H E R...

Chapter 9: 𝐻𝒾𝓂

Michael's POV:

                "Ok, I'll see you all at the board meeting." I dismissed my design team for the evening. I wasn't really feeling it today. I couldn't stop thinking about Paisley. I remembered when I got the call from Jackson about her mom. I almost dropped everything I was doing right then and there. One of the hardest things I've ever done was show the greatest restraint that day. I wanted nothing more but to fly to Georgia to be with her. I was aware of her mother's condition for a short while before it happened. It became apparent that something was wrong when Paisley's financials were being flagged at Harvard. So, I had Jackson investigate it for me.

When I found out her mother had an aggressive form of brain cancer, I knew this day would come. How soon however, I was not prepared for it. She was a lovely woman and, in this case, very important in Paisley's life. I knew this would be a blow to her. I'm sure she was unaware of her mother's diagnosis.

I've always wished I could just walk back into her life, and it be just that easy. But for us, that was not possible. I've always been fearful of the impact my presence would have on her. So, I did what a man would do, and I stayed away. Well, not completely. It's been so hard keeping my distance. Not making her feel like she's being watched or anything. I know how she is. How she avoids people, especially men. Doesn't party like the rest of the college students. She's intelligent, and so damn beautiful. Always have been. Man, anybody would have to kiss the hands of God himself for creating something so perfect. Amazes me how she's never had a boyfriend.... How she's kept her virtue.

Michael smiles to himself.

Yes, I know a lot. But I'm not a creep, nor am I a stalker. I just... owe her. I feel I have to protect her and take care of her. Even if she never knows.

*RINGGGG*

I looked down at my phone to see that it was Jackson calling me with the usual update. "Hey Jackson, how is she?" I could already imagine. "Not so good sir. It looks like her mom's insurance policy was only enough to cover at least one semester of her final year after the funeral expenses. On top of that shes lost her home to the bank. Apparently, her mom put their house down as collateral to cover tuition payments for her previous school years." he paused before continuing. "Sir, she has nothing, or no one left." I heard the sadness in his voice.

I knew that Jackson had taken a liking to Paisley since I assigned him the role of keeping tabs on her. Not a liking as in attraction, but more like a daughter. He saw what I saw in her. Just a sweet girl with a difficult past and an unimaginable situation. Working to create a better future for herself. I think it also had something to do with Jackson losing his own daughter to gun violence a few years ago. He's been pretty much alone since. Until he met me. Since I didn't have much of a father figure myself, we've become kind of like family in this short period of time. I trusted Jackson with my life.

I hired Jackson over a year ago as my driver and personal security to look out for Paisley once my company was requiring too much of my own time. He was older, early forties but he was loyal and trustworthy. He's really good at what he does, and I have grown a great amount of love and respect for him. That's why I'm paying him twice the salary of the finest surgeons. It was quite the task, picking someone for the job because I was hiring them to look out for the woman I love. Something I wasn't able to do myself.... even back then.

Damn. I thought to myself.

"Ok, have you looked into getting her tuition paid?" I asked before thinking. "Sir, are you sure? A generous gesture of that sort will raise a lot of questions. Especially from Miss Brown. How will I explain it to the university's finance administration?" Jackson was right. If I were to cover the cost for the rest of the school year, it would raise a lot of questions and ultimately me having to introduce myself to Paisley. Was I ready for that? After all these years, I would finally get to see her. Without thinking it through, "It's ok Jackson. I'm ready, and more than anything she has nobody else. She's going through a lot and it's not the best time for her to feel as though she's alone and just broken. This is too much for her to bear. Just tell them that I sent you to cover the expenses for Paisley Brown and if they need to speak with me, they can reach me. Tell them I award certain students free tuition every year and I chose to help her due to her circumstance as a way of... giving back." That should limit the suspicion I assumed.