Her Billion Dollar Man

“I guess you are driving with me,” she told him softly leading the way to where she had parked her car. She waited until he had buckled up before she pulled away from the parking lot. She did not say anything to him but waited for him to talk.

“I was very nasty to you,” he murmured and she glanced sideways to take a look at his bleak profile. What would cause someone who had so much, to look so unhappy? She thought. “I was very rude to Derek as well, telling him all sorts of things about his love life or lack of it. He asked me what he ever did to me to make me hate him so much and I could not answer and then I left and he did not stop me as usual even though it was a school night.” He paused and looked out the window at the passing scenery. “He is so strong and was able to pick himself up when our parents died and went on to make something big of his life. I am not like that and everyone around me expects me to be like him. I can’t be.” He admitted miserably.

“You are never going to be Derek,” she told him quietly, her heart twisting in sorrow for how lost the boy sounded. “It’s hard enough being ourselves, much more trying to be someone else. I am sure your brother does not expect that of you and you should never try to please people you will only end up disappointing them or yourself.”

“Do you love him?” he asked her suddenly.

Debra glanced at him briefly wondering what to say to him. “What I feel for him is complicated and I am yet to sort it out myself,” she gave him a glimmer of a smile. They were coming up to the intersection that would take him to his home. “I have never been in love and this is new to me. I am not sure I like the public peeking into every aspect of my life so I am not sure I will be seeing your brother again for what it’s worth.”

“You would have been good for him,” he admitted grudgingly.

She had stopped the car at the gate and she turned to look at him in surprise. “Being in jail for those few hours addled your brain?” she asked him in amusement.

He hung his head in shame. “I was hurt and angry and I said things I did not mean. I thought he was taking you away from me.” He looked at her squarely. “But I never really had you, did I?”

“Not like that no,” she told him gently, reaching out to touch his hand briefly. “If you ever need a friend I am here.”

She left him at the gate after making sure he was admitted inside and encouraged him to come clean with his brother.

*****

His brother was in his office with his eyes closed and humming a very catchy tune. Tyler realized that it was past eleven and Derek had not called or found out if he was okay. He had taken the corvette and driven it away and had brought liquor with him and had drank the whole bottle before being caught by the cops for speeding and his brother was in here making music. Did he even have a heart? He cleared his throat and Derek opened his eyes and looked at him standing there.

“I see you are in one piece,” he said ironically. “How was the time spent in jail?”

Tyler stared at him in shock. “You knew?”

“That very engaging police woman called me and told me everything bro,” he said with a short laugh. “I wanted to tell them to keep you there for the night but she told me that a lady was there to pick you up already. I assume it was Debra?”

Tyler nodded; suddenly weary of the constant bickering which he had started. “I called her.”

“Of course you did,” he said a smile curving his mouth. “And saint that she is she did not say no, she came running. She is much better than we are, I hope you realize that. She is much too good for either of us.”

“You are an idiot if you let her go,” Tyler blurted out.

Derek looked at him in amusement. “Quite a change of heart you have there. Tell me, how did this come about?” he asked leaning forward on his desk.

“I fancied myself in love with her before.” Tyler admitted with a shrug. “And when I saw the two of you together I thought you wanted her because I did and I saw red.”

“And what made you change your mind?”

“When I saw her at the precinct tonight and we spoke. You are right, she is too good for you but I think she is in love with you.” Tyler told him.

“It’s too late,” he said with a shrug. “I told her to go and I think it’s best. I am not good in a relationship and I don’t want to hurt her.”

“So you prefer to hurt her now?” Tyler looked at the man he admired so much.

“What do you mean?”

“She is in love with you and you are going to dump her after turning her life upside down? Do you have any idea what it is going to be like for her now? She will never get a moment’s peace because she has been linked to the ‘great Derek Mitchell’! You did that bro and you are walking away from her to face it all by herself. I was wrong about you, you don’t deserve my respect.” With that he left and went to his room.

*****

Debra made it to work the next day. The thought of hiding in her apartment did not appeal to her in the least because that was not who she was and she refused to hide from life. She had survived from much worse than this and she was not going to let a broken heart make her stop living. She noticed the stares and whispers and it took all of her will power to continue working. Several reporters had come by but she had told them she had nothing to say to them and Ana had helped her keep them at bay. She went through her lunch time and kept herself busy.

It was near to closing time when she heard the commotion near to the entrance and wondered at the noise she heard there and then she heard the singing. She had been putting away some stock when she heard the deep melodic voice coming towards her, the melody haunting and the words poignant: ‘You came into my life and I ran away scared because baby I have never been in love before.’ He came further and she saw him with the microphone in his hands and the people following behind him. ‘I need a chance to prove myself to you because baby being without you makes me feel like a closed door’ he was standing in front of her and he reached out a hand to her. With a slight hesitation she put her hand in his. ‘Please tell me it is not too late, I want to spend my life with you and be with you for a very long time! Girl you have me so tied up in knots that if I lost you now it would surely be a crime. Tell me yes and I will be better for you because of you, Girl please say yes.’ He stopped singing and the melody continued as he looked at her.