Chapter 6: The Consideration
Gordon Zhou had just walked toward the elevator to leave for the day when he heard Charlotte happily chatting with people. He stopped out of her sight and listened. He soon realized she was on a voice call with family. He could hear the worry in her voice as she talked about her mother's health.
He swallowed hard. He felt uncomfortable in his heart when he thought of the burden Charlotte and her family carried. His logic told him nearly all of his employees could tell similar stories of misfortune but he'd never felt like this before—the urge to do something. To fix the problem. He knew with his vast fortune that he had the power to ease their suffering, but how could he do it without offending Charlotte and her family?
Just then Charlotte came around the corner to the elevators. Their eyes met. She looked surprised.
"Mr. Zhou, good evening." She said gently. She seemed tired.
"Miss Xia." He nodded in his same reserved voice.
They both took the same elevator. There was an awkward silence until Gordon spoke up, "I can loan you the money if you need it."
"Ah, you heard my conversation." She guessed.
"Right." He affirmed.
"Mr. Zhou, the amount my mother needs for treatment is more than I can repay you in a timely manner. I'm afraid that as a businessman, you know loaning to someone like me is a risk." Charlotte explained.
"How about this? I need someone to attend business events and such. I can pay you $10,000 each time you attend with me." Gordon offered.
"Absolutely not. I am not a paid escort. It goes against my bottom line. If you want me to go out with you for some reason, I will be honored and happily go. But I won't accept money for it." Charlotte explained.
He considered her words. She might just be the first woman he'd met that wasn't after his money. He found his respect for her growing. And she said she'd happily be willing to go out with him. Did that mean...
"I know! I could cook for you in exchange for helping my mother. But not at $10,000 a meal!" Charlotte interrupted his thoughts. He was startled.
"You cook?" He asked.
"Of course. My dad died when I was young and before my mom got sick she worked to provide my sister and I. I had to learn to cook so I could take care of me and my sister while mom was at work." Charlotte explained.
Gordon was surprised. As a child until the present his meals had always been prepared by a gourmet chef employed by his family. He couldn't imagine the struggles she'd faced.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly.
"No need. I may not be able to run in high heels but I've been cooking for over half my life. I don't mean to brag, but it's one thing I do well." She said with quiet confidence.
"Then please allow me to take you home so I can sample your cooking. Unless, you have a car here already?" Gordon asked.
"No, I don't have a car." Charlotte said.
The elevator stopped on the ground floor and she followed him outside where his driver waited for him in a Rolls Royce. Charlotte's eyes widened. She'd never ridden in such a luxury car. Gordon waited for her to enter and then followed her in.
He noticed the look of utter shock and surprise on his driver's face. To his credit, the driver remained silent and followed Charlotte's directions. Soon they arrived at her apartment.
He followed her out of the elevator and to her door. Suddenly she paused.
"Mr. Zhou, my home is humble. I just realized I'm not really qualified to receive you."
He looked at her worried little face and said, "I don't look down on you. There's no need for concern."
She nodded and unlocked the door. He followed her inside and took in his surroundings. It was small but well kept and clean. Bright colors splashed happily around the room in her decor.
To his right was a small kitchen area full of brightly colored dish towels and shelves of colorful dishes and glassware. Ahead was a living area. A simple but modern grey couch covered in brightly colored pillows faced a simple wooden table and in the wall a TV was mounted.
The walls were covered in reprints of famous works of abstract art, their happy colors catching his eyes. Straight ahead and past the living room was a balcony with a small stone table and two bright yellow bean bags. To his right, past the kitchen was a door.
"Make yourself at home. I'm going to change out of my work clothes before I start dinner." Charlotte said as she kicked her high heels off and hung her purse by the front door. She slipped on a pair of house slippers.
She headed toward the closed door while Gordon also put on a pair of slippers. He walked around the small apartment taking in the paintings on the wall. He noticed a multi-colored rug taking up most of the floor space in the living area.
Just then Charlotte reappeared in a pair of black leggings and a baggy tee-shirt. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun. His lips twitched into a smile without realizing it. She looked like a little girl playing dress up with her mother's clothes.
"I don't believe it!" She exclaimed, looking at him.
"What is it?" Gordon asked in confusion.
"You really can smile! You should do that more often!" She had teased him but praised him in the end.
Gordon turned his head quickly in embarrassment but Charlotte ignored it. As she tied an oversized apron around her waist he asked, "May I use the washroom?"
"It's through the bedroom." She absentmindedly answered as she began pulling ingredients out.
"Hey, what do you want to eat?" She called out as he wasn't about to pass into the bedroom. He paused. In truth he was picky about his food but he wasn't certain what she had on hand and didn't want to offend her.
"I'm sure anything will be fine." He said as he went in the bedroom and hurried into the washroom. Brightly colored rugs and towels added color to the tiny bathroom. He had closets bigger than this space, but he admired her ability to make the small room welcoming.
After he finished washing his hands he stepped back into the bedroom again and was finally able to see this room clearly. Bright red curtains graced the window and the bed was covered in a bedspread with bright red poppies splashed across it. He noticed a few picture frames on her dresser and he stepped closer to look.
A handsome couple and two young girls happily smiled back at him. This had to be her family before she lost her father. A more recent photo showed a gently smiling elder woman. Charlotte and a young girl who looked similar in appearance hugged the woman and smiled.
He glanced at the cloakroom filled with bright colored clothes.
Gordon turned back to go into the kitchen when he noticed the paintings on the wall. These were not framed reprints like those in the living area. These were canvases and they were happy scenes of nature. Bright orange sunsets, and lovely pink cherry blossoms, and deep blue-green oceans.
"Who is the artist of these paintings?" Gordon called out.
Charlotte appeared at the door wiping her hands on a towel.
"I did those in college. I minored in art." She explained.
"You painted these?" He asked in surprise as he stepped closer to the sunset painting.
"Yes." She affirmed.
"Would you paint one for my office?" He asked suddenly.
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