Free Saving Forever - Part 4 by Lexy Timms Page A

“That’s not business, it’s a wedding gift.”
    “You didn’t hav—”
    “I wanted to.” He let go of her hand and glanced around the room. “You’ve done a fantastic job here, Charity. Thank you.”
    “The hospital’s done the work. I’m just the lucky girl who gets to promote it.” It felt like she was living two lives, one here in Atlanta and another fairy tale one in New York.
    He chuckled. “You just had a single family donate an astronomical amount of money.”
    Charity shook her head. “I didn’t do anything but set up the account for estates and companies to be able to donate the money to the hospital. This particular family chose you guys because of the staff that’s been here over the years. That was this hospital. Not me. You need to be proud of Forever Hope.”
    “I am, but you can’t stop me from telling you what a fine job you’ve done. That too is well deserved.”
    She didn’t know how to respond. The conversation oddly felt like a goodbye speech. “Are you letting me go?” She couldn’t believe she’d asked the question out loud.
    If Malcolm was shocked he didn’t let it show. “Do you want to be released from the contract?”
    She felt her eyebrows rise but had no idea how to respond.
    Malcolm sat down and patted the seat beside him. “Charity, we are not terminating the contract. The board here is beyond pleased with what you have done. You’ve raised more money since you’ve been here than what the board’s been working on for years. We spoke after our meeting with you this week and discussed everything you’ve been through and your upcoming nuptials. We wanted to give you the option to be released from the contract if you wanted to, with no obligation or penalty.”
    Here was her chance to pack all her stuff up and leave for New York. She could move into Elijah’s house and go back to med school, get into her residency at her father’s hospital, she had the perfect outlet to not have to travel and be apart from Elijah. “I don’t want to be released.”
    The words were out of her mouth and she knew they were the truth, shocking as they were. This was something she should ask Elijah what he thought so they could discuss it together. Except he was probably in surgery at this moment.
    “I had a feeling you were going to say that.” Malcolm smiled. “I’m glad. However, there is something I would like to discuss.” He hesitated.
    Charity felt her knees begin to shake. He seemed nervous and it suddenly was making her nervous as well.
    “I spoke with the board.” He straightened and looked directly at her. “I hope you don’t mind that I spoke with them regarding your contract without talking to you first. I believe you are extremely competent.”
    But… Charity believed that word was about to enter his little speech.
    “With everything that has happened and your very soon-to-be marriage, would you consider having – what the board referred to as a – floating contract? We still expect you to fulfill your end of the contract but it would mean you could work from Atlanta or New York, or wherever. You would obviously need to be here at least once a month, but I felt – the board felt it was in your, and our, best interest if you were given that option. Is that something you would consider?”
    Charity stared at him. She knew her mouth hung open but she couldn’t seem to get her brain to fully process what he was offering. It seemed too easy. Too perfect a solution that it shouldn’t be able to work.
    “We realize it might slow the fundraising process down some. However, we’ve gone over everything that’s been done and the hospital accountant assured us you were already months ahead of your proposed budget.”
    “You did this, for me?”
    He smiled. “You’re a good person, Charity. You deserve every opportunity that comes your way. I pushed for this, and I apologize again for doing it without talking to you first, because I’ve been through this. I let