THE DARE (G!P Freenbecky)

Chapter 43

"We had an agreement. It's something that, in retrospect, I'm not proud of. When she graduated from high school, I told her that if the only man or woman she was ever intimate with was her life partner, then I would gift her with one million dollars on the day she gets married."

Now Freen really felt like a heel. Had Becky tossed one million dollars to the wind just to be with her?

"I know that may sound shocking to you, but you have to understand my point of view. I'm an older man, not of this generation. I find the casualness that some people enter sexual relationships with—well, I can't understand it. I wanted to protect her, and unfortunately, I think I did exactly the opposite. It was a mistake. I know that now. I think I just put another row of thorns around the castle, if you know what I mean."

"I do."

"You may think of Becky and me as rather odd people, Freen. I know my own family does."

"No, I don't. I think you loved her when you made that bet with her, and I know you still do. And when we love someone, we just do the best we can."

"Fight for her, Freen. She needs your courage. Fight for her even beyond when you think it's over. She needs you more than she'll ever admit to herself." The older man's voice trembled, and Freen saw him make a conscious, focused effort to steady himself. "I'm terrified that this may be her last chance. You may be her last chance. She has so much to give to the right woman, and I feel that woman is you."

Phillip took a deep breath, and Freen could see the anguish in his eyes as he spoke. "I don't want to see her become an old woman, wealthy, frightened...and alone."
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Freen used the hotel's van service once again to transport her menagerie, and Eddie, back to the hotel.

"That was an awesome party, Ms. Chankimha! Thanks for inviting me!"

Freen tipped Eddie generously, then called the young man a cab.

"It's on me." She told Eddie. "Just get home safely, all right?"

"Sure thing."

Freen couldn't sleep once Eddie had left, so she lay back on her side of the king-sized bed and reached for the day's copy of the Chronicle.

When she got to the society page, one of the items in a column caught her eye. She read it once, then twice. Then she picked up the phone and called Phillip, even though the clock on her bedside table told her it was almost three in the morning.

You can call me anytime, day or night....

"Freen?" The old man said when he answered on the second ring.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Who else would it be?"

Good point.

"This charity extravaganza you're helping to host. Is Becky going to be participating in the auction?"

"Why, yes, she is! Freen, that's a wonderful idea!"

"Don't let her know I'm coming."

"Not a word."

"I'm going to keep calling her, but I'll only come over if she wants me to. This dinner is on the ninth, so it's not that far away."

"Give her some time to miss you," Phillip said. "I'll keep a careful eye on her for you."

"All right. One more question. These costumes, how elaborate do they get?"

"Oh, people go all out."

Briefly, Freen described to Phillip what she wanted to do.

"My girl, if you can pull that off, you'll bring down the house!"
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Freen didn't have much time to put her plan into effect, little more than a week.