CHAPTER 5 — A TIP WORTH MORE THAN MONEY
CHAPTER 5 — A TIP WORTH MORE THAN MONEY
The applause lasted nearly a minute.
Rose covered her face, overwhelmed.
"I've never had so many people sing to me," she whispered as the last notes of "Happy Birthday" faded through the dining room.
Nathan smiled.
"You deserve more than one song, Mama."
Charles Greer personally sliced the birthday cake while the pastry chef, embarrassed by everything that had happened, brought out fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate and a pot of Rose's favorite Earl Grey tea—complimentary.
For the first time that evening, Rose looked relaxed.
Emma watched from a distance.
She wanted to leave quietly.
The night had already become bigger than she ever imagined.
Nathan noticed.
"Emma."
She turned.
"Yes, sir?"
"Would you join us for a minute?"
She hesitated.
"I shouldn't. I'm working."
Charles interrupted.
"Tonight, you're our guest."
Emma slowly approached the table.
Nathan stood.
"I owe you an apology."
Emma looked confused.
"You don't owe me anything."
"I do."
He nodded toward Rose.
"You protected the most important person in my life while everyone else protected their wallets."
Emma looked down.
"I only did what anyone should have done."
Nathan smiled faintly.
"The world would be a better place if that were true."
He reached into his jacket and removed a black envelope.
"I'd like you to accept this."
Emma immediately shook her head.
"I can't."
"It's only a thank-you."
"I wasn't kind for money."
"I know."
"That's exactly why you deserve it."
Emma still refused.
"I'm sorry."
Nathan admired her even more.
He handed the envelope back to Charles.
"I expected that."
Then he looked at Emma.
"Tell me about your family."
She hesitated.
"My mother is sick."
"What does she need?"
Emma smiled politely.
"It's not your responsibility."
Nathan's voice remained calm.
"Maybe not."
"But kindness has a way of becoming someone else's responsibility."
Emma finally told the truth.
Her mother, Linda Collins, suffered from severe heart disease.
The medication cost nearly eighteen hundred dollars every month.
Insurance covered only part of it.
Emma worked double shifts just to keep the prescriptions coming.
Nathan listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he simply nodded.
"What hospital?"
Emma frowned.
"Why?"
"So I know where to send the flowers."
She gave a small laugh.
"They'd probably prefer medicine."
Nathan smiled.
"Then medicine it is."
Emma thought he was joking.
She had no idea he wasn't.
The next morning...
Emma arrived at St. Matthew Medical Center before sunrise.
Her mother was sitting upright in bed, crying.
"Mama?"
Linda quickly wiped her tears.
"They made a mistake."
"What happened?"
"The billing office."
"They said..."
She handed Emma several papers.
"...someone paid everything."
Emma looked down.
Every outstanding bill.
Every surgery balance.
Every prescription.
Every rehabilitation cost.
PAID IN FULL.
Not for one month.
For life.
Emma felt her knees weaken.
She rushed downstairs to the billing department.
"There has to be some mistake."
The administrator smiled.
"No mistake."
"A private medical trust was established this morning."
"Your mother's treatment will never be billed again."
Emma stared.
"Who did this?"
"I'm afraid the donor requested anonymity."
Emma already knew.
She whispered,
"Mr. Carter..."
Across the city...
Nathan sat inside Carter Capital's headquarters overlooking downtown Chicago.
His assistant entered.
"Sir."
"The Whitmore Group has requested another meeting."
"No."
"They're desperate."
"I know."
"Their lenders are pulling out."
Nathan continued reading reports.
"Actions have consequences."
His assistant nodded.
"What about the waitress?"
Nathan looked out the window.
"Did we verify everything?"
"Yes."
"No debt."
"No criminal record."
"Excellent employee."
"Volunteers every Sunday."
"Cares for her mother."
Nathan smiled.
"Exactly as Mama described."
"What would you like me to do?"
Nathan closed the folder.
"Invite Miss Collins to lunch."
May you like
"Not as charity."
"As an opportunity."
