Chapter 1

"Hi, my name is Brad Moyer and I work for Bryant Innovative Solutions." I shuffled nervously, not quite sure what to do with my hands. "I'm the Vice President of Operations for the Adairsville office." Quickly I sat down, not wanting to remain in the spotlight any longer than absolutely necessary. I really hated these seminars, but this particular one came highly recommended by my boss. Translated into his language meant, if you don't go, you might find yourself on the chopping block.

"Hi, I'm Joyce." The woman seated next to me started her introduction, but my mind was already wandering to things that I would need to get caught up on when I got back to the office on Monday.

"I don't know what the hell I'm doing here anyway." I thought silently to myself. Conducting Employee Performance Evaluations was for Human Resources. Not VP's of Operations. I had more important things to do than sit in a hotel conference room, introducing my self to a room full of people, in alcoholics anonymous fashion, that I was never going to see again, professionally or otherwise.

I spent most of the morning trashing my boss within my own thoughts, and playing with my palm pilot, until I heard the instructor call for the lunch break. "We need you back in your seats at." He looked at his watch, "One twenty-two." Seemed like an odd time to return, and probably was more of a test to see if we were paying attention then anything else. Those that weren't, would either show back up at one o'clock, or one thirty, and It escapes me what the purpose of this test would be, unless they were taking a survey, because as I mentioned before, I wasn't going to ever see these people again, professionally or otherwise, but it gave me an hour and a half for lunch in any case.

I got up from my chair, and explored my options. I could go to the restaurant in the hotel lobby, and spend way too much for food that was way too bad, or I could try to get my car out of the concrete maze they called a parking garage, and get something. This meant however that I then had to try to find another spot in the aforementioned maze, then for the second time in one day agonize over trying to remember where my car actually was parked. Option three turned out to be the best. Leave the hotel, get some fresh air, and contemplate whether anyone would notice if I left for the rest of the afternoon.

I found the carousel style door at the exit and wound my way through to the outside. It was a cool fall afternoon with the sun shining, and a pleasant breeze coming in from the North. I found a bench that surrounded a fountain, long shut down for the winter, but it was in the sunshine, and it felt good on my face. "Things could be worse," I told myself as I sat down. "It could be Atlanta in August."

The Palm Pilot in my lapel pocket started to beep, so I pulled it out to see what I'd either forgotten to do, or which E-mail needed an urgent response. TRANSFER FUNDS TO BILL PAY ACCOUNT was the message, which reminded me that I also needed to add another credit card payment to the auto pay feature that my bank had. I'd just fired my accountant, I thought the son-of-a-bitch was stealing money from me but couldn't prove it, and I hadn't found a replacement yet. I promised that I'd fire up my laptop when I got back to the classroom and transfer the funds online. I reflected on how well I'd actually done with my life. I was a pretty successful businessman in my early forties. I'd owned and operated my own business, and then sold it when the right offer came in. I took this job as a favor to a former co-worker who'd built a good business and needed a leader to take over a division, because he'd become too busy running the entire North American operation. I didn't need the money, but I was too young to retire and needed something to keep me out of the strip bars and off of the golf courses.

I'd managed to keep myself in pretty good shape for forty-one. I still had a washboard stomach, my shoulders were still broad, and I usually attracted the attention of the youngest of the fair sex whom were probably looking for their next sugar daddy to take them under his wing. My hair was probably the only thing that, while it was all still there, had started turning gray around the temples, and started turning salt and pepper all over. My secretary tells me that it makes me look distinguished, especially with the Go-tee I'd had on my face for the better part of ten years, but she is one of the younger women that could be looking for a sugar daddy.

I saw the usual sights in any big city. The endless flow of yellow cabs, and busses heading hear and there, and the occasional homeless person trying to score their next meal, or next fix from those that on appearance were better off then they were. I was deep in thought when one of those people came up to me and asked me if I had some spare change. I looked up and to my surprise there was a young lady standing in front of me that looked a lot older then I suspected she actually was. Her hair was cut short and looked like it was probably cut by herself, more to keep it out of her eyes than anything else.

"What are you looking at?" She said with her hand still out in front of her. "You got any change or what?"

I was taken aback slightly. Here was this young person, looking like she'd just crawled out of a dumpster taking an attitude with me. I put my hand in my pocket, and pulled out my money clip. I peeled a hundred-dollar bill off of it. "I got a deal for you." I said. "I'll give you what's left over from this, if you'll let me buy you lunch at that restaurant over there." I pointed to a diner on the corner. A place that wasn't real rich, my goal wasn't to embarrass her, but it looked decent enough that neither of us should wind up with food poisoning either.

She dropped her hand and put it on her hip. "You think I'm stupid don't you." She shook her head and started to walk away.

"Why would you say that?" I questioned, the hundred-dollar bill still in my fingers.

She cocked her hip and fluffed the back of her hair. "You think I'm going to believe that you simply want my company for lunch, and that's going to be worth a hundred bucks?"

"Suit yourself." I said putting the hundred back into my pocket. "I'm just protecting my investment, that's all."

I seemed to peak her curiosity a bit because she stopped. "What investment?" she asked.

"Well," I began, "You've asked me for money. I don't simply give money away without knowing what it's going to be used for." I looked her up and down. "You obviously are in need of some help, and I'm willing to give you that help. What I'm not willing to do is give money to anyone that is going to use it for anything that I don't approve of." She rolled her eyes at me. "I figure that if you are really hungry, and that's why you needed the money, I'd buy you lunch, and we could get to know one another a little. I'm sure that by the end of lunch, I'd either feel pretty good about giving you what was left from the hundred, or I'd know that you were going to give it to the pusher down the street." I crossed my legs. "Either way, I'd know where the money was going to."

"What's the catch?" She asked, a little caution in her voice.

"No catch," I held my hand up with two fingers extended. "Scouts Honor." I stood, put my hands in my pockets. "Shall we?"

Timidly, she shook her head yes, and followed me to the restaurant. Once inside, we found a booth. The waitress sized us both up before asking if we wanted to start with something to drink. I ordered coffee, and my lunch date asked for a coke and the waitress dutifully went to retrieve our drinks.

"I'm Brad by the way." I stuck my hand out over her menu, which she took and shook daintily, like a lady should.

"Carmen," She said, "Like Electra." She smiled revealing stained teeth that were impeccably straight.

"Figure out what you want Carmen?" I asked

"I think I want the All American burger and fries." She studied the menu farther, "With some apple pie alamode for desert."

The waitress came back with our drinks and asked if we were ready to order.

"Yes, we'll both have the All American burger, fries, and she wants apple pie alamode for desert." I looked at Carmen, "Trying to watch my figure." I patted my stomach.

The waitress walked away, writing down our order. "So Carmen, how old are you."

"I'll be twenty two next week." She leered at me through the sides of her eyes. "Why do you want to know that?"

"Just interested," I replied. "I said earlier that we'd get to know each other didn't I?" I didn't give her a chance to answer. "If you don't mind me asking, what is an attractive, seemingly smart young lady doing out here on the streets anyway?"

"I do mind you asking, cause it's none of your business." She looked out the window, that sorrowful, 'feel sorry for me look' on her face.

"I didn't mean anything by it Carmen," I touched her chin and pulled her face towards me. " I'm just curious, that's all."

She looked at me and a tear fell down her face. "I don't really know how it happened." She began.

By the time we finished lunch I found out that her full name was Carmen Marie Reins. Carmen for her grandmother, and Marie from her Aunt, on her father's side. She was in Atlanta because she was going to college at Georgia Tech, and she was originally from Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents were killed in a car accident, she didn't have any other family, but she wanted to continue school. She lightened her schedule at school and found a job to try to cover the expenses of school, books and a place to live. After one semester, she realized that she couldn't afford to keep going to school and keep her apartment, so, she had to quit school. A short time later, she lost her job, then her apartment, and she's been on the streets for about a year and three months off and on.

"I just don't know anyone in town, and I keep thinking that someday, I'll get another job, and I'll be back on my feet." She finished up her story. It's probably taking so long because I won't turn tricks, so don't ask." She said defiantly.

"I wasn't going to." I finished my hamburger, and pushed my plate away from me. I was touched by her story and really wanted to help her out. I wasn't in the habit of giving out charity either, so that left me with a bit of a predicament.

"Well, that's my story, what's yours?" She was still chewing her fries and sliding her pie in front of her.

I looked at my watch, and realized that I was going to be late for my class, and knowing my luck, my boss has asked someone from the seminar to call him if I don't show back up to finish. "I don't have time right now, I'm running late, but let me ask you a question." I said, motioning to the waitress for the check. "Do you trust me so far Carmen?" I studied the girls face looking for a reaction. "I mean as much as you possibly could after a little over an hour."

"I don't know," she shifted in her chair, not looking up at me. "It depends I guess."

"On What?" I asked.

"On what you wanted me to do." She offered. "I mean," she slurped the last bit of coke from her glass. "I'm not going to carry a package for you, or go meet someone for you." I chuckled at her response quietly. "No, I'm not talking about that." I paid the waitress with a twenty, and slid the hundred across the table towards Carmen covered by one of my business cards. "I think I could help you out."

"How's that?" She looked at me suspiciously, taking the hundred quickly and stuffing it into her pocket. "I'm not lookin' for a sugar daddy."

"I'm not looking to be one." I told her. "I'm talking about a place to stay, and a job." I sat back. "No strings, and no commitments, other than doing your job, and doing it the best that you can." I studied her for a reaction.

"What would I be doing?" she asked after a moment of thought.

"Working for me." I suggested. "I have a really big house, and I'm hardly ever home. I need a housekeeper, and personal secretary to help me out."

She backed against the chair looking at me with a certain disdain in her eyes. "And what would I be doing for you?" She almost snarled through gritted teeth.

"Nothing like what your thinking Carmen. I promise." I started to get up to leave, and offered my hand to help her up. "I'm offering you a new start, a clean, warm place to live, and an income." We walked outside into the sunlight. "You'd be cleaning, answering phones, cooking the occasional meal and basically taking care of the house for me. I'll be there sometimes, and gone others. You'll have your own room and bathroom, and I'll pay you four hundred dollars a week, you'll have access to a car, and you'll live in my house for free." She seemed to be thinking about it. "When you think that you've got enough money to make a fresh start, you'll be free to leave, no questions, or ties to me what so ever." I walked slowly back across the courtyard with Carmen following me.

"I don't know." She said shaking her head slowly back and forth, not sure if I could be trusted or not.

"I'll tell you what." I stopped and put my hands in my pockets. "I'm going to be in this seminar until about four-thirty or five this afternoon. If you want to go with me tonight, be out front here." I touched her chin and pulled her face up to look at me. "If you don't make up your mind by then, you've got my business card that has my cell phone number on it. If you make up your mind that you'd like to work for me, give me a call." I held my hands up in a surrendering motion. "No pressure."

She looked at me, still not sure if she could trust me, should trust me. "Ok, if I decide to take you up on your offer, I'll be here."

I stuck out my hand, which she shook. "It was nice to meet you Carmen. I hope to see you again." I turned and walked through the revolving door back into seminar hell.

I listened to the instructor talk about what employees really want, and most of it wasn't money, he said. According to him, the average employee wanted recognition. Interesting thought, and probably true on the top ten lists. But, recognition, as nice as it may be didn't put food on the table. To be honest, I really did learn a thing or two that I "didn't know I didn't know" as the instructor put it.

It was hard to concentrate on anything he was saying because I couldn't stop thinking about Carmen. I wasn't attracted to her, was I? In any case, I saw something that really drew me to her. It wasn't her looks, or the sound of her voice, but more her attitude. The attitude that I can do anything, if I could just get out of this hole I've found myself in. She was a beautiful girl, but was that the only thing that I found interesting? She wasn't stupid by any stretch, and not too naïve, as people in their early twenties seemed to be these days. She seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, and would probably go places one day. I only hoped that I could offer the hand up that she so desperately needed, and that she would take the hand offered.

More than anything that could have possibly drawn me to her was the need I seemingly had to take care of someone. I've never been married, and don't really date all that much. I live in a very nice home that's too big for just one person, but it was a wise investment. It's always a wise investment with me and relationships have never seemed all that wise, or necessary, until recently that is.

I was helping human resources plan the company banquet over the summer and saw the guest list. All of the names of my employees with "and Wife" or "and Husband" following their names got to me a little. I'd never been Bradley Moyer, "and Wife" on any list. I always used the "I'm to busy" excuse when asked why I don't date, or why I'm not married and it always worked until now. At forty-one, I had to admit that I was lonely and that was probably the biggest reason for seeking Carmen as an employee. I felt like there might be ulterior motives on my part, but I tried to push them back and buried them, telling myself that I simply wanted to help her.

At about four o'clock the instructor, claiming that we'd all been great and he'd had such a good time, announced that we got everything done and were getting out early and please don't forget to stop by and check out the selection of learning materials they had at the back of the room. I packed up my pens and paper, put my laptop back in my briefcase, and headed for the hotel front entrance.

I'd told Carmen that I'd be her until four-thirty, so I found my comfortable bench and sat down, getting comfortable. I checked some E-mail, and got my phone messages. Checked my calendar and "to do list" all the while checking my watch about every five minutes or so.

"I just have to clean, cook and answer the phone right?" A voice from behind me said. "No hanky panky, help you wash your back or tuck you in at night bullshit right?

I turned around to see Carmen carrying a small backpack that was every bit as dirty as she was. "No hanky panky, I promise." I said, looking right into her scared eyes. "Just a hand up for someone that desperately needs it. No charity, no tricks and no bullshit." I couldn't help but smile at her.

She looked cautiously at me one final time, "Ok, lets go." She said.

She followed me to my car, I put her backpack in the trunk and admittedly, we kept the windows open for the hour drive from Atlanta to Adairsville. On the way to my house, we didn't say much to each other, but just kind of got used to the other one being in our own personal space.

We pulled up to the front gate, I pushed a button on the dashboard and it opened. I could see her grip tightening on the armrest. "This house was built just after the civil war." I commented, trying to break the silence. The house must have seemed huge, and ominous to someone that hadn't seen it before and whom was already as apprehensive as she must have been. I pulled the Mercedes into the parking garage next to the other cars in my collection, and saw her start to look around for the first time. I set the brake, pushed the trunk release and then shut the motor off. "Get your bag, and I'll show you where you'll be sleeping, then we'll go over some of the things you'll need to know while you're here."

"Like what?" she asked, getting her bag out of the trunk.

"Like the alarm codes, and how to get out of the front gate." I looked at her. "In case you wanted to leave." That statement seemed to relax her stance a little.

We walked through the back door, and I showed her where the alarm control box was, and what the code was to shut the system down, realizing full well that if she had a friend that followed her, I was sure to get robbed sometime tonight. For some unknown reason though, I trusted her. She'd given me no reason not to believe that what she told me was the truth. She followed me up the stairs, and to the spare room. A large room that had a joining bath that I could tell was bigger than anyplace she'd ever lived before. I babbled about the history of the place some to which she nodded and smiled, at least pretending to be interested.

"We'll go over everything after you've showered and changed clothes. Do you have anything you want washed before you get dressed again?" I tried to ask as politely as possible without telling her that she really stunk and all that she owned probably needed to be burned. "I don't have any woman's clothes here, or I'd offer you something clean to put on."

"Do you have any sweats?" she asked, obviously embarrassed at what she was going to look like in anything that was packed in her bag.

"I think I can manage that." I said. "They're going to be big on you, but they'll work." I went to my room and got the sweats for her to wear. "We'll go shopping in the morning and get you some proper clothes." I stopped at the door of the room. While I was gone, she'd laid down on the bed, and was already asleep. I set the sweats down on the corner of the bed, gently covered her up with a blanket that was folded at the foot, picked up her bag and quietly closed the door.

I couldn't help but look into her backpack, out of pure curiosity, call it nosiness if you must, but I told myself that it was to make sure that she wasn't carrying any hand grenades or nuclear explosives. One can never be too careful these days. There was a pair of jeans that looked like they hadn't seen a washing machine in years, a blouse that looked like at one time was pretty, but had been stained and even torn in one place. A bra and a couple of pairs of panties completed her entire wardrobe. There was a book that was missing the cover and seemed to be poetry from various authors. I noted the sizes of all of the clothes as they all went into the washing machine along with the backpack.

Once her clothes were clean and dry, I folded everything neatly, and headed upstairs. I quietly knocked on the door, hearing nothing I entered and found her just as I'd left her. Sound asleep, even snoring but looking like an angel. So innocent, and helpless was she. Although, even asleep, she had an independent air about her and I hoped that I could help bring that out of her again.

I went back down stairs, went to my den and sat down at my desk. It was only Thursday but I needed some time off. I made the decision that I was going to take tomorrow off to show Carmen the house, and go shopping to get her the necessities that every woman needs to have. I worked for an hour or two, went to the kitchen for something to eat and then went to bed myself.

I woke up early as usual, showered, dressed and checked on my guest. Sometime during the night, she'd gotten up, and showered at least, but had gone back to bed. I closed the door quietly and went down stairs to make breakfast.

I was in the middle of scrambling eggs when she came down the stairs wearing the jeans that I'd washed and the blouse with the hole in the sleeve. "I thought I was supposed to do the cooking." She said entering the kitchen.

"So you can start on Monday." I answered. "Coffee?" I held up the coffee pot.

"Mmm yea, that sounds wonderful." She cooed.

I poured her a cup, and put it in front of her. "Scrambled ok?" I said pouring the eggs into a hot skillet. Seeing her nod a yes, I put the empty bowel in the sink.

"I figured we'd go shopping today if you'd like." I watched for a reaction. "I hope you don't mind that I washed your clothes. I wasn't trying to be nosey, honest." I apologized. "Lets call it an advance, or a sign on bonus." I said without looking up at her.

"Fine, uh, ok I guess." She said putting down her coffee cup. "Brad, I'm still not too sure what to make of all of this." She admitted.

I looked at her sympathetically, "What do you mean?"

She fidgeted with her fingers, trying to get the remaining dirt out from under her fingernails. "I mean, I'm working for you, but you obviously don't need any ones help, and now you're offering to take me shopping and spend who knows what on who knows what." She looked up at me. "I guess I'm trying to figure out where you're going with all of this."

I continued to stir the eggs in the pan. "Carmen," I began without looking up at her. "I'm just a lonely old guy with more money than I can possibly spend. I've never married, I don't have any children and I don't have any living relatives anymore." I looked up at her more to gauge her reaction to what she heard. "I saw you yesterday, defiant and proud, even though your situation was less than desirable." I spooned the eggs onto two plates that already had melons and orange slices on them, picked them up and carried them around the breakfast bar, sitting next to her.

"So you're looking for a family?" Distrust had entered her voice.

"Not so much, I don't think anyway," I picked up my coffee cup. "I guess I'm looking for companionship of a kind."

She was moving her eggs around on her plate, not eating. "I'm not sure if I can do that Brad." She finally put a fork full of eggs in her mouth. "I'm not sure if I want to."

I chewed my food longer than usual, and finally swallowed, allowing me time to take in what she'd just said. "Carmen, I didn't mean that I'm trying to buy a wife here. You needed help, and I wanted to give it to you." I looked up at her, "If it turns out that you really can't stand being around me, or simply want to move on, you know where the door is, and I will never stop you from leaving if that's what you want to do. I'll be honest, I'm attracted to you, but I'll never force myself on you." I studied her for reaction, and got none.

She finished her breakfast in silence, and picked up her coffee cup when she was finished, looking at me. "I've got to admit Brad, that I'm attracted to you too, but, I can't decide if it's because you are offering to be my night in shining armor, which means that they aren't real, or if there really is chemistry here and then I'm not sure what to do with it."

I smiled at her comment, elated that there was a mutual attraction of some kind here at all. "I kind of know what you mean." I answered turning towards her. "I am having trouble deciding whether I'm attracted to you because of the stray puppy, oh mommy can we keep her, syndrome, or whether it's real." I admitted. "In either case, our original agreement stands, regardless of where this may or may not lead to, and we can just see where it goes." I stood up taking her plate, and mine to the sink.

She seemed to think about this for a minute, looking across the kitchen in a stare. She finally put her coffee cup down and said, "Ok, no more serious conversations." Matter of factly. "If that's ok with you?" she said rather sheepishly.

I tossed the left over melon and orange peels in the trashcan and turned towards her. "On one condition." I held up a finger. "Today, you let me spoil you, and give you everything that you want, and that I want you to have."

"But." She started to protest. "I can't..."

"No, no, no." I protested. "I want to, and when I want to do something I pretty much do it."

She smiled a happy, almost little girl like smile and stood up. "Ok, I'm all yours today." She started walking away, then turned back towards me. "Can I use, I mean, do you have," she looked a little embarrassed. She finally put her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side. " I need a toothbrush." She slapped her hand on her leg triumphant that she got it out and obviously embarrassed by the fact that she didn't have one.

I looked at her sympathetically, "Sure sweetie, I'll get you one." I squeezed her shoulder on my way past her on the stairs, went to my bathroom, and retrieved a new tooth brush, and a new tube of toothpaste, still in the box.

About twenty minutes later, she came down stairs obviously flustered with her appearance. "You're going to be embarrassed to be seen with me, but I can't help it."

"Embarrassed?" I scoffed. "I'd never be embarrassed to be seen with you."

I stuck out my arm, as if to escort her to the garage, she took my arm, kissed me on the cheek, and thanked me.

"For what?" I asked

"For being a nice guy." She answered. "I never in a million years thought that anyone could possibly be as nice as you." She laid her head down on my shoulder and squeezed my arm.

The ride into town was for the most part uneventful. She picked a rock radio station that wasn't too hard, and we both rolled the windows down. I couldn't help but look over at her, imagining what she was going to look like after we were through today. "Where to first?" I asked, turning the radio down.

"I think someplace to get some clothes. I pretty much need everything." She said looking down at the hole in the arm of her blouse, obviously embarrassed at her appearance.

"Everything huh?" I couldn't take her to the Mall, we'd have to walk around a crowded department store to get to the clothing store, then she'd have to browse through the rows and rows of clothes to find something, then perhaps face the embarrassment of either wearing the clothes out of the store, or carrying them out, and finding someplace to change. I couldn't decide what to do so I asked her. "We can go to the Mall, or someplace a little more discrete first. Your call."

A look of sheer horror came across her face. "I can't walk into the mall looking like this. Not with you anyway. People will think I'm a two bit hooker for sure." She protested. "Can you just go in a grab me something presentable, then I can change before we go in?" The pleading eyes were too much for me to bear. "Please, can you?"

How could I turn her down? "Sure sweetheart, tell me the sizes and I'll get you anything you want.

I pulled up to a small boutique down town, and parked on one of the side streets. She told me her dress size, and shoe size, telling me that anything that doesn't have holes in it will work, and dress will be easier to change into. With my list in hand, I entered the store and quickly became overwhelmed at all of the choices. A helpful sales girl saw my confusion and hurried right over.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Yea, I'm looking for a gift for my, uh, girlfriend." I mused at how that sounded, especially when Carmen's sweet face flashed in my mind when I said it.