Page 114 of Playing Mr. Perfect

“I know. She and Pepper are very much alike in that way, always trying to help others.”

“I think it’s an excellent idea,” Seth says. “Most of the people I know who have been in those types of situations have never been given a chance to get ahead.”

“Will you rescind the grant if they surpass a certain income level?” my father asks.

I shake my head. “No. That feels wrong. Like we’d be penalizing them for doing well.”

“Gramps would call you a bleeding heart,” Seth says with a smile.

“Gramps calls everyone a bleeding heart.”

“Yes, he does,” my father says. “Then he’d pat you on the back and say he’s proud of you while he doles out cash to the families who need it.”

We share a laugh.

“We learned from the best,” I say. “I was thinking that you guys might want to go in on this with me. Make the Fielding Futures Foundation a family endeavor. What do you think?”

“Get a load of this guy, Seth,” my father says jovially. “He’s banked multimillion-dollar contracts and he’s still asking us for money.”

“I guess he hasn’t signed that extension yet,” Seth adds.

“I don’t need your money, and no, I haven’t signed yet. I just thought it might be nice to do this together. Forget I asked. I’ll see if Dash wants to go in on it with me.”

“Like hell you will. You know I’m in, son, and I like the name you’ve come up with.”

“Thanks. That was Pepper’s idea.”

“I’ll message T and have him set up a meeting with my attorney,” Seth says.

“While you’re at it, ask Taylor to get you a woman, and maybe a little fashion sense,” I joke.

“Ladies love my fashion sense,” Seth says evenly. “Just because I don’t flaunt my affairs doesn’t mean I don’t have them.”

I scoff.

“A’right, boys, settle down.” My father shakes his head with a laugh. “It’s like you’re teenagers all over again.”

“Giving him a hard time adds a little joy to my day,” I say.

“Speaking of joy,” my father says, “it sounds like you’ve been doing more than just visiting your special lady in Charlottesville.”

“Yeah, it’s turning out that way. I’m really enjoying working with Ben and his friends. They’re incredibly dedicated. It was pure coincidence that I met the rest of Ben’s family, and it really drove home how good I’ve always had it. I wanted to help them, but I wasn’t sure how I could. Pepper is the one who came up with the idea of a foundation. She planted the seed, and together we nurtured it until it grew into Fielding Futures.”

My father arches a brow. “It sounds like you and Pepper are driven by the same things. It’s nice to have that in common.”

“It is. In fact, she’s interviewing Ben’s mom tomorrow for a job with her company.”

“The receptionist job?” Seth asks.

“Yes, but Clare brings more experience to the table, which would be valuable for Pepper. She’s thinking about redefining the position. Thanks for your help with the ad, by the way. She’s interviewed three other candidates who came from it, and she has another interview today, but we’re both hoping Clare will be the best applicant for the job.”

“She must’ve been as touched by their situation as you were,” Seth says.

“She was. She’s made a career out of helping others, and she’s helping me, too. In ways I didn’t expect.”

“How so?” my father asks.

I tell them about the migraine I had in Paris and how she’d helped me through it. “I had another one Saturday, and she took care of me. I’m not used to that, but she sat on the couch with my head in her lap for two hours reading over the pitch she’s giving tomorrow to a group of investors, while I dozed off, trying to break the migraine cycle. She didn’t mind that I was out of commission, and I’ve got to tell ya, she has a magic touch that makes everything feel better.”