Page 16 of Space Balls: Houston, We Have Liftoff
Recognition hits, and the smile melts off my face.Fuck.
The bus’s brakes squeal, the sound intensifying the hollow feeling in my gut while my mind tries to reconcile to the truth.
Holy shit. I banged a billionaire.
Five
#Lotus
Rose
One perkabout being a billionaire is that you can be eccentric, and people don’t bat an eye.
Like coming to see your college advisor in a turquoise leotard, fishnets, rainbow leg warmers, stripper heels, and a not-so-thin veil of body glitter.
“Have you thought any more about the MBA program?” My advisor, John Mallory, taps his fingers on his desk. He is forever tapping his fingers on his desk. I think it’s an anger management strategy he picked up somewhere. But I love it, and secretly I love him for sticking with me. I’m not easy to stick with, just ask my mom, my dad… oh wait, you can’t, because they left.
But John has stood the test of time. The test of time being three and a half years. So kudos, John, kudos.
I recross my legs, my feet heavy from the thick acrylic heels. Glitter rains down on the chair and carpet.
More finger tapping.
“I have.” Honestly, I’ll probably register to get my MBA, if only because I haven’t a clue what else to do with my life.
John’s fingers stop tapping, and he actually smiles, launching into a well-practiced sales pitch. “Rice University has one of the most selective MBA programs in the country. The smaller size allows for faculty and students to work together more intimately and cover a more exclusive, detailed curriculum.” He brings both hands together as if in prayer and tips them toward me. “The program would be an excellent choice for you, seeing as you’ll be working at West Oil soon.”
But will I?
Holt’s working the ranch side of the West family business while starting a non-profit, and Flynn’s busy growing his car restoration company and planning to be a stay-at-home dad whenever Jackie and he decide to have kids and she launches into space. Both my brothers have made it pretty clear that it isn’t actually necessary for a West to work nine to five at West Oil.
Glancing over John’s shoulder, I can just see the Houston skyline. If I squint, maybe I’ll be able to see the West Oil building, situated uptown. Right by my penthouse condo.
“Miss West?” John frowns, then looks over his shoulder to see what I’m staring at. He turns back, confused.
I lean forward and prop one elbow on my advisor’s desk. “Hmm?”
John sighs at my antics, all too used to them at this point. Poor man should’ve been given a raise when he was assigned as my advisor. “Rose, you already know everything I’m saying right now. We’ve had this talk a million times. But your decision really comes down to one thing.” He looks at me expectantly.
I’ve got nothing, but I smile nonetheless. When in doubt, smile and flutter your lashes. “And that would be?”
He blinks but shakes it off. “What is it that youwant?”
I sit back, thinking. A fine sheen of glitter remains on his desk where my arm was. “What do I want?” I repeat the words back to him slowly.
He nods.
My mind blanks.
Huh. Isn’t that the billion-dollar question? I don’t think anyone’s ever asked me what I want. I don’t even thinkI’veever asked myself the question. I mean, I’m a billionaire, I have everything. Right?
Lately I’ve been obsessing over what Ishoulddo. How to live up to all the expectations. How to not disappoint while hopefully making a difference with my life and all its privileges.
But what Iwant? I don’t think I’ve thought about my future in those terms before.
John raises his brows at my silence, looking pleased with stumping me.
“I have everything I want.” It sounds more like a question than a statement.
