Page 20 of The Billionaire's Service

I wasn’t sure what keeping me in mind meant, but it sounded good. I was beginning to enjoy my presence on the radar screen of public attention.

For another thirty minutes, I socialized in the mayor’s office suite. Bonnie asked about my mother. She said that her mother was part of a women’s club decades ago that included my mother. She said she always heard good things about Mrs. Rowley.

I explained that my mother’s health was a little rough recently, but otherwise, she still steered Rowley Estates with a firm hand. I suggested that perhaps one day we could get our mothers back together. Bonnie smiled and said, “That would make my mom’s week.”

* * *

While I drove home from city hall, my thoughts raced through the events of the past twenty-four hours and finally came to rest at the fortune cookie. I remembered the crumbs of the cookie falling on my bare chest while I waited for the stoplight to turn green. I heard Nicolas’ voice in my ear. “Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain.”

The light switched to green. The car in front of me began to roll forward, and I knew what I needed to do.

I heard the giddy smile in Nicolas’ voice when he answered the phone. “I’ve been waiting all day to hear from you. How is Mayor Reynolds?”

I described the celebration and the local government’s embrace of me. I said, “His secretary’s mother and my mother are old friends.”

“It’s a dangerous world when moms get together.” Nicolas and I both laughed at the suggestion.

“I called for a specific reason, Sir.”

“Beyond wanting to hear my voice?”

“I always want that, but yes, there is something else.”

Nicolas lowered his voice. “You sound serious. Is everything as good as it seemed this morning?”

I hurried to reassure him. “Oh, yes, it is. In fact, I think it’s perfect, but I thought again about the fortune cookie.”

“Fortune cookie?” I heard the confusion in Nicolas’ voice.

“Yes, and I’ve made a decision.”

“What is that? It sounds important.”

I inhaled deeply. “I want to try again with Taylor.”

---