Blood Money

6

Danielle sits at the bar morosely. She's never been one to do a lot of drinking, but ever since she lost Max she's had a hard time. She thought that Trevor had gotten over his dislike of her, but when she went to his office to sign the transfer over to him he wouldn't even look at her.

"I'm sorry, Trevor. I won't ever bother you again." That was the last thing she said before walking out of the office and softly shutting his door. He never said a word. That had been more than a month ago.

Danielle had moved to a different city. She couldn't stand to be near where Max was buried. 

"Can I buy you a drink?" A man says taking the empty stool next to her.

Danielle looks up and is glad that she's managed to not cry this day. "You look like you've had it rough?" The man says but makes it sound like a question, inviting her to talk to him.

"If you wish, but I don't drink alcohol." She's never learned to like it.

"Bartender give this lovely lady another of whatever she's having and I'll take a scotch of the best you've got."

"Yes, sir." The bar tender goes and starts making another margarita for the lady, making it a virgin.

He sets both glasses down and gets the scotch. After pouring the second drink he pushes them in front of the customers.

"So, tell me why such a beautiful woman is here alone, drinking her sorrows away, without the alcohol?" The man gently pushes her.

Danielle looks over at the man and has a hard time not crying. "I lost my husband only about two months ago."

Immediately the other man feels like shit. "I'm sorry," he feels bad now. "Was it an illness or..."

He's not sure he wants to know though. "We were run off the road intentionally. Someone was trying to kill us. They succeeded in killing my husband and caused me to lose my unborn child. Due to the nature of the accident it also caused it so that I'll never be able to have children." Danielle didn't really want to be bothered by anyone so she tells him everything hoping that it will be enough to get him to leave her alone.

Normally Jeremiah would leave and stay away from someone like her, but there is something about her, a fragility, that makes him want to protect her.

"Do you not have family to help you at this time?" Jeremiah almost demands.

"No, the only family I had was my stepson that was actually three years older than me. He wouldn't even speak to me the last time I saw him. I think he blames me for his father's death. I wouldn't blame him. I'm a trouble magnet."

This intrigues rather than repels the man at her side. "Surely you jest. A beautiful woman like you couldn't attract that much trouble."

"My parents were killed when I was seventeen. On my birthday. Happy birthday me. My grandparents died four years later, right before my college graduation.

"I was assaulted two years after that and less than a year later my husband killed and I-" Danielle is unable to keep the tears at bay any longer.

"I'm sorry, you've had a tough life for one so young." Jeremiah isn't sure what to do now. He can't leave her alone, not in the state that she's in, but he's not very comfortable being with her either.

Danielle looks over to him, "Forgive me, sir. You didn't want to hear that. I won't take it badly if you want to escape at this time. Honestly, I don't want company." Danielle picks up her things and prepares to go.

"No, please, you don't need to leave on my account."

"I'm sorry, Mr..."

"My name is Jeremiah, Jeremiah Jacobs and you are?" Jeremiah says holding out his hand for her to shake.

"Danielle Williams." Danielle takes the napkin the bartender hands her and wipes away the tears. "Please, forgive me, Mr. Jacobs. I've stayed here far too long. Please, continue to enjoy your evening."

"Let me take you to dinner," Jeremiah finds himself saying. He hadn't intended to do that, but finds that's he's pleased that he did.

"Mr. Jacobs, I appreciate the offer, but you really don't want to get messed up with me."

"It's my life to decide who I want to get messed up with. There's a lovely fancy french restaurant around the corner. Or we could go somewhere else if you'd prefer."

Danielle looks at him, "There's a diner two blocks east. That's where I was going to eat, if you'd like to join me." She's in a casual dress, but he's in an Armani suit.

"Sounds perfect." Jeremiah steps off the bar stool and offers Danielle his arm.

Danielle is suspicious of this stranger. She knows that she's not ugly, but for someone to come onto her like this especially after everything that she's told him just makes her suspicious.

 She can't help but think that someone is after her and she doesn't even know why. Unless it's Trevor out for revenge for his father's death.

But she'd been alone with him several times before she left and he only remained coldly polite. She wishes that he'd killed her. This pain is too much at times.

Jeremiah pulls his car up to the diner and helps her out. His actions remind her so much of Max that she has a hard time not crying.

"Have I done something wrong?" Jeremiah asks in concern.

"No, you've been a charming dinner companion all during the meal. Thank you." Danielle says taking out some money.

"No, I asked you to dinner this evening, I'm paying."

Danielle shakes her head. "I thank you for that, but I don't know you that well and I'm not ready for anything that could be considered a date." She takes out enough to cover her part of the meal and a tip.

"You are a very unique woman, Ms. Williams." Jeremiah says softly. The more time he spends with her the more he wishes to know her.

"There is nothing more unique about me than the next woman. I loved my husband, even if he was old enough to be my father. I know that many people thought I was just after his money, but I didn't want any of it. That's why I signed it all back to his son." This grabs Jeremiah's attention even further.

"What do you mean?"

"My husband left me everything. I didn't want any of it. I signed it all over to Trevor and then left that day."

"Trevor? Trevor Williams?" Jeremiah asks unable to hide his complete astonishment.

"Yes, that is the name of my husband's son." Danielle says quietly then stands up to leave.

"You are the widow of Max Williams?" Jeremiah couldn't believe Max had married someone so much younger than him. But after spending time with her he could understand why he had.

"Yes, thank you for listening to me. Have a good night." Danielle says getting up from the table. She quietly leaves the diner and slips out the door. It doesn't take her long to find a taxi and she doesn't realize that Jeremiah is watching her leave.