For Love or Money

For Love Or Money

By Lavada Dee

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is entirely coincidental.

1st edition Bookstrand June 2009

2nd edition Lavada Dee December 2014

Cover: Rae Monet, Inc. Design

All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the author. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author and not encouraging piracy of copyrighted materials. To obtain permission to use portions of this text, other than for review purposes, please contact Lavadadee@gmail.com

For Love Or Money

By Lavada Dee

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places and incidents are the product of author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Chapter 1

Megan rested her head back against the sofa. The hospital waiting room was eerie in the quiet dimness. Earlier it had been teeming with activity, but one by one, the waiting families had received news and left. Even the woman who staffed the volunteer desk had left.Just as her eyes closed, Megan caught sight of blue scrubs. Her stomach churned as she stood, waiting for the doctor to cross the room. He wasn't any different from the other doctors who had made an appearance in the waiting room that day. The mask dangled around his neck, giving mute testimony of where he'd been. He didn't bother with a smile. If he was surprised to see Megan alone without any support from friends or family, he gave no indication.

Dr. Powers motioned with a wave of his hand for her to sit back down and moved to sit on the coffee table in front of her. The wall clock noisily clicked off seconds as Megan waited for the doctor to tell her what was wrong with Rebecca.

Instead he said, Do you and Rebecca have family?

Megan felt a jolt of apprehension. What kind of a question was that? No, there's just Becca and me.

Well, I won't tell you this is going to be easy, but the good news is Rebecca's condition can be repaired with an operation, and she has every chance of leading a normal active life.

Dr. Powers had the look of a kindly grandfather, but his smile of reassurance did little to give Megan confidence. She sat stunned.

Pausing for only a minute to give her a chance to absorb what he’d just said, he continued, She has a defect in the right chamber of her heart.

Taking out a chart, he showed Megan a diagram of what Rebecca's heart looked like against a healthy one. I know it looks scary, but if she has the operation right away, she will be able to lead a normal active life. In fact, I don't see any reason why she won't be back in school in about six weeks.

The room seemed to darken as Megan’s heart raced. Rebecca was her whole world. What is next? I mean, what do I need to do? she whispered.

We don't have a cardiac unit that can handle this type of surgery, but they have one at St. Joe’s, and that’s only thirty miles from here. The doctor unhurried, patiently explained the mechanics of the operation.

Megan paused before asking her next question. Can the operation wait until summer vacation? That way she won’t have to miss school and… Megan caught herself from saying the time would give her a chance to get a loan.

The doctor shook his head. I know this is hard for you to take in all at once. I wish we could wait a few months, but it’s crucial we do the operation right away. Rebecca is at risk of going into cardiac arrest. If that happens there will be damage to the heart that could cause permanent damage.

Megan drew in a shaky breath, her distress obvious. The doctor lowered his voice with sympathy. Remember, the good news is Rebecca’s condition can be completely cured.

Megan nodded. What was the hospital going to say when she informed them she had no health insurance? She leaned back in her chair, trying to ward off a sudden onset of dizziness. What was she going to do?

Dr. Powers gave her a few seconds before continuing. I’ll start the procedure for transporting Rebecca to St. Joe’s right away.

Megan gripped her hands. Waves of guilt swept over her. Everything was happening so fast. The day had started out like every other day until she was called away from work and told her daughter was in the hospital. She had waited hours for the test results. What the doctor was telling her was inconceivable. She never looked sick. I did notice she wasn’t growing, and her appetite had dwindled to almost nothing, but she never was much on eating. How could I have missed signs of this?

Patting her hand, Dr. Power’s stood. Don't blame yourself, only a thorough exam would have caught it. And even then we might have missed it. Believe me, Mrs. Moore, you aren't in any way to blame.

Thank you, Doctor. Can I go see her now?

Yes, of course. We’re keeping Rebecca in the CICU.

Megan looked around confused. Sorry. The doctor amended, The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. I forget not everyone knows what CICU stands for.

Intensive Care? Megan whispered.

Yes, she isn't in any immediate danger, but we can watch her more closely down there. You can go in for a few minutes, but we gave her something to sleep, so she may not wake up for you. You are looking at some long days. I suggest you peek in on her and then go home. If you can't sleep, at least rest. I can give you a mild sedative to help you relax.

Megan shook her head. Thanks, I'm okay. I wish she could stay in this hospital for her surgery. I really appreciate all you've done for her.

A few minutes later, Megan stood looking out the window in Rebecca's hospital room. The doctor had been right. Rebecca was sound asleep. Megan knew she should go on home, but she hated leaving Rebecca in the hospital by herself. She looked so small lying in the hospital bed.

Outside, the night was black. No stars were visible, only driving, icy rain. Silent tears ran down Megan's face. Rebecca and she had faced some hard times, but they had each other. Maybe they didn't have much, but Rebecca was too young to care, and Megan, with her optimistic view, knew that by the time she did care, they’d be in a better position. Already she had a job where she could possibly be promoted. Hopefully before long, she would be able to apply for a job that would realize her computer skills, especially in graphic art.

As she watched the rain pelt against the window, Megan went over her options. She was so tired. Kelly had called around one o'clock the night before. At the time, Megan was ready to throttle her friend, but given what had happened today, maybe it was providence that Kelly had called to tell her about the fantastic date she’d gone on. Kelly had been trying to talk Megan into working at the escort service with her for over a month.

Kelly's voice played back in Megan's head. You won't believe the incredible night I had. This guy was so handsome. Heck, I'd have picked him up on my own if I'd seen him at a bar or somewhere. He took me to the Olympus. We had a scrumptious dinner, and I made five hundred dollars. Not bad, huh?

No, not bad, but if you don't get some sleep and let me do the same, neither of us will make it to our day job.

Oh come on, Megan, the way I feel, tomorrow morning will be a breeze.

Megan doubted that. Kelly usually needed at least half a pot of coffee to wake up. She worried about her, but Kelly kept insisting that, if she weren't being paid to escort men, she would be out with a boyfriend anyway. She seemed to have no qualms at all about what she did in the name of escorting.

Well, I'm not you, and I need my sleep, Megan had told her.

Okay, but I'm not going to give up trying to convince you. You'd only have to work a couple of nights a week. Come on, Megan, you know you and Becca could use the extra money.

Had it only been this morning that she’d blown Kelly's comment off? One thing about the way Megan was raised was she never judged others. By far, prostitution wasn’t the worse she had seen. Still it wasn’t something she could consider.

Well, that teaches me to be so smug, Megan mumbled to herself. She might not consider working for an escort service to provide extras, but now it wasn't a question of what the money would be used for. Kelly said she averaged a thousand a week. If she could average a third of that, it should take her between two to three years to pay off the operation. Now if she could get the hospital to let her do time payments.

Megan swiped at the persistent tears running down her cheeks. When a handkerchief appeared in front of her, she took a startled step away. Looking into the window, her eyes met those of her boss.

Alexander Colin King was every woman's fantasy. Even if her own heart didn't do flip-flops, she would have known that from witnessing the female staff's reaction when he entered a room.

His voice was pitched low in the dimly lit hospital room. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I waited for you in the lobby for awhile.

I didn't expect to see anyone from the office. She didn't add that she particularly wouldn't have expected to see him. Were you here visiting someone?

No, I came to see you.

Megan nervously glanced at her watch. Thank you. I promised the doctor I'd stay in Becca's room for only a minute. Guess that’s pretty well used up.

Yes, I’d say it is. He stepped aside to let her pass through the door ahead of him.

Megan's mind was racing. What was Mr. King doing here? She barely knew the man.

Quietly, they walked through the almost-deserted hospital. When they reached the door, Megan was surprise to find herself outside in the freezing rain with Alexander King still beside her. She hadn't had any intention of leaving the hospital with him. The numbness she had experienced at the doctor’s news was beginning to wear off. She had things to do, things to think about, things better done alone.

Megan pulled away from the protective arm the man had on her arm. Thank you for coming by.

No bother. You may want to stay close. It’s really slick out here, and your shoes aren't made for this ice.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Megan stepped on a slick spot and would have gone down if he hadn't been quick enough to catch her.

Flipping the unlock button on his key. Alex opened the passenger door on a car parked near the door.

Megan shook her head. Thank you, my car is just over there.

You need to eat, and I haven't had any dinner either. I suggest we go some place where we can talk. I'll bring you back here afterward.

Not waiting for an answer, Alex helped her into the car and walked around the front to the driver's side. As he slid in behind the wheel, Megan noted how well he fit into the luxury of the car. As it hit the interstate, Megan could feel its power, not unlike the man driving it.

Alex opened a neutral conversation. It's a Bentley Continental, about a month old. You like it?

I'm not into cars, but if money wasn't an object, I'd pick this one.

Megan let her gaze move over the silver gray interior of the car. It perfectly complimented the dark pewter of the exterior. You have good taste. The words were no sooner out of her mouth when she caught herself. What was she doing, exchanging small talk about a car? It was beautiful, but Rebecca was lying in an intensive care unit right now. She should be at home, planning out how she was going to get the money for the operation. She had no business being here like this with Alexander King.

So I've been told.

Megan jerked back to attention. What?

Alex smiled. That I have good taste. Isn't that what you just said?

Yeah, yes. Look, Mr. King. I'm sorry, but I'm not good company tonight. It's been a long day. This isn’t a good idea. Please take me back to my car?

I never thanked you for all the extra work you did a couple of weeks ago. If it will make you feel better, you can count this dinner as one of appreciation.

Megan nervously moistened her lips with her tongue. You don't owe me anything. I work for you, remember?

Not as a computer tech. As I remember from the last employee sheet, they are paid quite a bit more than the clerical job you have.

I love working with computers. I enjoyed that afternoon. You're a very fast learner.

Megan did remember the afternoon with her boss. His hard drive on the computer had a glitch, and she had solved the problem for him. After that, he had asked some questions about a couple of software applications he was using. She’d given him a quick tutorial on how to apply them, but that had been almost two weeks ago. She hadn't heard a thing from him since. Rumor around the office was that he was out of town. Megan had no reason to question it as the office grapevine kept excellent track of their boss. Before this afternoon, when her world had crashed around her, she’d been anticipating his return. Foolish, but wasn't that what fantasy was all about? Wishing for the impossible?

A smile teased around Alex's mouth. Fast learner, huh? I think I like that.

He didn't try for further conversation and Megan was thankful for the silence. It gave her time to think about what she was going to do. She would get the money for Rebecca’s operation. She had to.

Megan was aware they were heading away from town and any restaurants, but she was so deep in her own thoughts that it barely registered. She came back to the present when the big car pulled around a circle drive and under a covered entryway.

Good grief, this looks like a modern castle out of Star Wars! Almost immediately, Megan realized she’d spoken her thoughts out loud. She clasped a hand over her mouth.

Alex laughed in genuine delight. Megan, you are priceless. So you don't like my house. Is that what you just said?

Megan was appalled. How could she have said anything like that?

Taking her arm, Alex walked up the marble steps to the massive front door. He casually punched numbers into the security lock and opened the door for her.

Megan's first impression was that she had entered a luxury hotel. The entry hall was large. She could fit most of her house in it. It soared up to a glass ceiling. The chandelier accentuated the winding staircase that looked like it had been plucked from Tara, the plantation mansion in Gone With The Wind.

Alex’s hand on her back urged her to enter. Here, give me your coat, and you may want to step out of those wet shoes.

Noting the beautiful white accent carpets covering marble floors, Megan quickly stepped out of her shoes. She resented that he felt he had to bring it to her attention. She would have removed her shoes without being asked if he had given her a few minutes. I’m sorry.

Alex took her coat and hung it beside his in the huge entry closet. "There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. I don't give a damn about