Their Double Blessing

“I don’t know when she’ll be ready and I can’t force it,” George sighed knowing Cynthia would not like that answer.

Instead of giving another lecture, Cynthia shut off her phone. A shocking rarity. “Listen, I’m happy for you. I’m thirty-two with twin daughters and the nicest ex-husband in the world. Personally I want you to grab love with both hands. But as your publicist and handler I have to warn you that this can be a dynamite kit that blows up in your face. If it’s private you’ll have time to heal. Public and you need to disavow and get that arranged marriage done quickly. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but Patricia better be worth the risk.”

George sighed and leaned back. “She is.”

**********

Patricia helped put more cans in another cardboard box. The food drive was going well. This time she said nothing about it to George. He was always anxious to help anonymously. But people were starting to notice that these big anonymous donations were happening more frequently. If it went on further they would start putting two and two together. Including the fact that she was present at every one of them. That along with people questioning where she was disappearing off to was enough to keep her on high alert. If the paparazzi hadn’t found out about her relationship with a billionaire, she wasn’t going to be outed by the community.

“So, Patricia,” a fellow packer called, “are you still going to play dumb with us or finally spill the beans? My son took a picture of you heading into a black SUV with what looked like a second set of clothes. Could that be because everyone got nosy about the time you left your apartment looking all dolled up and entering a car that seemed to travel in a group?”

Patricia had taken precautions to throw people off the trail. Including driving to a middle location where George’s security picked her up in regular clothes before she changed at the final location or en route. But nothing much happened in their city and while some moved on others were determined to keep pushing the matter. “It’s not my fault this place can be so boring people are desperate for gossip. I would think my sister would be better fodder if you wanted to talk about someone interesting. I’m the same Patricia you always knew.”

“First of all, your sister looks down on us, so forget her. Second we’re not stupid, ma’am. You’ve become a lot more jovial of late. Time away from work should have you antsy but instead there’s this new glow that can only be from one thing.” The room responded in kind with whistles and she struggled to keep a straight face. Going full blush would only give them more ammunition to interrogate her with. Hopefully the rumors would die down soon.

“I’m not going answer rumors and baiting. All of you know I’m not easy to intimidate. If you want to believe my private business is yours then sorry but it’s not. Me having a little fun is nothing to get carried away about. Specifics are my business just as your privacy isn’t for me to peruse at my leisure.” Patricia tried to drop just enough to wet their appetite but also be nonchalant about it. The last thing she needed was anyone finding out about George. Mary had been unusually secretive about this relationship. Not that she was complaining at all.

“Uppity as always,” a male mumbled from the back. “Too good for the local men but ready to put out for some outsider? Since he picked you up twice he must be loaded or work for someone who is. I would expect such things from your sister but not you.”

Patricia did her best to ignore that nasty retort. Some men liked to act as if every woman in sight was their property. Answering him would only lead to a pointless fight that would slow down the good work they were doing. At least he took part in charity, despite his attitude. Though she suspected it was a way to get women to sleep with him. At least until he showed his true colors. Any smart woman would take off running when that happened.

“Shut up, you’re jealous,” another male said. “Don’t let anyone force you to say anything that’s private. Patricia’s always been a great example for this community. If your nasty rumors drive her away then I’ll never forgive the lot of you. No one else is like her.”

“My hero, thank you,” Patricia half teased and the room broke out in applause. She’d earned a positive reputation and at the right time people stood up for that. While she could stand up for herself, a little assistance once in a while was never a bad thing.

The outburst from the second male seemed to shame all questions into silence. Which was a relief since she just wanted to do volunteer work in peace. There was nothing wrong with curiosity but some people didn’t want to know about her secrets for good intentions. If it came out that she was dating a billionaire nothing would be the same. Money had a way of tearing things apart just as much as it created new opportunities; when the opportunists started pouring in and those who were resentful turned on her. She couldn’t imagine going about business as usual no matter how many still supported her.

But she was happy with the way things were progressing with George. Their dates drew them closer and she could imagine them being steady. Maybe even possibly getting married one day. Though she wasn’t in any hurry. The memories of past bad husbands were still fresh in her mind. George was nothing like them but she’d been fooled before. As long as he accepted that and didn’t try to pressure her into a commitment she wasn’t ready for there was no reason for why their relationship couldn’t continue as it currently was.

Patricia finished up and went to wash up. She bumped into a male who didn’t get out of her way. “Excuse me but you’re blocking the path.”

“Women like you think you’re better than everyone else but once a guy with a nice car or extra cash comes along you’re ready to spread your legs. At least your sister is honest about it,” the man snarled.

Patricia chucked him hard in the throat and left him choking for breath. “Next time you want to bother a woman don’t pick one who works as a guard and doesn’t give a damn.”

***********

Patricia laughed, walking out of the play with Mary. George had scored them tickets for Hamlet, saying it was about time he met her little sister. His publicist thought the play was a great way to do that. She found that creepy but Mary loved being under Cynthia’s radar: She was apparently a famous guru for the wealthy. Some thought having someone in control of your schedule or even personal life was a good thing. That sounded more like a life under a kind version of sky net or straight out of a future dystopian novel. Not something she had any interest in. But Mary told her that Cynthia was a big part of the Kent’s life.