girl, she was screwed in all directions. Wesley thought.
* * *
"So, in reality, it was easier for you and happened to work out for Camryn." Wesley said.
* * *
"Is that how you will present it to her? Like I'm a soulless monster that couldn't take the scandal?" Mitchell said.
* * *
"No. If Camryn decides to meet you...I'm giving you the honor to explain yourself. I will share my thoughts about you to her and let her decide. In advance if you come at Camryn with a check like you did me...she will tell you to stick it...this allows you time to refine your approach." Wesley said.
* * *
Wesley shakes Mitchell’s hand. "Thank you for your time, sir." He says and leaves.
* * *
Taylor comes into the study. She places a cup of tea on a desk.
* * *
"He's got a pair of steel ones doesn't he?" She said.
* * *
"Yes, he does. He loves her. He's protecting her. I like him." Mitchell said.
* * *
"He didn't say no to the money." Taylor said.
* * *
"He did. He just didn't say the word no." Mitchell said. He smiles.
"Fair is fair." Momma Pow said.
* * *
Members groan in disagreement.
* * *
"He got his champion in position. No one else's champion registered with her." Holly said.
* * *
"Not true." Reed said.
* * *
"Oh really? She had a one night stand with him and never called him back." Momma Pow said.
* * *
"My champion has put a ringer on that finger." Kevin said.
* * *
"You were supposed to be the champion and Wesley an option." Athena said.
* * *
"I knew Camryn wouldn't respond to me the way she did to Wesley." Ke
vin said.
* * *
"Everyone, please. Calm down. "Holly said.
* * *
"Camryn needs a warrior. I'm not. Wesley is a warrior. "Kevin said.
* * *
"I still think it's cheating." Athena said.
* * *
"It's not. Look we needed someone close to her. She kept everyone on Minerva's payroll at arm's length why? I think she sensed an agenda from them. Wesley's agenda wanting to get in her pants and into her heart--- old fashioned guy stuff. It's an agenda that every woman recognizes with a guy. He's good looking. He's smart. Come on Athena. Don't be like that." Kevin said.
* * *
"If I were really being a sore loser I would tell your best friend some things about you. But we have a greater purpose here." Athena said.
* * *
Kevin blows a kiss at Athena. She gives him the finger. Kevin laughs.
Camryn and Wesley hold hands as they walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Camryn thinks about how different her life is. When she was going to college she was always stressed out and worried. A few months ago she was struggling financially with an asshole abusive boyfriend and scared of herself. Now she's engaged to this tall, handsome, kind man. She has money. She's uncovered another miscalculation. Change is fast, not slow. Times change is subtle and why people believe change is slow.
* * *
"I love you, Camryn Morgan." Wesley said. He smiled.
* * *
"I love you, Wesley Hunter." Camryn said. She smiled. "Camryn Hunter." She said. She shakes her head. "That sounds strange to me. I've been Camryn Morgan all my life. I don't think men really understand what it means when a woman takes his name. Many of you are too busy being offended when a girl doesn't take the last name." She said.
* * *
"Camryn, sweetheart would you please take my last name?" Wesley said.
* * *
"I spent years not knowing who Camryn Morgan is. I will be able to define Camryn Hunter. I have a better idea who I am to myself. Do you remember the creepy painting I told you about Anna's collection? There's no record of it in Anna's paperwork. I need help researching it. I will pay you." She said.
* * *
"You can pay me with pussy." Wesley said. He chuckles.
* * *
"No. No. I think that sets a bad precedence. "Camryn said. She laughs.
* * *
"I disagree." Wesley said.
* * *
"I like having sex with you. Trading on that would make sex a chore. So nah..." Camryn said.
* * *
"A chore...never mind." Wesley said.
* * *
"You need what $2,000 or $5,000 to secure your account with the day trading company?" Camryn said.
* * *
"Closer to $5000, I have some of it." He said.
* * *
"How about I advance you?" Camryn said.
* * *
"You can do that? Ah, sweetheart thank you. We need to have another finance conversation." He said. He smiled.
* * *
"Sure. We can’t stay in Kevin’s place forever.” She said.
* * *
"What do we do about Austin? We still have a lot of unfinished business in New York." Wesley said.
* * *
"I know. I don't like wasting money but we need to break the lease or subletting it if we can. Plus I miss Moses.” Camryn said.
* * *
She dials.
“My name is Camryn Morgan. I need to make an appointment with Minerva Scott. She’ll know what it’s about.” She said.
(Book 2- Continues the story...)
IF: Nowhere To Run (Camryn Morgan Series Book 1) Page 29