A Ripple of Kindness

Mali

I will always remember that night, the night I found out about Quin's past. When he told me his story I realized we were two lost souls searching for each other and fate brought us together through one unselfish act. As I danced in Quin's arms and the part lights glittered in his dark hair, happiness engulfed me. I found someone willing to accept me for me.

Unfortunately, I had yet to grasp the fact that not all romance stories have a smooth ride to happily ever after. Even more so when you're dating the CEO of a billion-dollar company.

After the Christmas party, Quin and I saw each other a lot over the holidays. We did everything from fancy plays to making S'mores in his fireplace. He still went with me to the soup kitchen and I laughed at his joy when he graduated from pot scrubber to food prep. The joy faded though when he began to chop onions. But as with everything, he took it in stride.

With the holidays over, I floated to work on cloud nine and fell to earth with a hard thump. The mailroom as always buzzed with activity and gossip, only this time it was about me. I had become the boss's girlfriend. News of our relationship spread like wildfire since the party and reached its peak. The attitude of people who I thought I once knew was very different. Except for Fran and Charlie who took turns being protective bulldogs when it came to gossip. 

People became afraid to do things in front of me. They felt that anything wrong they did, I would report to Quin. Others wondered why I slummed with them if I had a rich man to take care of me. Then there were the ones who wanted me to put in a good word for them on whatever business deal or charity they need help with. Those I sent packing with a quick march.

My life was now in turmoil and I had no idea how to fix it. To make things worse, someone told Quin about what was happening and he suggested that I think about quitting my job and going back to school full-time. I didn't speak to him for days. The nerve of that man. Did he not know me at all? Just because we were dating did not mean I expected or wanted him to pay for every expense that I had. I wanted to earn my own way in life and there is no way I could do that if he continued to throw money at my every problem.

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I liked being with Quin a lot but being with him came with special additions I wasn't prepared for. Now I'm not sure if I should keep trying to have a normal relationship with him or let him go to find someone suited to his world.