Power and Passion by Kay Tejani Read Free Book Online

where the funds will
come from," Sara continued. "We do get donations, mostly from
families of the athletes and a few random strangers, but those pay
for things like uniforms and venue rental and paying our
staff."
    Sara sighed again, resting her elbow on the
table and her head in her hand. "It just seems like my idea is over
before it even started."
    Pierce took a sip of tea then returned his
cup to its saucer. "Well, then, I'll just give you the money."
    Sara just looked at him for a moment. She
couldn't have heard him right. "What was that?" she asked. "Pierce,
could you say that again?"
    He took out his phone to check the time and
did not seem to like what he saw. "I said that I can give you the
money." He paused, the two of them gazing at each other across the
table. Then he simply smiled again. "What? You know I can foot the
bill."
    This was true. Aside from the wealth he'd
been amassing during all those fifteen-hour workdays since he'd
moved to Dubai, Pierce came from a family with money. His father
back in England owned an importing and exporting business, one that
had been handed down from Pierce's grandfather. In all honesty
Pierce didn't need to work, but he enjoyed it, and that was
something Sara liked about him: he could have ridden on his
father's coattails and simply taken over the family business,
ensuring for himself a comfortable life and an early, easy
retirement. Instead he had taken the harder road. Yes, Pierce had
his own wealth, but he had worked very hard to get it.
    However, Sara couldn't do it. "I can't take
money from you," she responded adamantly. She was tempted to say
yes, but she just could not do it. Accepting his donation would
make everything so easy; she could hold any sort of gala she
wanted, with the best food and the hottest band and the most lavish
auctions anyone had ever seen. But that wasn't how she had
been raised. Her parents had instilled in her the importance of
behaving with integrity in addition to a very strong work ethic,
and she knew that if she wanted something, she had to go out and
get it, to make it happen on her own.
    "Yes, you can," Pierce replied. "And you
really should. I wouldn't offer if I couldn't afford it. Please,
Sara." He reached across the table again and laid his hand on top
of hers. "Please let me do this for you. You're so independent, and
I love that about you. But if I'm going to be your husband, you're
going to have to let me help you with things once in a while."
    Sara considered this. She knew he was
right—what was a marriage if not a relationship of give and take?
While she would never rely on him so much that she would lose her
own independence, she would have to take help from him from time to
time, whether it was giving her money or bringing her car in for
repairs or something to do with raising their children, when that
time came. Still, Sara shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the
waiter came over to refill her teacup. She picked up a spoon from
the table and absently stirred it as she debated this silently.
    "I'd just feel like I'm taking advantage of
you," she finally told Pierce. "You know how my mother is, right?
She'd give away all she owned if she thought it would help someone
else who's in need. And because of that, she is taken advantage of
over and over again. Give some people an inch, and they'll take a
mile." She put down the spoon and shook her head. "Your offer is
too kind, Pierce, and I don't want it to seem like I am just using
you for your money. I'll tell you again: I cannot do it."
    At that idea Pierce actually laughed. "Sara!
Do you honestly think I would feel like you're using me for money?"
He looked at her for a moment, but she did not respond, nor did she
share his mirth. In fact she sat back and crossed her arms over her
chest, trying to look as serious as possible.
    He continued, "I doubt anyone else would see
it that way either. You are one of the most honest and hardworking
people I have ever met in my life. And those