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  She reached into her pocket and pulled out a wad of money. Peeling off one bill, she put the money back in her pocket. “Be a good little boy and fetch Sophie Sánchez for me. It’s worth a Benjamin if you do.” Holding up the hundred-dollar bill between two fingers, she grinned knowingly as Ted made a bee-line around the car and snatched the bill from her. Then he scurried into the building.

  “Kenny, is that you?” Chelsey asked as she walked up.

  Pulling off her five-thousand dollar sunglasses, Kenny squinted at Chelsey, looking her up and down with a lascivious eye. Luscious strawberry-blonde hair, a cute button nose, nice round tits, and a firm rump. Oh, yeah, she’d be worth my time. “Yeah. Do I know you?”

  Chelsey frowned, her anger hiding her hurt feelings. “No, I guess you don’t. By the way, your hair clashes with your car,” she retorted and continued into the building.

  “Wait. Could I get to know you?” Kenny asked, but her question was ignored. She put her sunglasses back on and rubbed her forehead as if that would alleviate her hungover headache. “What a shame. I’ll bet she would have been a firecracker.”

  “Santa Madre de Dios. Kenny?” Sophie asked as she came out the door. “You look like a rock star.”

  That was exactly the look Kenny was going for. A rich rock star. But Sophie wasn’t saying it as a compliment.

  “How have you been, Soph?” she asked as she embraced her friend.

  “The same. Chelsey told me you were out here,” Sophie stated, patting Kenny’s back and then stepping back.

  “Chelsey?” Oh, man. Chelsey. Feeling like a fool for not remembering the beautiful redhead she tried to hit on the day she won the lottery, Kenny rubbed her forehead again. I’m such an idiot.

  “Yes, well, Chelsey was a bit perturbed that you didn’t remember her.”

  “Yeah. It took me a minute to remember who she was. I mean, I’ve met so many people that I can’t remember them all. I’ve been traveling a lot in the last three months. Went to Hollywood, met a bunch of celebrities. Vegas, too. Going to New York in a couple of weeks. So, anyway, I was showing off, trying to impress her with my new car and jewelry.” Kenny looked at the rings on her fingers. “Which in hindsight, I guess it was a pretty stupid way to do it.”

  “Yes, it was. I see you’re enjoying your winnings.”

  “Oh, yeah. And I’m just getting started.”

  “I can’t imagine,” Sophie murmured. She felt uncomfortable and she didn’t understand why. Talking to Kenny was like talking to a stranger now, forced and unfamiliar. “Your grandmother called me yesterday.”

  Kenny scratched her head. “She did?”

  “Yes. She was worried about you, Kenny. She wasn’t even sure you’d make it home last night. She said you’ve been out partying every night this week and sometimes you wouldn’t come home.”

  “I always try to call and let her know… except for that one time.”

  “When you were too drunk to remember?”

  “Yeah, how did you know?” Kenny was beginning to feel like a child being reprimanded. For most people, that would cause anger and hurt feelings. For Kenny, it had the opposite effect because her grandmother had instilled in her the responsibility of owning up to her mistakes.

  “I have a son in college, remember? He is usually very responsible, but during spring break last year he drank too much at a frat party and did some things he regretted.”

  “Like what?”

  “He thought he had gotten a girl pregnant. He had to wait three weeks to see if she got her period, not knowing if he’d have to quit school and get a job or not. He told me it was the worst feeling in the world.”

  “Well, you know I don’t have to worry about that,” Kenny wisecracked.

  “Kenny, don’t be estúpido. Do you even know the people you get drunk with? It only takes one bastard to slip something in your drink and nine months later, you’re pregnant.”

  Kenny shivered at the thought. She had to admit that after the euphoria wore off, and she was left naked and alone in a Vegas hotel room, that Sophie could be right. Besides, she wasn’t the motherly type and quite frankly, hadn’t given much thought to having kids. There was too much to do and too many adventures to take without dragging a kid along to slow her down.

  “All right, jeez. I hear you.”

  “I don’t think that you do. Don’t you know it would break your grandmother’s heart? She has sacrificed everything for you.”

  “Did she tell you that?”

  Sophie looked at Kenny with sad, worried eyes. “No, you did before you won all that money, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Kenny shifted her hips and raked her fingers through her hair. “Uh, can we just get back to why I’m here?”

  “Oh, I thought you just stopped by to see an old friend.”

  “I did. It’s just…” Perplexed, Kenny took a few steps and turned back to Sophie. “I want you to come work for me. I’ll pay you triple what you make here, with insurance and holidays, and all that stuff.”

  “That’s very generous of you, Kenny. But the answer is no.”

  Kenny’s mouth fell open and she looked at Sophie like she was crazy. She’d have to be crazy to turn down a deal like that. “Why not?” She’s holding out for more money. “I’ll pay you quadruple the amount.” Sophie shook her head. “Hell, I’ll throw in your kid’s college tuition.” Sophie hesitated for a moment, but then shook her head again. “You don’t even know what you’d be doing, and I assure you it’s a hell of a lot nicer than what you’re doing here.”

  “Oh, I’m sure. But I trust that this job will be around a lot longer than what you’re offering.”

  “No, Sophie, you’re wrong. I need someone I can trust, who won’t kiss my ass, to take care of my Grandma and my new mansion.”

  “You want me to be your housewife?”

  “They don’t really use that terminology anymore, but no, I don’t want you to be my housewife.”

  Sophie glared at her. “Babysitting maid, then?”

  Kenny stuffed her hands in her jeans pockets. “It’s bigger than that, Soph. You see, I just bought a four-million-dollar mansion across town on Valley Crest Court. It has eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, a butler’s pantry, which I guess means I need to get a butler, a wine cellar, gym, home theater, a billiards room with wet bar, which is fancy talk for game room, a swimming pool, a three-car garage which I can’t wait to buy cars for, hell, you name it and this place has got it. Grandma wants me to have some highfalutin’ shindig to introduce myself to the big shots and I don’t even know where to begin. I mean, I know where to begin, but I don’t know how to make it happen. Ah, hell. Forget all that. I really just want you to be my house manager. I want you to manage the staff. I will have a guest house built on the property just for you and the kids to live in.”

  “Kenny, how much money have you gone through already?” It never crossed Sophie’s mind that it wasn’t any of her business. Not if she was going to work for the woman.

  “I don’t know, I’m not keeping count.”

  “Exactly. Like I said, this job will be here a lot longer than your money will.”

  “Hell, I’ll buy this damn garbage dump, and you’ll end up working for me anyway.” Kenny surprised herself with her own tenacity. She couldn’t articulate it, but she felt like hands were reaching up out of the water, trying to pull her under. As much fun as she was having spending money, she felt overwhelmed and unworthy, and she was desperately asking for help. Yet she couldn’t just come out and say that. That would be admitting she couldn’t handle it. But she could surround herself with people she trusted.

  “Why? Why are you so insistent that I work for you?”

  Kenny slumped against her car door and lowered her head. “Do you remember Tyesha Hynes?”

  “The floozy who left you without so much as a goodbye? I tried to warn you—”

  “You did and you told me so when she dumped me. Most people would have thought
that was mean, but it resonated with me. And now Tyesha is back.”

  “La puta!”

  Kenny shrugged.

  “I said, the slut! I knew that girl was no good the minute she walked into the plant. She was after your money and now you have even more of it. Send her packing.”

  “Well, she’s sort of moved into my new condo.”

  “Moved in? Kenny, you don’t need me. You need a head doctor.”

  Kenny laughed and grabbed Sophie in a hug. “Do you see why I need you?”

  Sophie was real and solid and spoke her mind. That’s what Kenny needed. Her world was on a Tilt-a-whirl and Sophie and her grandmother were the only two people in the world who could bring her back down to earth. Once she was ready to land again, that is.

  “Wait. If you bought a mansion then why do you need a condo?”

  “Out of respect for my grandma.”

  “Oh, I see. A place to party and carouse with more sluts like Tyesha. Kenny, I’ve known you for three years and you are just not that person. You’re better than that.”

  “Damn, Sophie. I’m just having some fun. What’s the use in having all this money if I can’t have fun with it?”

  “As long as you don’t lose your soul to it.”

  Stepping back, Kenny refocused on why she was there. “I won’t, I promise. Listen, my grandma is having back surgery next week, and they say rehab will be hard on her, but she says it won’t be. Anyway, I was hoping you’d take the job, hire the staff, run the house, and help my grandmother with whatever she needs. I’ll hire a physical therapist to come out and work with her in the gym and a chauffeur to drive her to her doctors’ appointments.”

  “And what does Deirdre think about my running her household?”

  “Don’t worry, I talked with her first. She’d appreciate the help, especially during her rehab. After that, I’ll be taking her all over the world, fulfilling her bucket list. I was surprised to learn that she has a long list of things she wants to see and do.”

  “Well, I’m happy for her, and for you, Kenny. But you’re wanting me to risk giving up my apartment and my secure job to work for you. Like I said, at the rate you’re spending money, I’d be jobless and homeless in a few short years.”

  An idea popped into Kenny’s head. One that was sure to convince Sophie that she would be covered if anything happened to Kenny’s money. “Then let me sweeten the pot one more time. On top of everything else, even though you can live in the guesthouse I’ll build for you, I’ll also pay your apartment rent for a year so you’ll know you have a home to go to if it doesn’t work out. Plus, I’ll give you a million dollars to invest as you see fit. Then, if I run out of money, which I won’t, you’ll have something to fall back on. I’ve got a lawyer and he can draw up a contract if you want. Deal?” Sophie started to say something but Kenny took her hand in hers. “Please? I can’t do this alone. I know that much at least.”

  “You know so much more than that, Kenny. And I’ll take your offer, just to be there to watch you realize your true potential.”

  “You sound just like Grandma. I hope you’re both right.”

  Sophie patted Kenny’s shoulder. “Oh, we’re right. And I’ll say I told you so, too, when you realize it yourself.”

  “Thank you, Sophie. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

  Sophie stepped back, crossed her arms and glared at Kenny. “The first thing I’m going to do is kick esa puta to the curb.”

  Chapter Three

  Chelsey, Sophie, and another woman, sat at the break table with their sack lunches spread out in front of them. Sophie had a mischievous grin on her face.

  “Okay, so what’s so important that you couldn’t just tell us at the conveyor belt?” Chelsey asked as she popped the lid on her water bottle.

  “Yeah, you’ve been acting weird all morning,” Amanda stated. Amanda Rogers had worked with Sophie on the plastics conveyor belt for over a year. Her husband was a mechanic at the plant, and she had two small children at home. She and Sophie enjoyed swapping stories about their kids.

  “It’s too loud at the conveyor belt, and it’s not something I want to scream at the top of my lungs,” Sophie explained.

  “Does it have anything to do with Kenny being here this morning?” Chelsey asked.

  “Kenny was here?” Amanda asked. “Why didn’t she come in and say hello?”

  “Because, we’re beneath her now,” Chelsey retorted.

  “Now, you know that’s not true, Chelsey,” Sophie admonished gently. “She was here to see me. She’s asked me to come work for her.”

  Chelsey shook her head. “What? You’re not going to, are you?”

  “Of course, she is,” Amanda said. “She’d be a fool not to.”

  Sophie threw up her hands to stop the debate. “Actually, I start tomorrow.”

  “Why are you even still here?” Amanda asked, playfully tossing a potato chip at Sophie.

  “Because, I didn’t want to leave you shorthanded,” Sophie replied, flicking the chip back at Amanda. “So, I told the manager that I’d finish my shift today.”

  Amanda picked up the chip and tossed it into her mouth. “Well, congratulations,” she sputtered. “You’re one lucky lady.”

  “I think you’re making a big mistake,” Chelsey proclaimed and then thought better of it. “But if that’s what you want to do, then I’m happy for you.”

  “Thank you, I think.”

  Sophie was about to describe the mansion she would be managing to the girls, when a woman wandered into the breakroom and looked around.

  Unkempt shoulder-length dark hair, sad green eyes and drooping shoulders. Shabby clothes that appeared to be clean, loafers dulled with age, and a tattoo on her left hand. The tattoo was rudimentary in style, consisting of five dots grouped together between the thumb and forefinger. The quincunx represented the time the prisoner had spent in prison. The four dots surrounding the fifth represent the four walls of the prison and the inside dot represented the prisoner.

  “What do you want to bet she’s here looking for Kenny?” Chelsey asked.

  “Another long-lost cousin, or sister, no doubt,” Sophie said.

  “Third one this week,” Amanda stated. “I think this one will claim to be Kenny’s long-lost aunt.”

  Sophie glanced at the woman again. “Drunk aunt, maybe.”

  “Yeah. And from the look of her, I’d say she’s hungover and hard up.” Chelsey lowered her eyes, hoping the woman wouldn’t see her. She was still upset with Kenny for dismissing her earlier, she didn’t want to have to contend with another leech looking for an easy handout.

  “Excuse me. I’m looking for Makenna Whitt,” the woman said as a man passed by her. “The newspaper said she worked here.”

  “She doesn’t work here anymore,” Sophie replied. “She left a few months ago.”

  The lady walked over to their table. “Can you tell me where I can find her? It’s very important.”

  “We don’t know where she is these days,” Sophie said. They always asked the same questions and none of them knew the answers before today. This time, she realized she needed to protect Kenny’s privacy as much as possible. Not because it was her job now, but because she thought of Kenny as one of her kids. That’s why she was comfortable being blunt and truthful with her.

  “Please. I’m her mother, and I’ve been looking for her for years.”

  From the bottom of a liquor bottle, no doubt. “I’m sorry, but even if we knew, we wouldn’t tell you,” Chelsey explained.

  Sophie looked at Chelsey and nodded.

  Amanda shook her head. “Since Kenny won the lottery we’ve had people stroll in here claiming to be a cousin, a sister, and a brother, saying that they’ve been looking for her for years.”

  “But I really am her mother,” the woman insisted.

  Sophie put the remains of her lunch back in the sack and stood up. “Disculpe. I need to baño before our break is over. Good luck, Miss.”
r />   “If that’s Spanish for bathroom, then I’m right behind you,” Amanda said.

  The three women gathered their things and walked away.

  *

  Kenny revved the car and smiled at the sound. She put her sunglasses back on and just as she was about to fasten her seatbelt, a woman approached her.

  “Excuse me. Are you Makenna? Makenna Whitt?”

  Kenny eye the woman with impassive curiosity. She looked like she had just crawled out of a sewer. Smelled like it, too. “Do I know you?”

  “I gave birth to you,” the woman stated.

  “Lady, if I had a dime for every time I’ve heard that in the last three months, I’d be rich. Oh… wait, I am rich.”

  “But I am your mother and I need to tell you something.”

  Kenny was losing patience and good manners. After the article in the local newspaper ran, women of all ages, shapes, and colors had come up to her saying they were her mother. She thought she’d have one or two inquiries, but this woman standing by her car door was number seven in as many days. This one had sores healing on the inside of her arms, which told Kenny she was a Fentanyl user or worse.

  “No, you’re not. And do you know how I know you’re not my mother? Because my mother is a selfish drug-whoring bitch who only cares about herself. So, let’s just cut to the chase, shall we, Mom. You want money so you can buy more drugs.” Kenny dug into her pocket, catching a diamond ring on the seam. “Shit,” she groused, trying it again. She pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and threw it at the woman. “See what you can get with that. Food would be a good idea.” As she sped away, she looked in the rearview mirror. The woman pounced on the bill lying on the ground. I really do hope you use that for food.

  Thirteen Weeks after the Lottery

  Kenny had hired an entourage of healthcare workers to accompany her grandmother home from the hospital when the time came. A registered nurse, a certified nurse’s attendant, a physical therapist, a physician on retainer, and an ambulance to transport her. Deirdre’s neurosurgeon had assured Kenny that she really didn’t need all of those people. She would only need someone to be available for a few days to assist in changing bandages and helping with her immediate needs such as help to the bathroom. If Kenny could have her way, the entire surgical wing would come home with Deirdre. As it were, her newly elevated status as a multi-millionaire provided her grandmother with the best of the best. Deirdre pushed back on some of the VIP treatment, though. Kenny wanted to fly in the best neurosurgeon available, but Deirdre wouldn’t allow it. She went with her physician’s recommendation because she had known him for years and trusted his judgment.