Stay Forever

Wouldn't you like to know

Ledger's p.o.v

We were in the office early this morning working on some files. Darcy was annoying us, asking what last night was all about and wants to know what we did. Neither Maddox or I told her. He just said it was a family dinner with long lost family members. She kept asking about Hannah and had the audacity to call her ugly and plain. I ignored her comments and Maddox said she was anything but plain. I agree with him. She is not plain. She is beautiful and mysterious and something about her pulls me in. I was so disappointed when dad called me last night. Darcy had told her dad that mom asked her to leave and he ran and told dad. I didn't tell dad everything, I just told him The Danby's stopped by and that grandpa was here and that Darcy is over exaggerating. The conversation got heated with dad demanding I ask Darcy out on a date and saying that the Slades need an heir and that I need to get married and have children already. Little does he know that it is closer than we all thought now that Hannah has returned into our lives.

Mom walked in and let me know that Hannah will be my date to the ball on Sunday "Mom, you are nuts" Maddox tells her laughing. "Maddie, respect me, I am your mother" she grills him, but he just laughs and hugs her. "Do you want her to wear a specific color Ledger?" she asks me and I shake my head. "No mom, I normally wear all black." I told her. "Hannah would look delicious in red" Maddox says and I want to punch him. "Shut your mouth" I tell him. "Ledgie, are we not going to the ball together?" Darcy asked me. "No, why would we?" I say "Well, we have gone together before." she says and bats her lashes at me. "We normally go as a work group" Maddox tells her and I smile. My bro always comes to my rescue, not that I need him to rescue me from Darcy. She and I are just coworkers. "Yah, well I thought we would all go together again. We normally all sit together and go around and try to recruit people for business ventures" she says and I nod. "You can all still do all of that" Mom says. "Mom, can you also play match maker with me and find me a bride? Ledger can't be the only lucky one here. This is telling me that he is your favorite child. Why can't I marry Hannah instead?" Maddox says. I groan. "Well, I am going to go. I will think about what you just said and I am going to go find Hannah a real pretty dress, then go give it to her at the charity event. See you both for dinner. Goodbye children, Darcy!" she said and walked right out of my office and of course Maddox started right in on me. "Bro, for once, let me have something" he starts "No" I shut it down instantly. "Ledger, you are really going to marry that girl? Who is she? I bet she only wants you for your money!" Darcy says. I glare at her. Who is she to be talking about someone wanting me for my money? That's the exact reason she wants me to choose her to marry. She doesn't even know Hannah and I can tell Hannah is different. I have no idea if she and I will get married, but right now I do want to get to know her. Yesterday, when I came back down after the conversation with dad, I just wanted to see her and talk to her, but she had already left. After that, I went to my room and took a shower and ended up relieving myself and thinking about her the whole time, then I took another shower. I just freaking met her and I already feel like she is starting to consume my mind. This has never happened before and I don't know what to think about it, but I will take her as my date on Sunday. I want to see if we are compatible. I just don't know what to do about dad. He will be at that event as well. I know this will be another fight waiting to happen. "What I do in my private life Darcy is none of your business, but I have more money than I know what to do with and if she wants to use me, then she can go for it. Now, let's get back to work now." I tell her, shutting her sh!t down. I hate people in my business. I am going to do whatever the f*ck I want to do at the end of the day. Maddox snorts. 'Right on brother" he says and I shake my head and get back to work.

I check my watch. Maddox talking about work and Darcy about the ball and telling us how the ball is considered a work event for us has me done with work for the day. I know she is only saying that, because Hannah is going as my date. Darcy is always the first one drunk and flirting. She never goes to these events to work. It is more to see what she can get out of anyone there. That's when it hits me that I want to see Hannah. "I am going to go look for mom at the event." I say. Maddox smirks. "Yeah, mom" he says. "Yeah mom" I say and walk out. He and Darcy both hot on my heels. "I want to go too. I want to see Hannah." Maddox says and I groan. "Stay away from her" I tell him. "I will go with you guys. We still need to go over the Adams account", she says, and I know she is right and I'd rather finish it today so I can have tomorrow and Sunday off and not have to worry about it. "Fine, lets go" I say and we head out.

We arrive and I remember when the Danby's booth was at so I make my way over there. "Wait, I want one of these sweet cinnamon things" Maddox says "A churro?" I ask and he nods, standing in line. We used to always get these when we were little. I remember the first time I shared mine with Hannah. She loved it. Her mom didn't want her to have sweet things because she was little, so I snuck a small bite to her and she loved it. I haven't had one in so many years, but I tell Maddox to buy her one. I am going to give it to her. "Eww, I have no idea how you two can buy and eat this junk. These people aren't even wearing gloves and it's so fattening" she says. We ignore her. Maddoox grabs the churros and hands me one. We continue making out way, but it takes longer than it should because Maddox is like a little kid, wanting everything.

We finally get to the booth and I see her fixing a camera on the front table of their booth. Mom is here talking to the Danby's, "Hey mama" I say and greet the Danbys. We all watch in amazement as Hannah talks to a little boy who is very dirty and was about to stick his fingers in a cupcake. She is so calm and sweet as she speaks to him. I cringe at the "ewww, that's gross" comment that Darcy made. I should have told her a$$ to go home. I know the Danby's pride themselves on helping people and it seems like Hannah is the same. So different to the kind of people I have to surround myself with. The little boy points to the carnival games and then Hannah has him come into the booth and sits him down on a chair. She goes into a cooler and comes back with a lunch pail. I watch as she wipes this little boy's face and she puts water from a water bottle on his hands so he can wash them. Then she feeds this hungry little boy. I almost feel like I should close my eyes. This is too sweet for me. I feel like she is hooking me in. My cold hard heart is cracking. I realize that if more people were like her and not greedy, then the world would be a much better place. The little boy bites the food and chews with his mouth open and he is talking to Hannah, and she is just looking at him with a smile on her face. She doesn't care about anything right now but getting food in this kid's belly. "I know this is a charity event, but does it have to be shoved in our faces? We get it. This is to help the poor, but come on. It's just a sandwich. One that doesn't even look that good" Darcy says, but we all hear her. I am just glad that Hannah and the little boy can't hear her. I turn to glare at her. "Why don't you just leave? Work is now over" I tell her. "A little compassion would go a long way, miss" Mrs. Danby says. Darcy scoffs. "You don't expect me to believe that this girl is always so charitable. This is clearly all a show" she says, laughing. Now it is Mrs. Danby's turn to laugh. "Hannah is the most selfless, most compassionate, the sweetest person we have ever met. If you would have met her mother, then you would know that she is just like her. Quick to help someone in need, give someone the shirt off her back, her last dollar, because Hannah doesn't have much, yet she would give it all away if it meant that a kid like this one doesn't go hungry. You guys don't know what Hannah has been through, so don't you dare judge her or even have an opinion on her. You don't even know her." she says . "Isabel, I should go help my husband and Hannah" she says. "I was just dropping off Hannah's dress," mom tells her. Mrs. Danby's eyes cut to me, looking at me suspiciously. "Isabel, you and I should talk later. I am not sure if this is a good idea anymore. I know you and Marie wanted it, but Hannah has been through a lot and I want the best for her and I am just not sure if..." she stops and looks at me and sighs. "I just don't want Hannah to get hurt" she whispers. "Paola, Ledger is what is best for Hannah. She won't get hurt. We are going to take care of her." mom says. "I will call you later." she says and walks away. Mom turns around with a glare. "You really had to bring her and you, can't you keep your mouth shut, like ever?" Mom says and walks over to Hannah. Maddox grabs the churro out of my hand. "Looks like the women are having second thoughts about you big bro, how do I look?" he says, fixing his shirt. "Like sh!t" I say, but he just laughs and walks over to Hannah who is now standing and facing my mom and smiling at her. Mom hands her the dress and points to me. Hannah looks over at me and smiles shyly. I nod at her, not knowing what else to do. "Can we go?" Darcy asks. "Go wait by the car" I tell her "Ledger, this is not like you. Did that woman do witch craft? Why are you all so hung up on her?" she asks, but I tune her out after that. All I can see is Hannah unzipping the bag the gown is in and her eyes widen. "Wow" she mouths. She quickly closes the bag back up. The little boy pulls at her pants so she gives him her attention, placing the dress on the back of a chair with no care in the world if it gets wrinkled or messed up. I chuckle. She hands the boy a cupcake. Maddox walks over to her and whispers in her ear. Her eyes are on me and then she chuckles. What the f*ck did that !d!ot tell her? He hands her the churro, then hugs her and she waves at him as he walks over to me. "What did you tell her" I ask him. No, I demand him to tell me "Wouldn't you like to know?" he says, laughing. He slaps my back. "lets go big bro" he says. I look back over to where Hannah was and she is now gone. What the heck.