Walking into my flat I was interrupted at the sound of my cell ringing. Upon answering it I was met with the voice of someone I've been waiting to hear from in a while.
"Hey." Her sweet,naive voice echoed through the phone.
"Wow. You called. I honestly didn't expect that, but I'm glad. What's up Harper?" I replied locking my flat door behind me before flopping on the sofa.
"Nothing. I-I um...wanted to a-ask you I-If um... you wanted togooutsometime?" She rushed out nervously.
"Umm can you repeat that?" I asked confused.
"Never mind it was a stupid question anyway...I'll um see you around."
"Wait!" I yelled before she could hang up. "I didn't hear you but what ever it is I can guarantee it was not stupid." I tried to reason.
She sighed. "I wanted to ask you out."
"See it wasn't stupid. I would love to." I said grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
"Great." I heard her beam through the phone. "How about Friday at 7?"
"Works for me. Just send me your address and I'll come pick you up. Bye Harper."
"Bye, Josh." She said and I enjoyed the way it rolled off her tongue. Hanging up I couldn't help but feel happy.
An hour later as I was washing up the dishes I used for dinner when I heard a knock at the front door. Wiping my hands freeing them from the liquid I opened the door. "How may I help you?" I asked the freshly dressed man as he just walked past me into my flat. Who does he think he is?
"Do come in." I muttered sarcastically as the man plopped down on my sofa and put his feet up on my coffee table as if he owned the place although he looked rich enough to.
"Josh Baker, Amusement park attendant, still trying to pay his way through college for his masters, but barley making $10 an hour, not mention his only family is a sick grandmother with medical bills piling up to top it all off.
"H-how-" I tried but was shushed by the man.
"Doesn't matter how I know but I can help you. You see I've tracked a call from a Harper Daniels to this flat rented by non other than you." He said walking towards my fridge grabbing a bottle of water.
"Would you like one?" He asked.
"Um...no. What does Harper have to do with this?" I asked.
"Everything. Now from what I heard you will be going on a date with her this coming Friday. Am I right or am I right?"
"That is true but I still don't under-" I tried only to be shushed yet again.
"Great! Now this what your going to do." He said before he explained to me what I was 'supposed' to be doing although I never agreed.
"Now why would I do that?" I asked the man.
He sighed obviously tired of me. "I'll pay your college tuition every year until you graduate including any other necessities books etc. As well as pay your grandmothers medical bills for as long as she shall live." My eyes widened.
Taking a sip of the water he asked. "Do we have a deal?"
I sighed it was a good deal, well a good deal for me. My grandmother was slowly succumbing to lung carcinoma a.k.a lung cancer an effect to all those cigarettes she used to smoke and she needed chemotherapy as well as a pulmonary lobectomy not to mention radiation therapy or her chances of living past her 60th birthday were seemingly non existent. If I earned my masters I could finally get a decent job and make something of myself. Maybe become like this gentleman in front of me who is able to throw around money so carelessly and not put a dent in his wallet. That would be great considering the fact that a small drink from Starbucks puts a dent in mine. Yet I would be ruining someone's life an innocent woman who has never done anything to me, but isn't this what politicians do? A perfect example of human greed.
"Well will you? I don't have all day." The man asked impatiently.
"I-umm..."
The man clenched his fist. "I'll give you a night to sleep on it. Call me tomorrow morning with your answer." He said placing his business card on the kitchen counter before walking towards the door. "Please don't make the wrong choice." He said as he shut the door behind him leaving me in silence with my thoughts.
That night I tossed and turned not because of my cheap, hard mattress but because I was figuring out whether I would be brace or succumb to human greed. Waking up that morning I knew my answer. Grabbing the business card I scanned it over.
"Ethan Donovan." I muttered the name on the card."
Dialing the number it took three rings before there was an answer.
"Josh I've been waiting for your call, I expect you have an answer for me."
"I'll do it." I said hanging up before I could change my mind.
I'll do it.
