Page 38 of One Good Reason

CHAPTER 9

Lawton

“Iguess you don’t have anything to say now,” I joked with Talitha.

When she said Gema ain’t play about her, I decided to fuck with her. Every time I said something out of the way, I got a good laugh out of watching her squirm. Now she was sitting next to me staring out of the window. I don’t know what it was, but older women loved me, and her Gema was no different. She was really sitting there flirting and I was forcing myself not to laugh because I knew Talitha was probably embarrassed.

“You won’t expound on what you said so…” she trailed off.

“We can talk about it later. You packed warm clothes?”

“As warm as I could. When we get to there, I need to find a dress to wear.”

“That’s fine. I’ve gotta get a tux and get it altered so we can shop in between that appointment.”

“This gala… Is it something that happens yearly?”

“It is,” I confirmed.

“And it’s your friends way of raising money for autism.”

“Correct.”

“So, if your friend is having his annual gala to raise money, how do you expect us to secure investors for the tech school, Law?”

“Rich people have this thing that we do. Conjugate for a few events throughout the year, drinks are flowing, chatter is happening, money is being tossed around. You know… I donate to your cause; you pay it forward and donate to someone else’s.”

“Rich people,” she scoffed.

“Not overly pompous Talitha.” I chuckled. “The social circle I run in has afforded me the opportunity to rub elbows with some astute individuals. Those with so much money, they don’t know what to do with it.”

“And let me guess,” she countered. “You’re one of those people.”

“I may or may not be. I’m all for any cause that’s beneficial for bipoc people.”

“In other words, doing your civil duty as an African American man.”

“Precisely. It’s how white people have gotten by for all of these years.”

Crossing her legs, she frowned. “I don’t know. I guess because I don’t haveunlimited funds,” she mocked.

“I’m a business owner before anything. When I first had the idea to open up my tech company, I didn’t necessarily need investors, but I had people on the sidelines willing to invest so I let them. And when my portfolio reached a certain limit, those same people were bought out.”

“What if they decided not to sale their shares?”

“That wasn’t an option. Because I didn’t need their money, it was understood per contract that once I reached a specific amount they would receive their investment plus a percentage, granting me sole ownership.”

“Yeah. I don’t desire to have that much money.” She tittered. “Sounds complicated.”

“Only if you make it. So, to answer your question, you would be surprised how many people would be willing to help you with funding.”

“You keep saying me as if this wouldn’t be your school.”

“My name may be on the building, but this my dear will be all yours. Once we get up and running, my hands are out of it.”

“That doesn’t work for me Lawton.” Her head shook vehemently. “I can’t possibly run a schoolandthe youth center.”

“We would cross that barrier when the time comes. However, please be advised that I plan on presenting you with an opportunity that would have you stepping back from the youth center.”

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