Chapter 24 #2
I take a quick glance around the room. “Maybe you shouldn’t voice your distaste for your potential donors in a place where they can hear what you’re saying.”
She huffs. “It’s just irritating. You’re lucky you work in a small office. I bet your holiday parties aren’t about sucking up and making rich people feel important.”
They’re not, but I doubt telling her that is going to make her feel better. I square my shoulders. “Well, we’re here now,” I say. “Let’s make the best of it and find something to do.”
My eyes scan the crowd again, and they land on an old white man talking to two young people, who appear to be about our age.
Judging by how the pair eagerly leans toward the older man and the lazy, almost bored expression on the older man’s face, whatever they’re trying to convince him of, they’re failing.
I strain my hearing, and I can make out snippets of conversation.
“We’re about half a million dollars away from our goal,” the woman says. “Our cardiothoracic surgical team is excellent, but we could really use a new lab.”
The old man scrunches his face, and I guess the other man can tell it’s not going their way, because he adds, “This, of course, would be a naming opportunity for your foundation.”
“I don’t know…” The old man shakes his head.
At the despair twisting their expressions, I point toward the group. “Do you know those two?” I ask Emily.
She follows my pointing, then raises a shoulder. “I think I recognize the girl, but I don’t really know them.”
“Then let’s go meet them!” I lift my chin and start walking toward the group.
“Ziya, wait!” Emily calls after me, but I don’t stop until I’ve sidled right up to the trio. I place my arms behind my back, encircling my wrist with my hand. I offer my best, brightest smile. “Hello!”
The three of them basically jump at my abrupt greeting.
The man and woman exchange confused stares, and the old man looks a little grouchy as he gives me a once-over.
He holds a half-drunk glass of scotch in his fist, but with the way pink flushes his cheeks, I’m confident it’s not his first glass.
My grin grows bigger anyway. “My name is Ziya, and this is Emily.” I gesture to Emily beside me, who can only stare. “What are your names?”
I’m met with silence, but the woman is the first to speak. “Dr. Kira Yukimura,” she answers.
Taking his cue from Kira, the man says, “Dr. Antonio Madrigal.”
“Nice to meet you.” I turn deliberately to the old man, who takes another long sip from his glass before finally speaking.
“Finn Whitman the Third.” Not wanting to be one-upped by the two doctors, he quickly adds, “I’m the current CEO of the Carissimi Group, which is an investment company. My grandfather established it in 1919.”
“That’s a wonderful name,” I tell him, and I can tell my sincerity is weirding them out, but I can’t help it.
“All of your names are lovely. There’s a lot of power in a name, and it’s important to have a good one.
” I place my hand on the space between my collarbones.
“For example, my name, Ziya, means light. What do your names mean?”
Miguel and Kira share a strange glance, but Kira says, “Well, Kira means ‘glittery’ in Japanese.”
“That’s certainly a fitting name, because your dress is so glittery and makes you glow.
” I nod at her magenta dress. The color itself doesn’t stand out very much, owing to it matching the shade of the lights above us, but the shimmer of the intricate beadwork makes her shine. “It’s like you’re a mirror ball.”
Kira’s eyes, cautiously wary before, melt into something softer. “Oh, uh…thank you. That’s very kind of you to say.”
“And what does Antonio mean?” I ask, turning to him.
“‘Highly praiseworthy,’” he answers.
“How nice,” I say. “It goes well with your occupation.”
He raises a brow. “How’s that?”
“Well, being a doctor is highly praiseworthy,” I start.
“It takes a lot out of a person—energy, time, money. But it’s all in service of helping to heal the sick and injured.
” I gesture to the whole room. “All of the medical professionals here have dedicated years of their lives and sacrificed so much to take care of others. And that is highly praiseworthy, don’t you all think? ”
Everyone is a little speechless, including Emily, who’s still staring at me like I’ve grown two heads. I wait for someone else to say something, but when no one does, I turn to Finn. “And you? What does your name mean?”
Finn grunts, but reluctantly replies, “It means ‘fair.’” He points a finger at me from the glass holding his scotch. “But don’t go making some profound statement. Finn is a plain name. Its meaning isn’t anything special.”
I pause. “Forgive me, but you said you are Finn the Third , correct?”
“Yes.”
My lips lift upward. “Don’t you see? That’s where the meaning comes from. Your father’s name is Finn, and so is your grandfather’s.”
“So?” Finn gruffs. “If anything, it means my grandfather was selfish. Thought he was great enough to name his own kid after himself.”
“I don’t think so,” I counter. “I think it means he cared very deeply for your father, and in turn your father cared very deeply for you. In giving your father his name, and in receiving your father’s name in turn, it allows for all this.
” I give the whole room a once-over, and the others do as well.
“You receive a life of privilege, of opportunity. Everyone knows you’re the grandson of Finn Whitman, CEO of an investment company.
And it’s with that privilege that you’re afforded the opportunity to share what you have with others.
It’s why you come here, is it not? You get to see the rest of the world in ways many human beings never do.
And you get to remember why it’s important to support each other.
” I lift my shoulders. “That’s how your name has meaning.
” I lean forward. “And Finn Whitman truly is a lovely one.”
The lines in Finn’s forehead wrinkle, and he tilts his head. “That is oddly…insightful, Miss Ziya,” he muses.
“Yeah,” Antonio says. “What department are you in?”
“Oh, I don’t work at the hospital,” I reply. I point to Emily. “Emily does, though. She’s a NICU nurse. I’m a writer.”
“You must be an excellent writer, then,” Finn compliments. His mood is considerably lighter than it was before. “You have a real way with words.”
I dip my chin. “I try.”
“I sincerely hope I’ll get to read something of yours.
” Finn polishes off his drink, then peers into the empty glass.
“Ahh, I should get a refill.” Before he goes, he reaches into his pocket and produces a matte white card.
He holds it out to Kira. “Shoot my assistant an email. I’ll see what I can do about your lab.
” He raises a finger. “But I do expect the naming opportunity to be part of the deal.”
“Oh, of course, Mr. Whitman,” Kira promises eagerly. She accepts the card from his hand with a nod of her head. “Thank you so much.”
“We appreciate your generosity, sir,” Antonio adds.
“Cheers,” he says, and then he merges with the rest of the crowd on his way to the bar.
Kira’s jaw drops the second his back is turned. “Oh, my God .” She gives me a once-over. “How did you do that? Tony and I have been talking to Finn for the better part of an hour and were getting absolutely nowhere. You accomplished it in all of five minutes.”
“And you did it without sounding so…desperate,” Antonio adds.
“Oh. I just…talked.” I shrug. “Sometimes we get so caught in what we’re trying to say that we forget what we should be saying.”
Kira and Antonio share a look. “I don’t think I understand what you mean, but you’re good,” Antonio says. He turns to Emily. “Your friend is vibrant.”
Emily gives me a once-over. “I’ve…honestly never seen her like this,” she replies.
He points to the crowd. “Can you come with us to squeeze some money out of these other billionaires?”
I laugh. “I’d love to, but I’m just here to support Emily.” I loop my arm through hers, and she startles at the action.
“I think I recognize you,” Kira says to her. “You’re on Mark Shepherd’s nursing team, right? I think we worked together on the baby who had PDA.”
“I am,” Emily confirms. “And we did. I thought I recognized you, too.”
“Well, I’m glad Ziya gave us the chance to reconnect,” Kira says, offering me a grateful nod.
“Yeah.” Emily regards me with a mix with admiration and confusion. “Me too.”
“But seriously,” Antonio cuts in, “can you help us? Because we need a few other things in the hospital, too, and this is one of the biggest fundraising events of the year.”
I tilt my head at Emily. “Em?”
She bites her lip, then tosses her hands in the air. “Ah, what the hell. I didn’t have anything better planned for the evening.”