Chapter Text
Okay, so I was rich. Had been rich since winning the uber-lottery prize almost a year ago. And I had had plenty of fun with it! Bought 12 new houses (only one for myself - the rest for family and friends), 26 new cars (2 for myself there), and started 15 college funds for my nieces and nephews and cousin's kids and friend's kids. So it wasn't like I hadn't been generous or anything. It's just that Sam (my cousin and dedicated financial attorney) insisted that I needed to start being wise and systematic about donating to charities.
Therefore, we hired some people to look into various small charities. Sam had suggested that I pick a cause, a particular issue that really hit my heart, so I would be organized in my giving. He also suggested that I start a foundation, and I would eventually, but for awhile, I wanted to be directly involved with the gifts I gave.
But there were so many issues! I wanted to save every single abused person and animal in the world. I wanted to make sure that every child on the planet got enough food every day, and an excellent education as well. I wanted every home in America to have a decent computer with broadband internet service. I even wanted to make sure that one day we got back into space as a nation - back to the moon, and on to Mars.
But in the end, I went with my gut, and I chose women and children. Specifically, homeless women and children. Because more than all the other stuff I thought of, I wanted people to have homes - safe homes, where they felt secure and loved, or at least unafraid, to return to every single day. I thought of abused women and children, and decided that homeless women and children were sure to be abused in some way, so my focus would be on homeless women and children. Mainly children, and the women that tended to come with them.
That's when I saw something incredibly interesting on Tumblr. Yes, I was a 31-year-old nearly-billionaire, and I spent time on Tumblr. My not-so-secret major fan crush on British actor David Tennant is why I was on Tumblr at least 3-4 times a week. There I could find pictures of him and updates on the work he was doing. I figured I wasn't doing anybody any harm, and now that I was so rich, it wasn't like I'd be able to trust any man to date me for my own good qualities outside of my bank account, so...this little celebrity crush kept me company for now.
So the interesting thing - a celebrity auction to benefit a shelter for homeless youth in London. The celebrities auctioned off (one date with your favorite celebrity bachelors) included David Tennant. I sensed a trip to London in my very near future.
** ** ** ** **
Sam's response was not exactly what I had expected when I told him about my upcoming adventure.
"But you can't do this," he'd cawed, "it doesn't fit in with your plan!"
"I can do it, and it does fit in my plan, and furthermore, I'm GOING to do it," I'd responded with a laugh.
"How exactly does it fit in with your plan?" Sam had demanded.
"It is a celebrity auction to benefit homeless youth in London," I answered.
"But your focus has to be America. You can't save the whole world, you know."
"That may be true. But this is something I'm doing for ME as well as for the homeless youth of London. And you know what? I think maybe I can save the whole world, or at least parts of it. I don't have to worry about only Americans; that's ridiculous and very ethnocentric of you to say."
"Well, get ready to suddenly be in the public eye again. Remember how annoyed you were when you first won the lottery and all the news media was hounding you for your reaction? This will be the same kind of thing. And what, do you think that on one date this guy is going to fall for you and propose or something, just because you're rich and can afford to buy his time?"
"Ouch," I said, flinching. Sam was getting kind of personal there. "Sam, that was just mean. And no. My thought process is more along the line of - who else could I enjoy an evening out with but somebody else who couldn't trust people to like them for their own qualities? Even if I met a man who was interested in me, I'd never know for sure whether it was me or my money. Celebrities know people are only interested in them because of their fame. I mean, even I'm only interested in David Tennant because of his fame; otherwise, I'd never even know who he is. But there's a chance of a nice evening out with somebody I can sort of relate to and who I know from all his press is fun and funny and interesting. But MAINLY, dear cousin, I feel like donating to this fabulous charity and having a visit to London are worth the money I'm going to spend. And I DO care about homeless youth in London. It's very cold there, I hear."
Sam huffed, rolled his eyes, shuffled some papers on his desk, and finally shrugged. "Well, I guess you do deserve a fun time out. It's been more like a huge job for you with all this money. And it is about time you start to travel. I suppose this won't be the worst thing in the world. But you are planning to take a friend with you, right? I don't want you in London all alone."
I grinned. "Yes, DAD, I will be taking my oldest and dearest friend, Melissa."
Sam smiled a small smile, and looked at me sincerely. "You know, Jennifer, I only want what's best for you."
I walked behind his desk and hugged him. I was lucky to have my very favorite cousin managing my finances, and helping to manage my life. "Yes, I know, Sam. Thank you."