Chapter 3

"You're looking pretty pleased with yourself."

"Hell yeah, I'm thrilled. No more virgin status. So, according to you, I've switched from the 1% to the 99% club of women in the world. I've cooked up a new linguine recipe, and I've got a man who loves me as much as I love him. What's not to love?"

"Is that all you got to say?"

"Do you want a pat on the back and a high five for taking my virginity?"

"If that's what you're after, I might allow it. What I meant was, how did the whole lovemaking thing feel in your head? Your body tells one story, but what was going on in your head?"

"My head was like, 'Making Love' is reserved for someone I genuinely love. It's so intimate and caring that if you don't love and trust the other person entirely, you can't open your heart to them. And if you can't do that, you're setting yourself up for hurt."

"You've got no idea how badly I wish I was free right now. That's the most touching description of love I've ever heard. You'll always be special to me, Laura, but I'm the first guy who's going to hurt you when I have to leave."

"I get it, William, and I've accepted it. I'll be with you as long as you're here. I'll cry when you go, but I'll have memories that'll last a lifetime."

William continued her sex education throughout that weekend and in the weeks and months that followed, until the inevitable happened—Laura became pregnant. On Christmas day, she told him, "I've got a present for you. But you'll have to wait seven months to unwrap it."

He was momentarily puzzled, then his eyes widened, he looked at her, and she grinned. He was over the moon. He reassured her not to worry about a thing. With his wealth, he set up bank accounts, paid doctor bills in advance, and made arrangements for all hospital expenses. She wouldn't have to worry about a single bill, not even a blood test. He went on to secure a healthcare plan for her and the baby. He left no stone unturned; he was going to be a father again.

"William, living in this hotel, I knew you were wealthy. I know it's none of my business, but what do you do to rake in all that cash?"

"I'm a mathematician. I use computers to help people make money. The more they make, the more I make. Pretty successful at it."

"You sneaky jerk! All this time, you could've been helping me with my advanced computer programming, and you just sat there watching me struggle."

"If I'd helped you, you'd never have learned to do it properly. You earned that knowledge the hard way, all on your own. And hey, you got an 'A' in that class, right?"

"Yeah, but I busted my butt for that grade."

"A cute little butt it is."

"In a few months, you won't think so."

"Laura, if you watch your diet and exercise right, you don't have to pack on more than 30 pounds during pregnancy. It'll make it easier for you to bounce back after the baby's born, trust me."

"How do you know all this stuff?"

"I'm a mathematician."

Laura was set to graduate from Manhattan College on May 25. She sent her parents two tickets for the ceremony. A week later, the returned letter stamped "return to sender" shattered her. William decided to send a different kind of message to her parents. He got in touch with a friend who arranged for a guy to pay her father a visit at his furniture business.

Harold Constant wasn't his real name, and he wasn't a real attorney, but he had the business cards and the appearance of one. He strolled into Thomas Garrett's office, they shook hands, and sat down.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Constant?"

Harold tossed the returned letter on the table, and Mr. Garrett looked at it, saying, "This is none of your business."

"You're absolutely right, Mr. Garrett. However, arson for profit is. You see, your neighbors and business associates are about to hear stories about you planning to burn down this building to make money for a more high-tech setup."

"That's absolutely not true. Where did you hear such a rumor?"

"I didn't hear that rumor; I'm about to start it."

"I'm calling the police."

"Go ahead, be my guest. I just came here to ask you about these rumors and find out if they were true. I'll tell them the same thing. When, in a few weeks or months, this place burns down to the ground, and they find out arson caused it, the first and last person they'll be looking at is you."

"So, let me get this straight. You're pulling this crap because I won't show up at my daughter's graduation?"

"Listen up, pal. You're banned from being anywhere near your daughter's graduation – we're talking a 5-mile radius. If you or your wife dare show up, you'll vanish for good. You've disrespected a big shot in our society. He's head over heels for your daughter, and surprise, surprise, she's carrying his kid."

"That damn woman! I knew this was bound to happen. Should've sent her to an all-girls college."

"Thanks a lot, Mr. Garrett. Our business is done. Enjoy your last days. You've insulted my client for the last time. Watch your building go up in flames with you and your wife inside."

"Wait, there's gotta be something I can do?"

"Your daughter's got student loans – a cool sixty-two grand. You'll pay that off before graduation. She's been working her butt off, four days a week for four years just to cover books and fees. That's another forty-eight grand. You blow more than that on strip clubs and hookers. Cut me a check for fifty grand right now. It'll be cashed in 48 hours. Better be good."

"Who should I make it out to?"

"Who do you think, you idiot?"

As Thomas Garrett scribbled his daughter's name on the check, his hand shook. It wasn't the money that got under his skin; it was the fact that she had won the war, even though he'd won every battle. Who the hell did she know? Who was backing her that could threaten him and his business? At this point, he needed to take a step back and see the big picture. And that big picture was he wanted to live, not realizing that he only had days left. William had essentially signed his death warrant. No one made Laura cry and lived to tell the tale.

When Laura got the envelope with her father's business letterhead, she was puzzled. No note, just a check for fifty grand and a note at the bottom saying, "Reimbursement for working while in college."

"Damn him! Thinks he can buy me off with a check. He's dead wrong."

About to send it back, William snatched it from her hands, saying, "No. Let me take it. We'll put it to work for our baby."

"Did you have something to do with this?"

"I said I'd never lie to you, and I won't. I sent a lawyer to talk to him. Made sure your old man knew what a jerk he was. How you busted your ass for four years, drowning in student loans, while he's sitting on a pile of cash, refusing to pay for your education. Told him we'd spill some dirty laundry about him that'd wreck his company's rep. Your pops couldn't let that happen. Wrote out this check to you on the spot. He's gonna clear your student loans before graduation day. Warned him if he didn't, he'd find a story in the trades that'd ruin him for good."

"What kind of secrets could my dad have? He's a church guy, gives 10% every year, Sunday school teacher, the whole deal. The church adores him."

"Laura, you're too pure. Your pops, like many small-time execs, keeps two sets of books—one for show, one for him. About 30% of his business is off-the-books cash. He's got offshore accounts your mom doesn't know about. And your dad's got a thing for hookers and strip joints, even messed with young dudes sometimes. He's no saint; he's a mess."

"How did you... How long have you known? Are you some kind of detective?"

"I've got friends in high places. Didn't take 'em long to figure out your old man's deal."

"I love you, William. More than my own life."

"Don't say that again. You got two lives to care for: yours and ours. Protect 'em both, just like I'm protecting you now."

"I promise, even when you're gone, I'll take care of our kid the best I can."

"I know you will. Now, let's hit the sack and continue your education."

"I just graduated college; all that's left is the ceremony."

"That's not the kind of education I had in mind."

"Am I ever gonna graduate from that school of yours?"

"Not as long as I'm around these parts."

"What happens when the belly gets in the way?"

"Plenty of ways to handle that. We'll figure it out. Don't you worry."

"Alright, let's hit the hay; school's back in session."

Driving home one Sunday evening, Thomas and Anne Garrett met their end on a dark, wet highway. Their car flipped, crashed, and went up in flames. It wasn't just an accident.

Laura didn't learn about it until late Tuesday afternoon when the cops knocked on her hotel room door. William wasn't around at the time. She didn't really care about her old man biting the dust, but she lost it when they broke the news about her mom.

William walked in, found the cops still there, and asked what the deal was. Laura filled him in, and his reaction was calm, but he told the cops he wanted a full report as soon as it was ready.

He said to her, "I know this is gonna be rough for you. But your old man had over two hundred employees counting on him for their paychecks. Can't let them worry about where their kids' next meal is coming from. We gotta go down to the plant, let 'em know everything's business as usual. Paychecks on time, benefits secure, like your dad's still running the show. I got connections; we'll find someone to manage the place and sell it if that's what you want."

They got there just in time. Workers were standing around, doing nothing. William hollered, "No work, no pay!"

A guy stepped forward, saying, "We weren't sure if we'd get paid, with Mr. Garrett gone."

"I'm Laura Garrett, and I promise if you keep doing your job like you did when my old man was around, your checks and benefits will roll in like clockwork. This week's pay is coming out of my own pocket, 'cause everything in my old man's name is sealed up due to his death. I swear, you and your families will be taken care of right."

Cheers erupted from the workers, and they got back to making their top-notch handmade furniture.

William turned to Laura, "Where you getting the money to pay these guys?"

"Remember that fifty grand check you were gonna put to work for me? Think you could snag it back so I can cover this week's payroll?"

"I could do that, or I could loan it to you and take it out in trade."

"William, I already owe you too much. I never want to find myself asking you for money."

"The deal I had in mind is worth more than all the tea in China."

Laura hit him with, "You get that for free. Actually, I should be paying you. You're the teacher, and I'm just the student at that school."

"If you're up for it, you can start paying me back tonight with the reverse cowgirl. I'll even play the bongos on your behind."

"If that's the best you got, tonight's class is gonna be an easy 'A.'"

"Exactly what I said, right? An easy piece of ASS."

"Keep it up, William, and you're gonna be in more trouble than you can handle."

"Hear a little Irish temper flaring?"

"When the blond in my hair disappears, and only the red stays, you better hope you're in Italy 'cause nowhere in the U.S. will be safe for you."

"How did your old man survive with all the arguments you must've had with him?"

"Mom always played referee. Not for my protection, but his. She wanted to keep me out of jail for killing him."

"Laura, moving forward in our relationship, I'm gonna start counting the silverware when we leave the table, especially the knives."

"I could kill you just as easily with a spoon."

"Watching too many Steven Seagal movies, huh?"

"Who's he?"

"Forget you've led a sheltered life. Let's just head home, and I'll take advantage of your body before you decide to off me."

"I won't kill you until after our daughter's born."

"Wait, when did you find out we're having a girl?"

"Had the sonogram this morning. Don't you remember?"

"With everything else going on today, it totally slipped my mind."

"Some father you're gonna be."