Chapter 3

Ed was on his third cup of coffee when she came into the kitchen. He poured her a cup of coffee and set it down in front of her. He set an English muffin and butter and orange marmalade in front of her. "I couldn't find the light switch to turn off the lights," she said. Ed grinned, "The lights are off." "I have motion detectors in every room except the bedrooms and bathrooms." "When the room is not in use the lights go off." "I also have daylight sensors to regulate the amount of light in the room." "That way the room always has the same amount of light day or night, cloudy day or sunny day." "If the daylight is sufficient, the lights don't come on." "If you will check, you will find that every light is a fluorescent light if possible," he said. "I tried to make the house as energy efficient as possible." "This house is a showcase for my business." "The house is a "smart house", I can control most of the functions of the house from anyplace in the world." "You seem to have thought of everything", she said.

"Let's talk about you," Ed said seriously. "Have you thought about how you are going to get to work"? "It's about nine miles to Shadow Securities, Inc. and the bus line is about four miles from here." "I was going to ask where I could catch the bus," she said quietly. Her heart fell, another crisis. "Well, I think we have a temporary solution to that problem," Ed said. "You can use the Explorer until you can afford a car." "If I need the Explorer, You can take the Porsche that day." Her eyes got large, "I can't drive the Porsche." "Isn't the Porsche very expensive"? "$110,000 but its fully insured so don't worry about it," he said. Sarah stared at him like he was crazy. "What about money," he said. "Do you have enough to get you through until your first paycheck"? "I was going to open a new checking account locally with some of the money I have in the bank from Elmer," she said. Ed's face got serious. "I hate to keep bringing this up but most banks pull a credit check before they will open a new checking account, they might give you some static about your credit history." His face brightened a little, "Don't worry I will put in a good word for you with my bank." "They like using my money." "I have to go out for a while, so you will have the run of the house today." "Will you have a problem with that"? He asked. Sarah shook her head no. She was fast realizing that she was not as prepared to go out on her own as she had thought. She started thinking just how much she hated Carson Lashely and wondered how long it would take her to undo the financial mess he had left her with. She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear Ed say goodbye and go out the door.

Ed got into the Porsche, hit the door opener control that was clipped onto the visor and started the engine. As he drove down the driveway he hit the door control again and closed the garage door. As he drove into the city he formulated a plan of action. Sarah seemed like a nice person who needed just a little help. He was glad that he was in a position to give her the help she needed. From what she had told him, her situation was not of her making. She now had to pay for the actions of her ex-husband. Ed felt that her main problem was that she was a little too trusting and people took advantage of her. "With a little help this woman could be a star", Ed thought.

Ed pulled into the bank's parking lot and found a space where he felt people would not open their car door into his Porsche. He shut off the engine and went into the bank. As he entered the bank Stu Haslett saw him and approached with his hand out to shake Ed's hand. "How is everything, Ed", Stu asked. "Can we go into your office and talk Stu"? Ed asked. "Sure," Stu said as he led the way into his office and shut the door. He searched Ed's face for a clue to the problem bothering Ed. He hoped the Ed didn't want to end his relationship with the bank. Ed was one of the bank's largest accounts. Ed started the conversation. He explained Sarah's situation in detail. "Here is what I want Stu," Ed explained. I need to open an account in her name with $2000 to start." "Whatever she spends I want replaced from my account." "I will need an ATM card with her name on it only and I will need a Visa credit card in her name with a $5000 limit." I don't want any bills coming to the house and I want any monthly payments taken out of my personal account." "I specifically don't want Sarah to know of our arrangement." Stu started to smile. "Ed when are you going to stop picking up strays." "Eve is already into you for big bucks for her college expenses." "I know that you hid it from her as a full scholarship." Stu knew that the interest on Ed's deposits more than made up for what he gave away. Ed smiled, "If you can't help someone deserving, what is the sense of having money." Stu got up from his chair. "Let me go upstairs and open the account and get the cards made up." "I'll give you the signature cards to have her sign." "Try to get them back before she tries to use the accounts." "I'll have them back before the day is over," Ed replied. Stu left and went upstairs. He returned in about 30 minutes with a checkbook and an ATM card and a Visa card. Ed signed the forms allowing the bank to use his account to pay the credit card account and to replace the money in the checking account. They shook hands and Ed went to his car.

Ed then went to an exclusive woman's shop specializing in clothes for the business professional. It was type of shop where the prices were not marked on the clothes. The shop catered to the professional woman who did not need to shop for price and who demanded service, style and serviceability. The manager knew Ed as his mother had shopped in this store for years and Ed had brought Eve here several times. "Good morning Ester," Ed said as the manager approached. "Mr. Sensa, what can we do for you today," asked the manager. "Ester, I will be bringing a friend in tomorrow for suitable clothes for the business world." "I would like you to provide a suitable wardrobe." "It is not necessary that she concern herself with prices." "You will bill me for her wardrobe." "I am sure that we can outfit the young lady suitably," Ester replied. "I would appreciate it if you would supervise her fitting personally," Ed requested, "I trust your judgment in these matters." Ester smiled and said, "But of course Mr. Sensa." "Please put the young woman in our hands." Ed thanked her and left for home.

When Ed Walked into the kitchen Sarah was where he had left her. She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear him come into the room. She jumped when he walked in front of her. "I didn't hear you come in," she said. Ed poured himself and Sarah an iced tea from the refrigerator and sat down. He took the checkbook, ATM card and the Visa card out of his pocket and laid them on the table in front of Sarah. "I opened a checking account in your name at my bank with $2000 in it," Ed said. "There is your ATM card and here is a Visa credit card with a $5000 limit." "This should help you get on your feet until your salary kicks in," he told her. Sarah just stared at him for a minute. She hurriedly got up from the table and went over to the sink. Although her back was to him he could tell that she was quietly crying. "Sarah, I'm just trying to help you get back on your feet," he said. She turned and her face was streaked with tears. "Ed, I don't know how or when I can ever repay you' she said. "You can't just keep handing out money, its not right." "I can't accept this money." Sarah started crying harder and had to lean against the sink for support. Ed went over to her and caught her a second before her legs gave out. He held her close for a few minutes until she calmed down. He released her and pushed her toward the table. Sarah sat down hard. Her legs felt like they wouldn't support her anymore. Ed sat down opposite her and took a sip of his iced tea.

"Listen to me, hear me out," he said sternly. " I told you that my father was a wiz at the stock market." Well, he was so good that I really don't have to work, but I love what I am doing." "I also told you that I am successful in my own right." "You mentioned one time about helping out with the mortgage." "Well, that is going to be a problem as there is no mortgage on this place." "As for my inheritance, I haven't even touched any of that yet and I probably won't." "Sarah, my father and mother were always helping people out." "So I guess it just comes naturally to me." "Eve is a good example." "My father started paying for her college, she's an orphan." "Since he died, I am continuing to pay for her college expenses, although she thinks that she has a full scholarship from the college." "I feel that the purpose of having money is to help people." "I am asking nothing of you and I do not expect you to pay what little I am giving you back."

Sarah jumped up from the table and ran to the sink again. This time she was sobbing as if her heart was broken. Ed went to her and turned her around, put his arms around her and held her close. He held her until she stopped sobbing. She turned and buried her face in his chest. "I feel so vulnerable," she said into his chest. "I'm beginning to realize that I wasn't as prepared to go out on my own as I thought." Ed took her chin and turned her face so that he could look into her eyes. "Sarah, please accept my help in the spirit that I am offering it to you," he said. "As I said, I am asking nothing of you and I am happy that I can be of help." "I'm not going to let you fail." "If you even try to fail, I'll make the rest of your life so miserable that you'll wish you did succeed." Sarah looked into his eyes for a minute. She rose up on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. Somehow her lips found their way to his lips. She kissed him softly for what seemed a long time. The kiss was full of emotions that she had not felt in a long time. Sarah Quickly pulled away and buried her face in his chest again. "I'm sorry," she said. "I don't know where that came from." Ed hugged her a little tighter. "Thanks," he said, "consider me paid in full." Ed released her and started for the office. "Sorry to leave such great company, but I have to get some work done," he said as he left the room.

Chapter 4