Page 46 of Rival to the Billionaire

“It means just what I said.” I look out the window, to the valley below us and watch as the streetlights flicker like fireflies.

I feel like I've crossed a line, but I can't help the curiosity that drives me. Jenny's parents were always pretty secretive, pretty closed off.

One of the few families of color on our block growing up in Seattle, the Fordes had faced some real hardships.

I'd known they'd lived briefly back in Barbados before settling into the house her father's father had owned, but the details of their past were sparse.

When Jenny's parents divorced, her father had gone back to Barbados. Her mother and sister stuck around, staying in the neighborhood we’d all been raised in.

Jenny was the only one who left.

She rarely talked about them much anymore. But I've seen the sadness in her face whenever the subject about her sister and mom came up.

I don't know all the details, but I imagine it must have been hard on all of them.

I exhale, looking at the glimmering lights of the strip. "Are you hungry?"

She nods, her eyes locking with mine. "I'm starving."

I sigh. "Me too. I've been working hours without a break. That's not normal for me."

"Well, it is for me," she says with a soft snort. "You should have seen me this morning. I was up so early, clearing my inbox, that I thought my stomach was going to eat itself up. It was like a feeding frenzy earlier when they brought out those little hors d'oeuvres at cocktail hour. But that was hours ago, and I'm still hungry."

"I'm not surprised."

"Oh, yeah?" Jenny tilts her head, feigning offense. "Are you saying I work too much, or eat too much?"

"I'm saying you can eat your own body weight, Forde." I grin. "Plus, mine. Do you remember that trip we took to the Sky Needle in fourth grade? You ate like ten pizzas. Just towers of boxes."

"I was growing!" she protests, grinning.

"Growing?! You were a tall twig of a thing, with beanpole arms and legs. You're lucky you kept your teeth after that trip."

"Oh, don't even! You with your broadsword arms and beanpole legs!"

"Hey, hey, hey. I grew into them. They're still as good as they were before."

"Still?" She adjusts the cap over her hair. "I bet they're barely adequate now."

We share a laugh, though I can tell from her eyes that she's only half joking. I want to tell her that she hasn't seen my legs lately, that they would surprise her.

That I've grown in lots of other ways, too.

But I don't. And the air grows silent for a moment as our laughter lapses.

"What?" I say with a raised brow, watching as Jenny stares at me momentarily. "What is it?"

"Uh, nothing. I guess. It's just… It's good to get away. Living in Seattle is stressful. It's a million people, right? And sometimes I just need a break."

I look at her. "Yeah, as much as you eat, you most definitely work twice that amount."

She blushes and touches near her temples, as if used to adjusting the red glasses that are normally there. "Well…it's a good thing to work hard. Mom used to say, 'De devil does find work fuh idle hands to do.’”

I look at her, perplexed. "Did you just quote Bajan scripture at me, Forde?"

She juts out her jaw. "Don't be a jerk. You know I just did. It's a good thing to work hard. That way, no one can ever take advantage of you." Her hazel gaze wanders. "Have you at their mercy. Leave you with nothing. Because you'll have your own money in your pocket."

I shrug slightly. "I'm not sure I agree with that. I mean, working hard is great, but what does it matter if you're burnt out, right?"

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