Finding Willow II (Nicholas POV)

Nicholas POV:

"I am graduating from Atkins High School in a week’s time. I was informed that I was the recipient of your yearly scholarship but later it was retracted on the account of an error. The scholarship has been since awarded to someone else. The retraction came after I had accepted a spot at QCU and I have already spent all my savings for room and board. I was dependent on the scholarship to attend college and I believe I deserve it. Mr. Rowe, I want you to fund my education as well.”

My mouth gaped. I couldn't have been more surprised if I'd seen John get out and start dancing the cha-cha naked in the middle of the street.

"You want me to fund your education?"

"Yes. I shouldn't have to suffer because of your employee's mistake."

Okay, yes. I was actually capable of being more surprised. This girl had some nerve. Nobody—and I mean nobody—talked to me like this. I was close to hanging up when she started speaking again.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. But I am in desperate need of that scholarship. It is my last hope of making something of myself, Mr. Rowe."

My anger was mollified by her apologetic tone. As I thought over her words further, I had to admit that I admired the way she was fighting her little battle. She went straight to the top and took no prisoners.

Kind of like me.

And fuck if her telling me off didn't turn me on a little.

I adjusted in my seat, disgusted that I was having these thoughts about some girl who was probably a minor. I couldn't help it. She had the sultry, low, slightly husky voice of a sex operator.

Not that I'd know what they sounded like.

Fuck.

I really needed to get laid.

I rubbed my hand down my face, thinking about her request. I'd put Julia in charge of prioritizing and organizing the scholarship documents, while Geoffrey had read through the submissions for me since I'd been overseas for a couple of weeks. I could have easily just told this girl I'd grant her request to be funded, but I wanted to look more into this mistake.

"Hello?" Her timid voice brought my attention back to the conversation.

"I will look into this so-called scholarship miscommunication. I will contact you myself when I have determined the steps going forward. Please wait until then."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Rowe. You have no idea how much this means to me. I've sent you several emails with all my information previously."

Meaning she'd sent Julia several emails.

"As I said, I will look into it." Once I knew what had happened, I'd probably help her out regardless. I liked her balls, although I was really curious how she'd gotten this number. "I just have one last question for you. How did you get my personal number, Miss Taylor?"

"I prefer to be called Willow."

Willow. Of course.

I exhaled and adjusted myself again. "Fine. Willow, how did you get this number?"

"I… uh…"

"Tell me the truth."

"I asked my friend to find your information. I am not sure how it was retrieved.”

Trouble. This girl was going to be trouble. "I'll be in touch." Maybe in more ways than one.

Fuck. I was going to hell.

I quickly saved her number under her name, before checking my watch again. I was already late for the meeting so a few more minutes weren't going to hurt. I scrolled for the number I wanted and hit send.

"Mr. Rowe?"

"Hey, Virgil. I need you to do something for me."

"Sure, boss. What do you need?"

"Who's your best computer guy?"

He told me the name.

"I want you to get with the hacker and investigate something for me. I need to know everything you can find on Willow Taylor from Atkins, Washington. I don't want anyone else to know you are doing this."

Virgil would never tell another soul, but I still wanted to be cautious. This could be illegal for all I knew. It was possible I'd developed some criminal tendencies from my sex drought.

I was losing my mind. Why was I doing this? Because of a voice on the phone?

I had officially become a member of loonyville.

"Sure thing. When do you want it by?"

"Tomorrow morning. Come to my office."

"I'll be there."

My heart was pounding and my stomach fluttered with excitement as I ended the call. It was possible I was in the early stages of a heart attack. I wondered if there were any aspirin in the limo.

"Sir?" John's voice made me jerk my head his way. He'd lowered the divider at some point and I hadn't even noticed.

"Yes?"

"We've been here for about fifteen minutes now. Did you want me to take you elsewhere?"

I shook my head. "No. I'm getting out." I needed to get my shit together.

I hurried out of the car and took a few deep breaths on the sidewalk, trying to ignore the valet guys eyeing me curiously. I pushed everything to the back of my mind and walked in.

Nicholas Motherfucking Rowe had a deal to close.

.

I tossed and turned all night with no clue as to why I couldn't sleep. I was always able to sleep. I loved sleep.

But there I was staring at the clock at six in the morning. I shoved the sheets away in frustration, scowling as I stomped to the bathroom and into the shower. The hot water did nothing to relax me, and I was still in a bad mood as I dressed and made my way downstairs.

I tried to bypass Laura altogether, not up for some debate about breakfast. I didn't know what my problem was, but I knew that fucking scrambled eggs weren't the answer.

"Nicholas, here's your coffee." I stopped in my tracks, turning around to find her in the hall behind me.

"No time this morning, Laura. Have a good day."

She mumbled something about attitude under her breath, and I tried not to feel like a scolded kid as I hurried away. John already had the car ready for me and I was at the office before I knew it.

I checked my phone for the hundredth time since hanging up with Virgil the night before, hoping he had something for me already. I threw it on my desk when I saw there was still nothing. I settled in my seat, distracting myself with work until 7:30 when Julia was supposed to be there.

I jumped up and opened my office door. It was fortunate for the future of her job that she was there on time.

"Julia," I said, nearing her desk.

"Yes, Mr. Rowe?"

My empty stomach rolled from her simpering voice. "I want hard copies of all the scholarship submission essays on my desk in ten minutes."

I stalked back to my office, ignoring her reply as I slammed my door.

About five minutes later she knocked and came in with what I wanted. I started glancing through the names as soon as she handed them over, not finding the one I was looking for.

"Wait," I said. She halted in the doorway and turned around. "I told you I wanted all of them. Are you sure these are all we received?"

Her eyes darted to the floor and I tried to quell my anger. "I can double-check," she squeaked.

"Do that. Now. And be very sure before you come in here again that you have them all."

She had another file in her hand when she returned a few minutes later. "I'm so sorry. I missed one. This is the last one."

I watched her eyes closely, but I wasn't sure whether she was lying or not. It didn't make sense for her to purposely keep a scholarship essay from me, so I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. I took the file and waved her off. "Close the door on your way out."

I couldn't open the file fast enough. As soon as I saw the name on top of the page, my heart took off racing again.

Willow Taylor.

What was she doing to me?

I devoured the words on the pages, so engrossed in her writing I barely heard the knocking on my door.

"Come in."

I set the pages down as Virgil walked in and sat down across the desk from me.

"What did you find?" I didn't care if I sounded a little overeager.

He eyed me briefly before producing some papers from a folder. "There's not a lot to find. Most of the information is in regards to her family." He handed me the papers before continuing on. "It seems her father was killed in a work accident. Then her mother also passed a few years ago from injuries sustained in a car accident that Miss Taylor was also in."

My eyes scanned the pages as his words sunk in. The news of her parents made her essay words even more touching. I rubbed a spot on my chest when I felt a sudden jab of pain. The heart attack was coming back. I was sure of it. My fingers fumbled in the drawer, finally landing on the bottle of aspirin. I downed a couple and took a swig of water.