Billionairess's Dilemma: Reclaiming His Heart

19: Polly’s Plan

Polly

“A charity fashion masquerade for the Transplant Foundation?” Coline asks as she skims through the packet I made for this.

“Yes. I want to expand the foundation to cover more than just Atherton. Mel says the biggest need in that way is counselors. Two of the siblings in the session I’ve been attending drive an hour each way to come. There are almost no counselors in the area that offer this type of service like Mel does. Or the prices are exorbitant and it's not nearly as effective as his methods. And they need to be compensated, but their cost was almost triple the norm. This could allow Mel to train others with a biannual seminar. We could expand Atherton by offering transportation here for more people until a satellite counseling office could be opened. Or we expand here with virtual sessions. That part needs to be more fluid until we start training more people and see where they could operate or which model might fit better for this.”

Kevin gives an approving nod. "Mel is the best. I tried a counselor in California and they were terrible. Why I continued with him virtually."

Mom reads farther through. “You’d use all your designs that Coline and I approve. How would you pay models?”

“Ask for volunteers. There are many who are on the lower tier or are trying to get noticed. If we tie this in to the Beaumont name plus the foundation, I think we’d get plenty of publicity. We could hire some too but honestly, I’m hoping to save that money.”

Uncle Henry thumbs through the designs for the runway and other things. “We could make it an auction too. Dinners and dances.” He grins at Uncle Ellis. “Invite people from other cities.”

The warning growl that leaves Uncle Ellis’s throat has even me thinking about shrinking back.

“If you invite that jackass, I will enter Brad into the six week food network baking challenge and donate enough money to make sure he participates. For the next five years.” He doesn’t move a muscle and that voice is as cold as ever.

Uncle Henry holds up his hands and raises his feet. “I surrender sharkhead. Isn’t he married now?”

“No. His wife passed away two years ago. And he has my utmost sympathy for that, but he kissed Laurel’s hand and told her she was still one of the most gorgeous women he knows. That was two months ago at a dinner.” His eyes flash as he finishes.

“Death wish…” Uncle Klein sings.

“Maybe he wants to join his wife. I mean why provoke a great white otherwise.” Kevin says with a shrug. Klein points to him with his pen.

"You could be onto something there, young sharklet." Klein winks at him.

Just then, Aunt Relly walks in holding a huge tray of coffee cups. Uncle Ellis is instantly moving to take them from her. She's grinning as he pulls out her chair. "I'm only yours. I think Christopher likes to mess with you to this day." Her eyes are sparkling at him, but he shakes his head.

Kevin leans over and whispers into my ear. "Christopher Falden. Jelly Uncle Elly still exists."

I hide my laugh, taking a sip of my coffee. We all know about him.

Uncle Henry intervenes. "Come on Cinderelly. Let him think you might have paid attention. He'll probably take you on another vacation somewhere exotic or untouchable to make sure you are far out of ole Falden's hands. I'm only trying to help you out."

"More like I'll put him in a shark cage into the deepest ocean trench if he touches my wife again." Uncle Ellis says with a slight smirk.

Klein adds humorlessly. "Christos has a really nice ocean worthy boat."

"Alright guys, get serious here." Relly says.

"We were." Uncle Ellis says to her with a grin. "I'm happy to throw my name and full publicity behind this Polly. It's a well thought out idea and I agree with you about this possibly spreading beyond Atherton with counselors. I think Mel and several others here could host seminars for training. I'm more than willing to fund those seminars also." He means it. Kevin said he pumps almost a billion dollars a year into the foundation on his own before other donations and fundraisers.

"If this is successful, we could make this an annual thing." Coline adds. "I'd love to do this instead of traveling to put on a gala.

"I would be all in for that." Mom adds.

"We could make it a masquerade fashion gala with an auction. We could do an auction for dances like that one we went to for the medically fragile kids. But we could add in other things, like a one on one hockey lesson with a pro. Think some of our Icewing friends might participate?" Relly turns toward Ellis.

He nods. "I'm sure they would. They love the charity game. I'll reach out. Liam might even be willing to do something with some ex-pro players."

They all begin throwing out ideas for possible other things to auction off and I meet Mom's eyes. She smiles sadly at me.

"Also, I want to make sure we invite the Thorntons to this." I announce and Kevin nods too. We discussed this. I want him to see Kevin and I talking and realize he didn't succeed. The whole table has gone silent.

I watch as the male sharks all exchange long looks. What do they know that we don't? After a few minutes where I swear they can talk telepathically, they each nod slowly.

Kyle glances hard at Kevin. "That would work for us. You will have a bodyguard stuck to you like glue as will Polly. Even if they weren't invited, that is nonnegotiable."

"Understood." Kevin says quietly. "I mean we already each have one." He raises an eyebrow at his parents. I glance at them as Kyle slowly smiles. I didn't realize Kevin had one too.

Uncle Goose answers. "Told you he'd make the bodyguard. Captain Cold is a lot sharper than you give him credit for."

"We don't care if he makes the bodyguard. We wanted them discreet enough that Archer doesn't make the bodyguard." Klein points out to him.

Ellis joins in. "And we wanted Kevin unaware because otherwise he'd subtly look for them. Anyone watching him closely would notice the movements."

Sneaky sharks. Relly winks at us. "You have to watch these four. Papa T and Graddad too."

"Polly, you will meet with our public relations manager, Helen tomorrow. I'll give her your contact information so she can set up the time. We only have three weeks to get this done. Are you prepared for that?" Ellis gives me a serious look. I'm no longer the kid at the table I once was. I can see the shift in how he talks to me and stares at me.

"Yes. I am ready." I assure him confidently. I will get this done. It's a big deal and I finally feel like I've found a real passion for something besides design.

"Then it's full steam ahead." Ellis says reorganizing the folder I handed him.

"Polly we need to get these designs into production ASAP. Also are these the rest you want me to consider?" Mom holds up an extra large portfolio case I gave her.

"Yes those are the final sketches for the rest of my collection."

"It will need a name." She gives me a meaningful look.

"It has one. It would be a surprise for the event though." I cut my eyes toward Kevin at my side and she smiles slowly.

Everyone starts getting up from the table. Mom leans over though and touches Kevin's hand. "I owe you a big apology Kevin. I ignored all the suggestions that Polly needed to visit the counselors. I hope you forgive me too at some point."

He gives her a small smile. "Nothing to forgive. It happened and we will all move past it with time."

"I hope so."

She leaves and I tell her I'll be at her office in an hour.

"You truly put a lot of thought and time into this idea, Polly." Kevin says quietly as he stares at one of the promotional posters I mocked up.

"Because I realized how important this is. Going to sessions and volunteering there opened my eyes to so much. I see now why your parents and everyone else makes their kids go there to help at least once a year. I wish Mom had done that with me. I asked her why she didn't especially since Uncle Goose takes Sawyer and Chase a few times to help out around the charity hockey tournament. She basically said she never really thought about it. She always took me to the food bank instead. Which is equally important I know but I could have done both."

"Mel will love all this." He taps the poster before glancing at me. "Thank you Polly." He starts heading out the door.

"Kevin?" He turns to look at me as usual almost blankly. I know he probably worries what could come out of my mouth. We are too much like familiar strangers. I take a deep breath wondering how he'll answer. Once upon a time, I didn't have to question it.

"Would you be my date to the show?"