The Billionaire's Error

da'

Linda's little village, sh

mobile more shiny than

ity center, Tasha stood next to me. During our lunch break, we pretended that the

as I follow

t didn't do anything. Not the tires. Not the

not from around here,

's gaze expanded. "I

gas

nly appeared in TV series, newspapers, and in private discussions

ront of my sch

s golden as if he lived above worry, his hair was well-groomed, and

is place?" Half t

be lost. or bored. or p

n't ch

up at the structure... He did

the reason

the drowsy lads and the laughing girls, I took a seat close to t

walls, Jackson Kan

silence i

It has to do with giving back, promoting education, and funding rural schools. Ev

ut

gaz

shifted to my row

ch

M

revented me from leaving with

pal, Mr. Garvey, remarked.

ed at me thr

nt wi

on Kane sat on the opposite side of the desk, hands fol

s not

"You're

od. I had a

ass. lives with your gr

y are you awar

inqu

Wh

t leaned closer, and his jacket had

ucceed. Without opportunity,

s meant

to me. White and simple.

municipal library. A scholarship is

accepted the card. "Are yo

d, "Jus

ing behind his eyes a

hy

ause you have a quali

more explanat

donin

ning t

lding m

ldn't comprehend. She believed that stealing souls wa

y themselves. No helper. No camera. There is ju

t. My hands w

o with a scholarship, i

yes. "No. It comes

nd of opt

individual instruction." individually. It's sponsored by me. This year, you would

ad by me. It seems a

upposed to do

his voice. "

owever, something about him c

ave

greement w

I learned philosophy, economics, and how to read people's eyes as

y was

a exc

red, "You think this is

"I'm le

t me. "Or get

n't re

ortion of me

dn't care

for the first time

s an ac

hours, I

esents

f silver. A phone th

pted to

hake. "All schol

t it

ct that it felt

thing chang

y as I was heading out. not holding

rged from t

ov

uth

pecting

alked. She gave a little envelop

side, he cracked it open an

the wall

es weren't cold-when I at

were a

out. "You ought not

pond. I had l

d. "Return home. Later

ave

walk quickly till I came t

he silver

ee calls tha

unidentif

t voicemail

old at the soun

e didn't

s voice, tremulo

first baby. The last won't be you. Befo

, my fingers shaking, and r

has a deep

bject of her

hiding in the shadows th

han it had before. I recalled the books, the secret gatherings, and the silver pen. I i

dden, someth

inco

then came b

n number i

itating, I

owever, it wa

iration w

soft whisper

too late

he corner as Linda turns to go home