Billionaire Partnership

Fiona stared intently at her laptop screen, a stack of account books, a pen and notepad beside her. Numbers and figures all hazed before her eyes as she struggled to focus despite the mild sensation of a headache she felt coming over her. Summoning her last reserves of strength, she blinked and rubbed her eyes, willing them to focus and remain open at the screen.

“Any progress with that?” Cassie, her younger sister asked as she flipped through some portfolio of pictures. All of them on house renovation and interior design.

Fiona shook her head sadly. Cassie sighed, stood up and went out of the main office of Oakwood Community Project to get a beverage. She had been here since her night shift ended some three hours ago at Greenview hospital where she worked as an ER nurse. Stifling another yawn she tried to keep her mind on the task. How she hosted sorting through numbers now which only made her want to cry out in frustration.

“You need to get more sleep, Fiona.” Cassie said, as she passed her a cup of hot tea.

“Just what I need. Thanks,” Fiona said appreciatively before taking a delicious sip.

Cassie shook her head. She did that when she thought she knew better and that Fiona should listen to her without question.

“No. I would think you need more sleep. These days you look horrible. Have you seen your face this morning?” she asked.

Fiona didn't have to check in the mirror to see what her sister was referring to. She was aware of the bags under her skin, her sallow skin and drooping eyes, not to talk of her lips which with sudden rarity were cracking despite the lip balm she used.

“I did a night shift.” Her job as an ER nurse was hectic but fulfilling and though she didn't like the long hours and not to pleasant cases she frequently dealt with, she loved her job.

“Yes. And so did Aimee and Mitchell. But they don’t look as bad as you,” Cassie argued.

Aimee and Mitchell were her colleagues and unlike her who was occupied with helping out the less fortunate in society, they only had to have night outs. That was the problem of owning an enterprise and expecting it to make some profit or at least be more self-reliant. That was why she was here, crunching numbers and looking at the computer with sleep-deprived eyes. Without any extra funding some projects would have to be shelved away.

“How can I look any better than them when I have to go through these records?” Fiona snapped, but her sister didn't flinch.

“Well, maybe next time try to put on more makeup or something to cover those up.” Cassie suggested.

“I could help you with some of the papers before I go out to see a client,” she said. She came around to her sister’s desk.

“Is it that bad?”

Fiona nodded grimly. “There’s the gymnastic training I want to include, the ballet and a skill acquisition class. But things aren't looking up.”

“Gymnastic training?” Clarissa echoed. She leaned, peering over Fiona’s shoulder, at the screen. “Quite bad,” she muttered.

“And if we don't get enough funding, the kids' dreams might crash.” Fiona didn’t want to think about that possibility. Not when she was a victim of it.

“Did you discuss it with Roland?”

Fiona shook her head. Roland was the one in charge of finance and had often helped with structuring and organising their yearly programs according to the resources they had. There was no need to do so. Roland would take one look at her proposal and thrash it. The funds just weren’t enough.

Cassie’s hand came on hers gently.

“I know that you really want to do a lot for the kids in the neighbourhood but what about if we scale back with down things. You know, focus on a few projects with what the available donors would be interested in.” she said quietly.

Fiona shook her head. Ever since she started this project several years ago with Amanda she hadn't looked back. After her nursing career, this was the next best thing she was sure destined to do.

“We keep saying that and we might never achieve anything with the kids.”

“So how do you want to proceed?” Cassie asked. She waved around the office. “You are paying the rent out of your pocket and even funding some of the programs yourself.”

“Something might come up. We just have to keep expecting for the best,” Fiona encouraged her. Cassie scoffed.

“Fi, I know you are..”

“I had a talk with a prospective donor and he said he would want to discuss things with me. I am hoping we can get through it with enough support.” Fiona interrupted.

“Do I happen to know this guy?”

“A little,” Fiona smiled as she took in her sister’s scowl. Cassie and her had been the best of friends and sisters for a long part of their life. And though they had gone down separate paths of life, few things like Oakland still united and interested them.

“And if things don't turn up da..”

“Cassie!” Fiona interrupted. She hated it when Cassie pulled on her realistic and sure hat. That was one of their main differences. They didn't see eye to eye on so many things.

Her sister raised her hands in apology but restated the fact that they needed to plan ahead with the little funds they had.

Fiona turned her eyes back to the screen and shut them briefly. If only things were that easy, she thought. An image of her at nine attending gymnastics lessons with Ms. Lily rose in her mind like a phantom. She quickly pushed it down, not wanting to stir memories of what could have been or should have happened if things in her life had been different. A tear escaped unnoticed as the phone rang in the thick silence of the room. She spoke at length with the other person, grimly nodding in response to what the other person was saying. When she hung up, her face was a sad expression. Cassie walked over to her and asked the details.

“Another patron has withdrawn their pledge.” She whispered and Cassie wrapped her arms around her.