Twenty-Five
Quinn
Can we talk?
Charlie swipes the notification away before entering the clinic.
If ever there’s a time to use her compartmentalization skills, it’s today.
A contraception company that offers telemedicine appointments for people all across the country has agreed to a video call.
She and Carolyn are going to pitch them on sending a representative to set up a booth at the expo and give a forty-five minute talk on how to choose what contraception is right for you.
The meeting is in thirty minutes, and she arrived early to ensure that everything is perfect for her presentation.
After tickets to the expo went on sale three weeks ago, Betsy Jacobs announced it on her social media, and the numbers ballooned. Charlie’s to-do list is a mile long, but she’s buoyed by the hope surging in her chest that this might, in fact, work.
She does not have time to think about Wes.
She does not want to linger on the memory of his mouth on her neck, the heat of his lips, the burn of his touch, the intensity of his words.
She is only allowed to give herself over to these memories under the cover of night, when she’s in bed and has nothing to distract her from her wildest imaginings.
Passing quickly through the clinic, Charlie waves to Cristina, the PA working that day, and takes the stairs to the second floor. When she approaches Victoria’s office, she sees the door is open and hears murmurs from within.
“Hey—” she begins, pausing at the threshold, but she freezes when she sees the occupant in the guest chair.
“Charlie!” Victoria’s grin sparkles. “You know Gabriel Quinn, right?”
Gabriel shifts in his seat, flashing her a good-natured smile, all straight white teeth.
“Good to see you again,” he says, then tells Victoria, “My son, Wesley, is Charlie’s very good friend.”
Her heartbeat stumbles, his presence rattling the composure she’s been working to maintain all morning.
Victoria beams. Her makeup is flawless today, her signature dark bob perfect, and she’s dressed in a crisp olive blouse with an ivory blazer.
“I spent time with Wes a few months ago when we visited New York to record Theo’s podcast.” She gestures to Gabriel.
“Which, of course, wouldn’t have happened without your company. ”
“Yes, of course,” Gabriel replies. “Theo’s show is one of our most popular podcasts.”
“I have to prepare for my meeting,” Charlie interjects quickly. She forces a smile in Gabriel’s direction. “Nice seeing you again.”
Before waiting for his response, she spins on her heel and hurries to her office.
She can’t begin to fathom why Gabriel Quinn is in Victoria’s office, but a sense of unease roils in her gut. She tries to forget the look in his eye as he observed her at Wes’s birthday dinner two evenings ago, telling herself the calculated glint was all in her imagination.
Ten minutes later, however, she’s halfway through reviewing her presentation when there’s a soft knock on her door.
“Charlotte.” Gabriel’s hand rests lightly on the door handle, a polite smile on his face. “Mind if I come in?”
Fingers hovering over her laptop, she stares for a second, speechless, then quickly nods. “Sure.”
He steps inside, but when he shuts the door behind him, a jolt of apprehension zips through her. Mustering all the confidence she can, she clasps her hands together on top of her desk. “Can I help you, Mr. Quinn?”
He smiles in a way he probably believes is paternal, but it only puts her more on edge. “You’re probably wondering why I’m here.”
Charlie doesn’t have another chair in her office, which is smaller than Victoria’s, so he leans casually against the doorjamb, sliding his hands into the pockets of his black pinstriped suit.
“The question certainly crossed my mind,” she says.
He chuckles lightly. “After hearing your impassioned speech about this place the other night and learning about the impressive moves you’ve made to ensure it stays open, I reached out to Dr. Angelo and requested a meeting.”
Pushing off the doorframe, he strolls a few steps, his gaze drawn to the lone piece of artwork on her wall, an artistic rendering of a uterus and ovaries with flowers growing out of them. Charlie found it on Etsy and thought it was beautiful.
He faces her. “I’m interested in providing additional funding for The Wild Rue.”
She gapes, unable to hide her shock. “That’s…that’s incredibly kind of you.”
“I do enjoy lending my support to philanthropic endeavors when I can,” he continues. “Plus my wife is considering a run for president in a few years, so linking her to a noble cause such as this clinic will look good.”
“Thank you,” Charlie says, her unease growing. “I’m sure Victoria appreciates your support.”
He nods. “Yes, I’m sure she does. But I do have a favor to ask of you before I make any final decisions.”
She swallows, her mouth suddenly dry. “Why me?”
His smile twists with contempt. “Because my son holds you in the highest regard, and I suspect he’s willing to do anything you ask.”
Her blood goes cold, and her lungs constrict, preventing her from taking a full breath. Somehow, she manages to speak. “I think you’ve misunderstood our relationship. We’re hardly friends.”
Gabriel chuckles, making dread curdle in her gut.
“You underestimate yourself, Charlotte! Wesley appears to be going through a rebellious phase of late, and each of his transgressions has one thing in common. Leaving my wife’s holiday party to be with you; skipping our family’s New Year’s Eve party to be with you; failing to inform me that you are tutoring him for the LSAT.
” He tilts his head. “You’re a very smart girl, so I’m sure you see the pattern. ”
Charlie clasps her hands tighter, her palms sweaty. “I don’t control him, Mr. Quinn.”
Gabriel’s eyes flash. “Please, Charlotte. Call me Gabriel.”
Charlie can’t help noting the stark contrast between this man’s steely presence and the warmth of his son.
He sighs. “What you may not know or understand, Charlotte, is that Wes’s future has been planned for him since his birth.
He is a Quinn, and I’ve made sure that name evokes a level of respect among certain groups, something I intend for him to benefit from.
He’ll take over my firm one day, as well as my media corporation.
With any luck, his mother will reach the highest office, and Wesley will be a part of making that happen.
You can also be part of that, if you choose. ”
Charlie says nothing while Gabriel assesses her, that same calculated look in his eye that she saw at dinner.
“Some people have a natural drive, a propulsive self-motivating element in their blood that makes them strive to achieve everything they set their sights on, no matter what.” He gestures to her. “From what my son has shared, it sounds like you have that. You are exceptional.”
Charlie fights the urge to flinch; the word sounds like a term of endearment when Wes says it, but from his father, it sounds like a curse.
“You have high standards and aspirations for yourself, and you’re attempting to save your little clinic in every way you can.
” The underlying condescension in his words is sharp on her skin.
“Wouldn’t it be nice, though, not to worry about raising the money to fund this place?
Wouldn’t it be nice to simply focus on your last semester and finalize the plans for your little program? ”
The way he says program makes it sound like she’s planning a lemonade stand, not a series of classes that could change the way young people learn to advocate for their bodies.
He grins, so like Wes, but also so unlike him because Wes is soft and genial and Gabriel is sharp and cunning.
Charlie’s not na?ve, though. She remembers what Wes told her about his father.
“What’s the catch?”
He laughs, and her heart tumbles at the similarity to his son’s.
“Catch? Charlotte, you wound me. I’m a very wealthy man, and I simply wish to support an excellent cause.
Your fundraiser is shaping up to be quite the event, but with my help, you won’t have to stress about it being the only way to fight back against Heartbeat Care.
I simply ask that you convince Wes to refocus on his priorities. ”
“I already told you, I don’t control him.”
Gabriel smiles, but a look appears in his eyes that frightens her, like he knows something she doesn’t.
“Once again, you deeply underestimate the effect you have on him. All you need to do is convince him to continue on the path I’ve set for him, and your clinic will be fully funded.”
Her vision tunnels and her pulse spikes, but she attempts to keep her expression neutral.
“I can take away your stress. There’s nothing money can’t fix if you have enough of it.
” He grins, and bile rises in her throat.
“My son is very smart, Charlotte, but he lacks drive. And that’s fine.
Some people just need the right motivation to reach their full potential.
You’re an incredibly bright girl, and I can see a place for you on my team someday, too.
A mind like yours would thrive at Quinn & Sons. ”
“Why won’t you let Wes decide for himself?” she blurts without thinking. “He doesn’t want the life you chose for him.”
He assesses her with pity. “He will. Once he knows you’ll be there beside him, encouraging him. He trusts you, Charlotte.”
“And if I don’t do what you ask?”
He smiles, and she can almost pretend it’s kind and genuine. “Heartbeat Care might find themselves with a very generous anonymous donation to help fund their crisis pregnancy center.”
A ringing starts in her ears. She’s not entirely sure she’s not going to throw up.
How easy it would be to agree. To relinquish the stress over what will happen to her clinic, to her sex ed program, in a few short months. To have reassurance that it will all be okay.
She’s not sure when she began thinking of the clinic as hers, but it is. It belongs to Victoria, Carolyn, Diana, all their patients. And her. That’s why she’s fighting so hard to save it. Not only for the future of her career but for all the people it’s helped over the years.
Gabriel opens her door again, jarring her from her thoughts.
“I’m meeting with Victoria again in two weeks to go over some more details.” He smiles, paternal and benign once more. “Think about what I said, and let’s chat then. I’m confident you’ll make the right decision for both yourself and my son, Charlotte.”
Ten minutes later, there’s another knock on her door.
“Hey, lady.” Carolyn pokes her head into the room, beaming. “You ready?”
With a start, Charlie realizes she’s been staring blankly at her laptop screen since the moment Gabriel departed, lost in her jumbled thoughts. Her stomach lurches, but she doesn’t have time to be nervous now.
Rising to her feet, she gathers her laptop and her presentation notes and manages to shoot Carolyn a reassuring smile despite her trembling hands. “Let’s do this.”