"Willow, my dude! How about one last fling tonight at my place? We’ll party our heads off!"

I turned around with a deadpan and flipped Chris Grant off. If the crowd wasn’t dressed in robes and waiting in line to receive the high school diploma, I would have punched him in the face. Maybe another person would knee him for harassment, but I wanted to be nowhere near his weenie. Not even if he were the last man on the earth and it was upon me to repopulate it.

I was in a terrible mood already and dealing with the asshole ticked me off further. It had been a week since the call with Mr. Rowe and I had yet to hear back. I had come to the consensus with Lory that if he didn’t call me by that night, I would call him myself.

I was scared that calling him would make the situation worse… that he would get pissed off and dismiss me. The only thing holding me together was that he was across the country and he couldn’t kill me for pestering him.

“Yeah, Willow. You should come to the party tonight.”

I looked to my side and found Joan Ray smiling at me. I stopped myself from shuddering at her voice. There was just something about it that was akin to nails on a chalkboard.

"I’ll pass."

My idea of fun didn’t include being packed into a house with sweaty and drunk people. It also didn’t include being puked on or groped.

"Are you sure? We might never see each other again."

I thanked God in advance if that were the case. I would donate to whatever charity the higher power wanted if they made it come true.

"I bet I will live."

She huffed in irritation at my words. It was hard to resist rolling my eyes.

Joan was a part of a duo with Sasha. They had been downright aggressive since the beginning of high school and nicknamed me "Little Orphan Willow". Much to my displeasure, the nickname caught on when Joan accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend. You ask who that is? Chris Grant. The man I wouldn’t take help from even if I was drowning.

The bullying taught me how to take a step back… become a well-settled person. That was the only good thing that came out of it.

"So, which college will you be attending?"

Of course, Joan knew the answer. Everyone in our school knew of the scholarship drama between Chris and me. And I also knew she was fishing for gossip to spread later on.

“I have decided to dig wells in Africa,” I said blandly. I loved seeing her mouth drop open in shock. I threw a stereotype at her sarcastically and she accepted it without a word. She didn’t even point out how horrible my statement was. Our school needed to restructure the education they gave to students. How was this girl going to survive in the world? “You should pay attention. Your name will be called soon and you don’t want to miss it,” I warned her.

I had to applaud her for graduating with shitty grades. This gave me some comfort. If she could make something of herself, I could do as well. If I kept saying it, it would happen.

Luckily, she turned away from me. I could see Lory waving at me from her seat. I looked past her and at the crowd and a wave of sadness overcame me. It was hard to have no family of my own watching me at this milestone.

I had awoken to find a note from Oliver that morning. It was on the kitchen table and I knew he had come to the house to get the last of his things. I hadn’t even known he had come back. The note contained an apology for not being able to attend graduation and he even left me a generous amount of cash as a parting gift. Another paper came with it. It listed the date I needed to move all my things out and where I had to leave the key to the house. I knew for certain I would never see Oliver again.

I should have been angry. I should have screamed and cried about how unfair it was. But what was the point of it? Nothing would change if I felt sorry for myself. And I was never going to beg Oliver to stay when he had made it clear he wanted to cut ties.

And I was certain I would someday find a place in the world I could call mine. Somewhere where I was wanted and needed.

As I scanned over the faces in the crowd, my eyes landed on a pair of eyes staring right back. It was a man in a dark suit who could have been extended family for any of my classmates. Yet, a strange feeling of familiarity washed over me. I could have sworn I had seen him around town several times over the last few days. Our neighborhood consisted of families that had lived here for decades, so a new face was easy to spot.

I hated to say but he was ordinary looking. With light brown hair, he had nothing particularly distinguishable about him. As I continued to stare, I realized I had seen him near the administrative room at school. He had also bought things at the supermarket a few nights ago when I wash manning the cash counter.

But why was he staring at me?

I shrugged off my concerns and raised my head when my name was called. Much to my shock, I heard a small but distinct round of applause as I walked over to receive my diploma. I gave Lory a smile and turned to her parents with a small nod. I found some of my coworkers from the supermarket too. At least there were a small group of people that had some care about me.

The ceremony ended shortly after I took my seat. Our school didn’t allow hats to be thrown into the air. The graduation gown and hat were rented and losing them would lead to a big fine. I gave back my robes before the others who took pictures with their family. I had little emotional attachment to all things school-related. The only thing I needed was the documentation.

"It's finally over!" Lory took me into a bear hug before dragging me towards her family.

"Congratulations on graduating, girls." Mrs. Adams hugged us both. "Willow, will you join us for dinner?"

They had reserved a table for a celebratory dinner. Though I knew I was welcome, I was not in the mood to join in. I had much more pressing issues to focus on.

"Thank you for inviting me, but I think I have to pack everything at home."

She looked sad as she nodded in understanding. Before Lory could try to change my mind, I was ushered away by the well-wishes of my coworkers from the supermarket. Even the owner handed me a gift card.

“This should help you buy things for college,” he said.

"Thank you," I told him softly.

"You’ll be sorely missed, Willow. But don’t forget us while you are living in the big city. I will be waiting for you to make a name there." I knew he was simply teasing, but I couldn’t joke back.

Make a name for myself? If I was lucky I would have a shoebox to live in and food in my stomach. I had to repress the dissatisfaction from being ignored by Mr. Rowe.

Lory found me again and pulled me aside. "Are you sure you want to go home?" she asked. I squeezed her hand in reassurance.

“I will be fine. I am just not in the mood to celebrate.”

She was silent for a moment. “I will go over to your house after dinner. Packing is better when you have someone to accompany you.”

"Okay." She wasn’t wrong. I would have her by my side rather than be alone in that empty house. I didn’t need a hand to pack my meager belongings, though.

"Willow, hop into the car. We will drop you at your house on our way," Mrs. Adams called out.

"Thank you," I told her.

Lory threaded her arm through mine as she spoke in low tones. “Will you call him when you go home?” she questions.

“I have no other choice,” I said. There was no time left to dilly-dally. I had to contact him.

If only it were that easy.

“How about you wait until I return to make the call? It won’t be late then.” She knew how nervous I was to call. Everything was riding on Mr. Rowe’s decision.

"I’ll let time decide." I remained noncommittal. I would fake being relaxed until I felt it completely. If I kept using Lory as a crutch, I would never be able to stand up on my own.

The conversation remained light on the ride back. They all knew to steer clear of my immediate future. I hopped out of the car and heard Lory yell that she would see me soon. Once inside the house, I stripped off my formal clothes and rushed toward my phone. I was appalled that the school didn't allow phones at the graduation ceremony. Some of the people in the education industry were still living in the dark ages.

I groaned in frustration when I saw that I had no notifications.

I threw myself on the bed and tried to calm myself. There was a possibility he was busy and didn't have time to call me. I really wanted to think he was a good guy. That he would give me a chance.

I was startled out of my thoughts when the doorbell rang.

"Just come in, Lory," I yelled as I ran downstairs. I yanked the front door open, ready to chew her out for rushing her celebratory dinner. Instead, I came face to face with the stranger in the dark suit who had been staring at me during the graduation ceremony.

I should have looked through the loophole before opening the door. I was an idiot!

I was having a breakdown right at my front door. I was close to slamming the door shut and hiding in my room, but my shock prevented me from moving.

"Willow Taylor?" His voice was low and non-threatening. But what would I know what threats sounded like?

My thoughts ran at the pace of lighting: Who was the guy? Was he stalking me?

He noticed I was scared and held his hands up in surrender. He even offered me a guilty smile.

“You may rest assured, Miss Taylor. I mean no harm. My name is Virgil and Mr. Rowe sent me to speak with you.”

My mind went blank for a split second before I narrowed my eyes in suspicion at him.

“Please call Mr. Rowe if you are uncomfortable with me. You can confirm my identity with you before you speak to me.”

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. I glance at my phone, hatching a plan in my head. There was no way in hell I would allow a stranger inside my house on his word alone.

“Please wait here,” I said and started closing the door. I saw him give a short nod before I shut it completely and bolted the door.

I walked into the kitchen and called Mr. Rowe quickly.

"Hello, Miss Taylor."

It sounded like he knew I would be calling. His voice dripped with smugness and I could practically see the smirk on that pretty face of his.

I sucked in a deep breath so that I didn’t reprimand him badly. “Mr. Rowe, there is a man at my front door, claiming that you sent him.”

“Yes. That is Virgil. You can trust him.”

I was tiptoeing at the edge of exploding in anger.

“I would have appreciated a text or a call warning me that you were sending a stranger to my house.”

He snorted. “And those are the words of a girl who may or may not have used illegal means to get a hand on my private information. If I didn’t play along, what fun would there be?”

I had to curse him for his comeback. He must have caught my reaction because he chuckled.

“You effectively scared me, thank you very much, Mr. Rowe.”

"You have no reason to be scared. Virgil can be a nice guy."

“If he is such a nice guy, why is he following me around?”

He was silent for a moment. "Virgil was complying with my wishes. I had some things that needed to be investigated."

I didn't understand what he was saying. He was speaking vaguely and I was growing tired of how he avoided the main issue at hand.

"Mr. Rowe, you have kept me waiting for a week without a word. Can you put me out of my misery and just tell me what your decision is?"

He clucked his tongue. “Patience… Listen to what Virgil has to say. And if you have any further questions, you may call me back.”

‘May?’ The nerve of this man!

"I ‘may’ call you back? Listen, you—"

"What was that?" he interrupted.

I snapped my lips shut before I could say something I would regret. "Nothing."

"Oh? I do like your fire, Willow."

If I ever met the man, I would show him how it felt to be burned by the fire. "You have only seen the tip of the iceberg," I said in a saccharine tone.

"Moving elements, are we? I'm counting on it," he replied coolly, continuing on before I could reply, "Will you speak to Virgil?"

"Do you promise he doesn’t have bad intentions? I do not like the idea of allowing a stranger inside my house."

“I can assure you that he bears you no ill will. I don’t have the time to send someone across the country to harm you.”

He had a point.

"You could be petty, for all I know. But if you aren’t pretty, maybe not."

“I am not petty.” He paused to think about what he would say next. "Virgil is my head of security and I trust him with my life."

I believed him. A breath I didn’t know I was holding left me.

“I will talk to him. But I will call you immediately after. I need to know what is happening since I am in midst of packing everything I own.”

"Trust me."

Trust him? How arrogant.

I walked back to the door after hanging up and peered through the peephole. Virgil was waiting patiently where I had left him. He hadn’t moved a muscle.

I opened the door slowly. “I spoke to Mr. Rowe. Please come in.” I really had no idea what to say or what his intentions were.

He entered slowly and stood in the hall, allowing me to put space between us if I so wished.

“I think you should sit down, Miss Taylor.”

I led him to the kitchen and took a seat as he had instructed. He sat down across from me and his eyes darted to the phone tightly gripped in my hand. I was prepared in case I needed to call the police.

Virgil reached into his suit and pulled out a letter. He slid it across the table toward me. I glanced at the envelope before looking back at him. He smiled at me warmly, making me feel less scared.

“I can see that you are uncomfortable, so I won’t waste time.”

I shifted in my seat. “I just want to know what is happening. Why are you here?”

He nodded. "I'm here to escort you to Quentin. We leave in the morning."

"What?"

He chuckled. "We leave for Quentin tomorrow morning," he repeated slowly.

I digested his words slowly. Did I understand the meaning of his words correctly? Was Mr. Rowe funding my college education?

"Miss Taylor?"

I shook my head to clear it and looked at Virgil, the security guy. He was still waiting for me to respond.

"I—what do you mean? Why am I going tomorrow? How am I going?" I babbled.

Virgil surely thought I was stupid. He tapped his finger on the envelope, trying to push my attention back to it. "Why don't you read the letter and then we can talk?"

I leaned forward and picked it up, wondering if I would get good news inside.

“Please,” I chanted to myself as I opened the envelope and unfolded the letter. I treated it like a prized treasure as I read the first two words.

[Dear Miss Taylor,

I have looked into the mixup regarding the Rowe Scholarship personally after our conversation. It was an error on our end that led to this misunderstanding. Mr. Grant was and is the rightful recipient of the scholarship. His expansive extracurricular activity background and scholastic achievements are the reason for this decision.

However, I took it upon myself to read your essay and other documents. I found your ideas and experiences intriguing, which doesn’t happen often.

You must already know that my head of security has checked on you. I felt that it was necessary to use the same methods like you to find out about your background. What was found has piqued my interest and that bodes well for you, Miss Taylor.

Of course, that is only if you so wish.

On that note, I will assure you that your concerns regarding your scholarship will be taken care of. I have decided that you will be taken care of after we discuss some serious matters.

The first condition is a meeting between the two of us.

I have confirmed that you no longer have any responsibilities in Atkins and therefore, I would like to invite you to Quentin. It would be at my expense and I would like to further discuss your future.

Deepest regards,

Nicholas Rowe.]

I read the letter multiple times and remained in shock. I was sure Virgil could hear my heart pounding from across the table. I looked up to find him scrutinizing me.

Mr. Rowe had billions of dollars to his name. Paying my tuition would be like handing fifty bucks to a homeless person, which I would be in a few days. Still, I didn’t understand why he wanted to meet me when he knew everything there was to know.

“I don’t understand why he wants to meet me.” I was on edge but Virgil remained perfectly calm.

"Miss Taylor, it is not my place to divulge the reason."

I sighed at how formal he was. "You can call me Willow."

He ignored my request.

"You have to tell me something! You said I could ask you questions after I read the letter. Why does he insist on meeting me?"

He remained silent for a good minute. "Are you scared of actually meeting him? Your determination made it seem like you were fearless."

I shook my head. "No, I'm not scared. I am intimidated and I don't like being kept in the dark."

"Well," he started. "I can only confirm that Mr. Rowe only wishes the best for you. I could say with authority that he is taken with you."

My eyes widened at his assertion and swallowed thickly. "Taken with me?" I squeaked.

He gave a short nod and smiled. "He wouldn't have sent me to escort you otherwise."

"What does that mean?"

He smirked. "I'm the best."

I snorted. "The best at what?" It seemed my personality came out even in the face of fear and confusion.

He laughed. "In general, a lot of things. But with regards to you: protection."

We were talking in circles again. I had to get back on the right track.

"Why would I need protection?"

Virgil removed a piece of lint from his pants. "As I said, Mr. Rowe is taken with you. I should add that he is a worrywart."

I suddenly understood.

"I understand that he is hesitant to pay for my tuition. I promise I would never abuse his trust or use the money for anything other than college."

Virgil blinked quickly as if in confusion. “Out of everything I said, you took that away?” he asked. The look on his face was almost offensive.

“Is there another way to understand it? I recognize that he is wary because of how aggressive I was. I just want to reassure him that I would never do something that would make him doubt his decision to help fund my education. He is rightfully protective of his assets and privacy. And I respect that.”

He chuckled again. "I am glad you got one part of it correct." He shook his head and then his eyes shifted to look around the house. “Are you packed to leave in the morning?”

"Can you estimate how long this trip will be? I planned on moving to Quentin with my friend in a few weeks' time."

"I know," Virgil said cryptically.

"Should I ask how you know?" I narrowed my eyes again.

“There is little I don’t know about you. As I said, I am the best in the industry.” He shot me a cocky grin and I huffed.

"Okay, Mr. Know-it-all, can you answer my question?" I crossed my arms over my chest and stared him down. I had the scary thought that I would be surrounded by arrogant males from that moment onwards.

He shrugged. "I can’t give you information I don’t have. The duration of your stay will depend entirely on you, in my opinion.”

‘Wasn’t that helpful!’ I frowned and looked down at my phone, wondering if I should call Mr. Rowe or not. I had no idea how much to pack or what to bring to this trip. Maybe I needed Lory to pull me out of my misery and re-assess everything.

“I might be able to pack by tonight,” I mumbled mostly to myself.

“That would be great.” I looked at him again. “Mr. Rowe might now allow you to escape once he has you in his clutches.” He looked awkward when he accentuated the statement with a wink. I hadn’t expected it from him.

“That is ridiculous.” I was in disbelief.

Virgil was teasing me, but the realization didn’t stop the flurry of excitement in my stomach to dissipate. I blushed as I wondered if I was in way over my head.

He finally broke the silence. "Can I be of assistance in packing?"

"No, no. I can do it myself. Besides, I won’t take much with me for this trip. The dorm room won’t allow students to move in this early and I don’t have another place to stay. It doesn’t make sense to travel with a lot of things."

He smiled like he knew something I didn’t. I couldn’t get any straight answers out of him.

"As you say." He extended his hand to shake mine. "It has been lovely speaking to you, Miss Taylor. I will be here at sharp eight in the morning. Please be ready by then.” He reached into his suit and pulled out a card to hand me. "If you require assistance before that, call me on this number."

He got up from his seat and walked to the door. I followed after him. Right before he left he turned to me with kind eyes. "Miss Taylor, you have no reason to feel intimidated by Mr. Rowe. You hold immense power and you just don’t know it yet.”

He turned and walked out immediately, leaving me speechless in the doorway. I offered him a small wave as he started the car. When the car was out of sight, I closed the door and plopped down on the couch to collect my thoughts.

‘What the hell is happening?’

"Oh. My. God. Willow!" Lory shook as she read the letter again. I had told her everything that happened after Virgil arrived and she had been screaming ever since.

"I know!" I had long shaken off the excitement and fear. I was simply taping boxes filled with books. Lory finished her pacing and put her hands on my old suitcase packed with clothes for my trip to Quentin. “What is your take on the situation?” I asked.

"I think Mr. Rowe has a crush on you."

I started to laugh. When she didn’t follow, I looked at her in surprise and found that she was serious! But the suggestion was ridiculous.

“Don’t be absurd, Lory. He is a highly successful man while I am a hopeless country bumpkin. As if that isn’t enough, he doesn’t know me. I have only spoken to him over the phone. Then you have to factor that he is older and… him.” Even the thought of him liking me was hilarious.

“What do you think Virgil meant when he said his boss was taken with you?” She waited for me to answer.

“I don’t know. But it is not anything romantic. This is not a fairytale.” I hated to burst her bubble but I knew better than to dwell on fantasies. “He thinks of me as a charity case. And if that is what it takes for him to fund my education, so be it. I will swallow my pride for a shot at a better life. I am a beggar, Lory.”

“Why are you so cynical, Willow? You act like an old cat lady. Just because your life hasn’t been a garden of roses until this point, it doesn’t mean nothing good can happen to you after.” She sighed. “You asked for honesty and that is what I am giving you. As an outsider, I am telling you that you are more than a charity case for Mr. Rowe.”

"You’re out of your mind. Did you know the rags crowned him the most eligible bachelor in Quentin? He could cherry-pick a harem of women if he wanted and no one would bat an eye. But you know what wouldn’t catch his eyes? A down-on-her-luck girl whom he has never seen before. It is an absurd idea even for you.”

“Maybe he has a fetish?” She dodged the book I threw at her, laughing as she tossed some clothes into a pile. "You can bet your fabulous ass that he has seen you, Willow."

I was baffled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean…" She pursed her lips and shook her head as she picked up a top. "This Virgil guy has been following you for a few days. Do you believe that he didn’t snap a few pictures and sent them to his boss?"

Her words had merit. I would be naive if I thought that way. I thought about how I felt that Mr. Rowe had seen pictures of me. It confused me more since I couldn’t imagine I would be of interest to someone like him. He had been seen with several high-profile and gorgeous women on several occasions.

"You make Mr. Rowe sound like a serial killer using his wealth to lure unsuspecting women into his lair to kill them. But that is more possible than the fantasy you have painted,” I told her grimly.

I knew I was pretty. I had received compliments about my looks and thought the same. But I was also a realist.

Lory was my biggest cheerleader, so she would never pay me attention when I thought myself short of Miss Universe.

"The real hindrance to your Cinderella story is the contents of your wardrobe." She looked defeated by what she saw in my luggage. Lory was smart and she enjoyed dressing up. I, on the other hand, had never had the inclination to dress up to impress anyone. But I was going to Quentin to meet Mr. Rowe and I had to look my best.

"What should I wear when I meet him?" I asked finally.

I could call him and find out what the schedule for the next few days was.

Lory's response was to throw a critical look at my clothes. "I brought whatever clothes you had at my place. The choices are limited." She even whined about my lack of a basic skirt.

"I apologize for my crimes."

"Don't joke right now. There is an extremely attractive man pining for you and you don't even have a set of clothes to wear in front of him." She followed up with a snicker and I threw another book at her.

"That sentence was so wrong that I don't want to start commenting on it." I pouted.

"I had a sizing issue with one of my clothes. I think they will fit you. That would be perfect."

She pulled open a bag that I had hidden in the bottom drawer and shook her head. “You never wore this set, did you?” she asked.

I cringed, feeling guilty that I hadn't worn the set of underwear she had gifted me on one of our trips to the mall.

"I am sorry, you know I don't like panties that go up my butt crack."

Lory rolled her eyes. She pulled out the set. “A good pair of underwear can make you feel powerful. Even if you are the only one who ever sees you in them.”

I shrugged. "I do not have a reason to feel sexy."