A Passion Rekindled

by Nolan, Rontora

  “Yeah but what about the other five?”

  “Now that I don’t know yet…that’s why we called you.”

  Christian smiled as he placed the paper back on her desk.

  “This is really good Scarlett.”

  “Thanks…I just wish I could figure something out for the others.”

  “Wait what about the Mahler building.”

  “Mahler Building?” Chris hit his head.

  “Yeah it’s our other building I'm sure we have a few others on that list who work there. It’s almost as big as this one.”

  Christian began gathering some files from his office.

  “Ok let’s take all of this into the conference room just for a little more space and then we can get your plan underway.”

  Three hours later Scarlett was working on the proposal letter, Chris had called his parents in and Christian pulled all the documents they needed. As they explained their idea to Helen and Christopher, Chris stood in front of the projector.

  “So as you see dad if we put 18 of the families who work in our buildings into Empire Grove, that would leave five houses for the workers who come in out of town. More if you agree to turn three of those into apartments. Scarlett did the research it won’t cost that much to convert them into apartments because most of our out of town guest don’t bring their families. We can make one two story house into three mini apartments where all they would have to share is the kitchen and most of the workers eat out anyways.”

  “This is remarkable…all the information is accurate how many days did this take you?”

  Scarlett looked up. “A little less than five hours.”

  “Hours?”

  “Yes sir when I realized we didn’t have enough room for all those families I went to work immediately. I couldn’t let them have no place to live.” Christopher grabbed Scarlett’s hand.

  “You my dear are worth more than we are paying you. You came up with this all by yourself.”

  “Well the guys helped.”

  Chris piped up. “Only after she found out majority of the information…dad she has basically found a way we can help all those families.”

  “You deserve to be recognized for this.”

  “That is not necessary sir.”

  Helen looked at the paperwork as well.

  “Scarlett your mother told me you were an extraordinary girl and I guess you just proved your mother right. You have just helped not only this company but also those families. My husband is right you deserve a raise or something.”

  Scarlett smiled and stood.

  “I am just doing or trying to do what I would want someone to do for me…doing to them what you all did for me. Its 9:45 I am going to call Devon I know he's wondering where I am…if you can excuse me.”

  Scarlett walked out the room and Helen looked at Christian.

  “You know I was kind of skeptical that she couldn’t handle this place but I am pleasantly surprised that she can…this idea is wonderful.”

  “Yes guys it is…now there is nothing to stop us from moving forward and the apartment idea was noteworthy too I would have never thought of it.”

  Chris clapped his hands together. “So we will push this through as soon as we can. We can have those families moved in by the end of the week.”

  Christian smirked.

  “You know she even threw in the idea of investing in a moving company. If we do then we can move our families for a discount.” Helen looked out the door to the reception area where Scarlett was on the phone.

  “She is just full of ideas…this will certainly put us out there more in the public eye. To have all our families move into a new house and help them, which would not leave any room for the press to hurt us. They were having a field day when someone leaked we would have to kick some of our tenants out.”

  “Well now we don’t…it's getting late but we will have everything in order by tomorrow afternoon.” Scarlett walked back into the room. Chris looked at her.

  “Everything ok?”

  “Yes. So what's next?”

  “What is next is you go home and get some sleep. We have done all we can tonight. Tomorrow we will have our contractors began working on the houses and we will call all of our tenants and I am sure they will be happy to hear they are all moving into better housing…you have done a great job.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Well good job everyone and good night Christopher and I have a busy day tomorrow we are going to the hospital for the dedication of a wing.”

  Chris took Scarlett’s hand. “Yes and I should be going too I know Jay is wondering why I haven’t called her. Scarlett Thank You so much.” They walked out the room and Scarlett gathered her things. Christian walked over to her.

  “That was a great idea…why didn’t you bring it to me?”

  “I didn’t plan on giving it to Chris we were talking and it slipped out.”

  “You were talking?”

  “Yeah I like your brother…he's easy to talk to…not that you aren’t but he just gives off that older brother vibe.”

  “Well it was a very good job on your part…you have proven that you belong here…I am very proud of you.”

  Scarlett turned towards him. “Proud of me?”

  Christian moved closer to her.

  “Well yeah…you not only saved those families you saved us from bad publicity.”

  “Thank you…coming from you that means a lot.”

  She looked at him and bit her lower lip. He was so handsome it hurt her not to stare at him, not to touch him. She turned away.

  “I better get going…it’s late and we have a lot to do in the morning.”

  “Ok. Are you hungry?”

  Scarlett touched her stomach. “Very.”

  “Well I didn’t get to eat dinner because I was interrupted and wanted to know if you wanted to join me for something to eat.”

  “Actually I was going to go to Ihop I really want some breakfast.”

  “If you wouldn’t mind company I would love to come.”

  Scarlett looked at her watch. “I don’t mind. It’s a little after 10 and I know the kids are in great hands with Devon.”

  “How about we drive to your house and drop off your car since it’s on the way. No use using up all that gas.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  She grinned. He held out his hand.

  “After you.”

  As they walked out of the office Scarlett grabbed her purse. Walking with him to the elevator she couldn’t help but feel relieved Chris and his parents were still waiting. She just knew they would be gone and she would be alone with Christian again in the elevator, but with them standing there it gave her a chance to focus and pull herself together. Christian on the other hand was disappointed.

  “You guys still here?”

  Chris smiled. “I guess we are not the only one’s leaving right now. I just wish they would hurry up with the renovations of the other two elevators.”

  Christopher shook his head. “It’s like I always tell you don’t wish for things to get done in too much of a hurry because haste makes waste. They are on schedule and under budget so everything is fine.”

  As the doors opened the men allowed Scarlett and Helen to enter first then they followed. After saying good bye again everyone Christian followed Scarlett to her house and she dropped her car off. As they drove to Ihop Scarlett laughed at herself. Christian glanced to her.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I was just thinking that if they didn’t have an Ihop here I think I would lose my mind.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah if there wasn’t an Ihop or Taco Bell here I would not be able to make it some days.”

  “I never would have taken you for a taco Bell lover.”

  “You don't like it?”

  “No I do but I am a Chipotle’s lover at heart.”

  Once they arrived at Ihop Christian pulled her seat out for her and
she smiled.

  “Why thank you.”

  The waitress walked over to them and smiled. She was a young something maybe 19/20. She was a petite woman with blonde hair with red highlights and blue eyes.

  She smiled at Christian, and Scarlett wanted to smack her but instead she just plastered a smile on her face.

  “Hi I am Becky sir can I get you something to drink while you look over your menus?”

  Scarlett took the menu from her. “Root beer little ice please.”

  “The same for me.”

  “Right away.”

  She swayed as she walked away. Scarlett smiled.

  “Are you serious? She sees me sitting here doesn’t she?”

  “What?”

  Christian looked at her dumbfounded. Scarlett frowned.

  “She was all over you.”

  “She was not. She is just trying to get a good tip.”

  “You men are helpless.”

  “And you women get jealous to easily.”

  “Why would I be jealous of that young girl?”

  “Girl?”

  “Yes girl!”

  Becky walked over to them with their drinks. She smiled at Christian.

  “So can I take your order?”

  Scarlett cleared her throat. “I would like your three times three breakfast with scrambled eggs with cheese bacon sausages and pancakes.”

  She wrote it and turned back to Christian.

  “And you?”

  “I will have the same.”

  “Coming right out.”

  She winked at Christian then walked away. Scarlett laughed.

  “And I guess there was just something in her eye huh?”

  “Ok so maybe she was flirting with me but it’s nice to be wanted every now and again.”

  “I wouldn’t know.”

  “And what does that mean?”

  She played with her napkin. “It means just what I said.”

  “Which is?”

  “Forget I said anything.” She picked up her drink and took a sip.

  Christian did the same with his drink. “How can I just forget you said anything?”

  “It’s pretty easy.”

  “You really think you’re not wanted?”

  “Am I?”

  “Scarlett I have wanted you from the first minute I saw you. So yeah I would say you are wanted.”

  Scarlett couldn’t help but smile at him as they sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Scarlett sighed.

  “I can’t believe how great this day turned out.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well let’s see. This morning I was late because Angel couldn’t find her book bag. That put me behind in all my work. Then having to do Bernie’s work too was stressing me out.”

  “Yeah I know Chris loves the extra work he has had Bernie for a year and she still doesn’t do everything he needs her to do.”

  “I found that out the hard way.”

  She laughed as she twirled the straw wrapper between her fingers.

  “I love working with you guys. It’s the best job I ever had.”

  “Well you are the best assistant I have ever had. I am glad that I met you. My parents were really impressed with you tonight.”

  Scarlett looked up to Christian. “They were?”

  “Yes. Between you and me the media was slamming us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They were slamming us because we were going to have to get rid of those people. Even though its spring they would have gone to our shelter. I didn’t want that to happen.”

  “Me neither.”

  “So how did you figure it out? We have spent months setting up this reconstruction of Water’s Towers and when we found out we could only put in 65 units we bent over backwards trying to figure out how we could accommodate the others. And you come in spend a day on the project and come up with an amazing idea.”

  “I was always told I thought outside the box. Whenever we had a problem everyone in class would come to me.”

  “I can see why.”

  Becky walked over with their plates. She placed Christian’s in front of him then placed Scarlett’s down. She handed them butter and syrup.

  “If there is anything else I can get you don't hesitate to call me over here.”

  Scarlett shook her head as she bowed to bless her food. Christian did the same. As they began to eat, Scarlett glanced at him and couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.

  “So tell me about you and Chris? How were you guys when you were younger.”

  “We went to private school. Chris was really into basketball. He was really good to. Could have went pro but Helen and Christopher Waters had big plans for their children which didn’t include some hobby.”

  “So what was your hobby?”

  “I had a band.”

  “A band?”

  “Well a group. It was me and some other guys. We wanted to be Boyz II Men.”

  Scarlett placed her hand over her mouth to cover her face as she laughed.

  “Oh no.”

  “Oh yes, but that was not going to happen either. We got discovered but our parents didn’t see what singing would do for our future. Well my parents didn’t see it.”

  “So they were strict.”

  “Very, but Chris is only a year well actually 11 months older so we stuck it out. He got it the worse because he was older. They wanted him to be just like dad. And I just fell in line with him. Now we had fun we really did. But we knew work came first.”

  “Wow.”

  “So I know you said you weren’t the oldest right?”

  Scarlett swallowed clearing her throat. “Yeah no I'm not the oldest but I might as well be. I told you Derek is a jerk. He took after our dad. I never really had any fun growing up.”

  “Why not?”

  “I was always the one my mom could count on. My mom worked so hard trying to provide for us and I was her rock. I was the one who watched Devon and Maggie. I was the one who was there for them. It was hard but I had to do it.”

  “I am sure you didn't have to.”

  Christian stared at her and noticed the sadness in her eyes.

  “If I didn't who would? I was all my mom had and Devon was so young. Things were so hard and, I just don’t think we should be talking about this right now.”

  “I get it. I see how you always put everyone first but when do you ever put yourself first?”

  “I really don't…I don’t even take a five minutes for myself. I don't know how to.”

  “How can you not know how to take five minutes for yourself?”

  “I just don’t I never really had a life until I went to college and even then I was working so hard I really didn’t do anything.”

  “So what are some things that you want to do?”

  “Well I want to sing at a karaoke club. I want to go to a drive in movie. I have a list of things I want to do. I have never been to an amusement park or gone racecar riding. I haven’t done many things. I really haven’t done anything. I want to learn how to play basketball.”

  “You like the game?”

  “Oh I love it.”

  “What’s your favorite team?”

  “Right now the Lakers.”

  “What? No you can’t be an LA fan.”

  “Why not?”

  “It's all about the Miami Heat.”

  Scarlett gave a thumbs down.

  “Boo! They may have Wade and LeBron but do they have Dwight Howard? I think not!” They laughed.

  “You know that won’t last. He’s gonna leave.”

  “That is why I said for right now. I go where he goes.”

  Christian grinned. “So you love the sport but don’t know how to play?”

  “Not really.”

  “Well we are going to have to change that. Come on.”

  “Where, it’s almost midnight.”

  He stood up. “We are going to cross something off your list.”

 
“We haven’t even gotten our bill.”

  Scarlett looked across the room and made a face.

  “And plus I think Becky would be sad to see you go.”

  “Come on live a little.”

  “I can’t. I really should be getting home.”

  “You can.”

  “No I can’t.”

  “You have come and changed things for us so no more whining.”

  “What about the bill?”

  He pulled out thirty dollars.

  “That should cover both us and a nice tip now come on.”

  They got into his car and Christian took her to Chris’ gym and supply store. Scarlett stood close to Christian as he unlocked the doors.

  “Are we supposed to be here?”

  “This is our gym. We can’t play in these clothes so let’s go to the shop and get some things.”

  “You have a gym and a Store?”

  “It’s actually a fitness center for the community a place everyone can afford a gymnasium for basketball games and the store where Chris’s players work here after school. So they can have some money in their pockets. It’s a way to keep them off the streets.”

  “Every time I think I can’t be impressed by you guys anymore I get a surprise like this. You guys are doing so much for the community.”

  “Yeah. Chris said he offered Devon a job but he said he couldn’t take it.”

  “Devon and I talked about it and with the money I am making he doesn’t need to work. I just want him to concentrate on school and basketball. I want him to enjoy his life.”

  “You are such a great sister. Now stop stalling and let’s get changed. What size shoe do you wear?”

  “Umm I wear a size 11 in women’s.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah what can I say I have big feet?”

  “If it makes you feel better that would only be a size 9 in men’s.”

  “That makes me feel a little better.”

  “So go find some sweats we can change and meet in the gym.”

  “Ok.”

  Scarlett walked away but Christian pulled her back to him.

  “Christian what are you doing?”

  “This.”

  He pulled her to him and kissed her. She pulled him closer to her as he pulled her to an empty room. She looked around and noticed a burgundy loveseat against the wall. He pulled her down to the loveseat. He ran his hands up her neck as he kissed her. She pulled off his jacket and threw it to the floor. Christian pulled away and brushed the strands of hair from her face. Scarlett smiled.