“Way to go, Em!” someone else cheers.
I slowly lower myself to my threadbare couch. “Wait a minute. He actually did it? Jackson Croft donated?”
“One hundred thousand dollars,” Jules says to more cheers. “We have to know—how did you convince him?”
I feel light headed. How did I do it? That’s a great question that I can’t answer.
“So?” Jules prompts.
She needs something from me, and I’m certainly not going to tell her or anyone else about Jackson’s little proposal, even if I did turn it down. Now that he’s donated the money, the last thing I need is for people to think that anything untoward happened between us.
It’s in everyone’s interest—donor and recipient—to present a clean, professional and united front.
“I just,” I begin, thinking. “You know, I gave the stats like you said. I mean, who can say no to kids, right?”
My brow is sweaty and I gulp anxiously. I feel hot, suddenly.
“I’m sure there was more to than that,” Jules says, “but whatever you did, it’s amazing. Truly, Emily. We’re so proud of you.”
“And excited about the money!” someone else cheers.
“Thanks, guys,” I say. “I’ll see you in the office.”
As we get off the phone, I hear more shouted congratulations and then I’m alone with just my racing thoughts.
Why did he do it?
I think back to our conversation and wonder if it was something specific that I said that made him change his mind. Or maybe he just regretted cornering me, had a change of heart.
Whatever it was that caused him to donate, the right thing to do is to call him and thank him. I can just leave a message with Sandra. I don’t want to speak to him directly, just hearing his voice makes my stomach flutter.
What is it with this guy and the spell he puts on me?
I quickly pick up my phone and call the number I have in my phone.
“Jackson Croft’s office.”
“Hi, um, Sandra? It’s Emily Brown, from earlier,” I begin, nervous already, even though it’s only a phone call. “Could you leave a message for Mr. Croft for me?” I continue, my throat raspy with emotion. “Tell him I called to say thank you for the very generous donation he gave to the Children’s Education Fund? Tell him it’s really going to do a lot of good for a lot of kids, and we really appreciate it.” A bit of a shaky voice but I got it out, thank God.
“One moment, please,” Sandra says. I guess I should have paused long enough for her to write it all down. I wait quietly while she jots down the message.
I hear a click on the line, and before I can wonder if I’ve been disconnected, that smooth deep voice that’s already doing on number on my stomach says, “Emily Brown. Hello, again.”
“Mr. Croft,” I stumble. That sneaky Sandra! She could have given me a heads up. “I’m sorry to disturb you, I just…”
“If you were disturbing me, I wouldn’t have picked up,” Jackson informs me.
“Right, okay. Um, I just, I left a message with Sandra.”
“I’m here now. Tell me,” he says.
I take a breath. I’m not letting this guy get to me because that’s totally ridiculous. He’s just a man. A totally gorgeous man who makes me forget my name, but still. Get it together. “Thank you,” I say. “That’s what I was calling to say. Thank you—from the Children’s Education Fund—for the donation. It’s really…it’s huge. It’s really big and we’re so grateful at such a large gift…”
Jackson chuckles. He actually chuckles, and I bet I know why. I'm cringing. Could I possibly find another form of the word huge? Jesus, I’m using them all.
“Anyway,” I say. “Thank you. We really appreciate it.”
“And what about you? Do you appreciate it, or are you only speaking on behalf of the fund?”
“No, I appreciate it too,” I say. “Very much. Mr. Croft, I really believe in this organization, and judging by the size of your donation, I think you do too.”
“Getting a call from you is enough for me,” he says. “Although, I have to be honest. I’d still like to take you to dinner. I know I made you uncomfortable earlier, so I’d like to take you somewhere to show there are no hard feelings. No strings, no quid pro quo. Just dinner. What do you say?”
That catches me off guard. The money is already with the fund so I know he can’t corner me again with that ludicrous proposal. But Jackson Croft is basically everything I despise in a human. He’s selfish, money-centric, arrogant, and overall not a nice person. Aside from the hundred grand he donated, that is. I’m sure he has an angle to that, anyway.