Last of the Unicorns

Date: 05.02.2010

Keywords: Last, Unicorns, of, the,

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The last thing he wanted was to cause her any pain, so he decided reluctantly it would be best for both of them if he was gone when she got back.

Twenty minutes later Brent came out of the shower, freshly scrubbed and shaved, wearing the last of his clean clothes. Hoping to pack and leave quickly, he was quite surprised to find the bed was made, the drapes had been drawn back, and his clothes from last night were missing. Curious, he walked into the living room and found a somewhat plump woman dusting and straightening up.

Brent said, "Oh, hello. I didn't know anyone else was here."

The woman smiled, "Good afternoon Mister Brent. Miss Nikki said I should make you some lunch."

The smell of fresh coffee wafted through the air. Brent said, "That coffee smells great. If you can put it in a paper cup I'll take some with me."

The woman looked puzzled for a moment, then said quickly, "Oh no. You cannot leave. Miss Nikki will be very upset."

"But, I need to be going."

The woman insisted, "No. You cannot go. Your clothes are still in the wash. Please, it will make Miss Nikki very unhappy."

Brent knew he should just walk out. As he slipped on his jacket, he suddenly felt Jacob's beads rubbing against his chest. Against his better judgment, he abruptly changed his mind and decided to stay.

He took off his jacket and asked, "What is your name?"

The woman said, "My name is Maria. I keep house for Miss Nikki. Please sit. I'll bring the coffee."

Brent sat at the table and Maria rushed off, returning a few moments later with a coffee tray. He poured himself a cup of the hot, black liquid and two sips later, he realized he was ravenous. Maria asked, "Will you have lunch now, Mister Brent?"

He smiled and said, "Only if you sit down and keep me company."

Maria nodded and said, "OK Mister Brent." She walked back into the kitchen and after a few minutes came back with a steaming bowl of hearty chili and some home made corn bread. She sat and waited while Brent had a couple spoonfuls, then smiled proudly when he nodded his head and said, "Very good!"

They started chatting and Brent learned that Nikki had rescued Maria and her three children from a shelter five years ago. Nikki had given her a job, helped her divorce her abusive husband, and then loaned her the money to buy a house. Maria told him proudly that next year her oldest daughter was going to UNLV on a scholarship that Nikki had helped her win.

Right after that Nikki walked in, "So I see you've met Maria. Be careful, that stuff will grow hair on your chest," she said, pointing at the chili. She snagged a little scrap of corn bread from his plate and said casually, "Don't go anywhere. I am going to grab a quick shower."

Brent relaxed and had another cup of coffee while Maria wandered off to finish the laundry and her other chores. When Nikki came back, she sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of coffee. There was an uncomfortable pause while she took a couple sips. Finally Brent broke the ice and said, "You are a very mysterious woman, Nikki Blake. You are incredibly beautiful, intelligent, obviously wealthy, and by far the sexiest woman I have ever met. But you take in strays and do volunteer work in a soup kitchen. How is it that a wonderful woman like you isn't married?"

Nikki blushed. Then after a short pause said, "Just so you know, I didn't plan what happened last night, and I also don't regret a minute of it. Something about the kindness you showed Jacob last night touched my heart deeply. After that I felt a connection with you. I know you felt it too."

Now it was Brent's turn to blush. "So where do we go from here?"

Nikki sighed and got serious, "Brent, if you still want to drive out to your sister's place, I'll be happy to take you. But if you can stay for a few hours more, I would like to introduce you to someone first."

Brent asked, "Why?"

Nikki smiled, "Because I know you won't take charity from me, and because I think you need a job, and because I'd like to see you again."

Brent thought for a moment then said truthfully, "Nikki, that's very kind. But you don't know what you are getting into with me. I am still married, although not for much longer. I am not lazy, but my track record in business isn't so great. I am broke, unemployed, and lately my luck in everything has been just plain bad."

Nikki smiled softly, "I don't care about any of that. All I know is you are smart, honest, kind, and loving. Besides, maybe your luck is changing. After all, you met me didn't you?"

* * *

A couple hours later they pulled up in front of a small office building on the outskirts of the city. The sign on the building said 'JL Security Innovations.' As they walked inside Brent said, "Maybe this is a bad idea. I don't know anything about security. Who are we meeting anyway?"

Nikki said, "We are meeting Jay Levinson, the CEO of this business. I know he is looking for someone to head up a special project, and I think you are just the guy he needs."

Brent asked, "Jay Levinson...from here in Vegas? I went to grad school with a guy named Jay Levinson."

"Well, isn't that lucky. I had no idea."

"Well I don't know how lucky it is. Jay and I weren't friends. In fact we just barely knew each other."

Just then Jay's secretary greeted them and ushered them into Jay's office. Jay smiled and said, "Nikki, how good to see you again." Then he embraced her warmly.

Nikki kissed him on the cheek and smiled, "Jay. I would like you to meet a very good friend of mine..."

Jay finished the sentence for her, "Brent Spaulding. It's been a long time. What have you been doing with yourself?" He shook Brent's hand enthusiastically.

They all sat down and Brent said, "Since we last saw each other, I moved east and eventually got married. I've been working in investment banking with a couple of small boutique firms."

Jay said pensively, "That's very interesting. What brings you back here?"

Brent decided that the truth was the best approach, "I got fired last week and my wife left me. So I decided to move back here and start over."

Jay thought for a moment and then said, "Thanks for being honest Brent. It means a lot. And your timing couldn't be better. It just so happens that I am looking for someone with contacts in investment banking to head up a special project. Nikki knows this and that is obviously why she brought you here. If you are interested, I'd be happy to have you come to work for me. I can't pay you much salary, but I'll include some stock options that will be worth quite a bit if we are successful."

Brent couldn't believe his luck. There was only one explanation; Jay wanted to take his company public. In a flash it dawned on him; this was the big one, the big deal that all the elite bankers always talked about. For once he happened to be in the right place at the right time, and it was dropping right into his lap.

Jay looked at Nikki and said excitedly, "I have a really good feeling about this." Then he said to Brent, "Take a few days to think about it and get back to me. But don't take too long, I need to move soon."

Brent smiled and said, "I can let you know right now. I'll take the job."

Jay shook his hand earnestly and said, "Great. Come by next week and I'll have your contract ready. Welcome aboard Brent."

After they left Brent thought, "That was "too "easy." He asked Nikki, "How did you know Jay was looking for an investment banker? And how could you possibly know that was my business?"

Nikki said simply, "I was one of Jay's first investors and I am still on his board of directors, so I knew he was thinking of taking the company public. But I didn't know you were a banker."

"Did you ask Jay to hire me?"

"No. I absolutely did not. In fact, I haven't even seen him in a month. I just knew he needed someone, that's all. The rest is just a coincidence."

Brent was still a little suspicious, and thought "More like blind, dumb luck if you ask me." But then he decided that with all he had been through recently, he deserved a little good luck. He smiled and said, "Thanks Nikki. Thanks for everything."

She said, "You're welcome. Now, let's go and celebrate!"

As Nikki drove them back into the city, Brent had a chance to think. It did seem like an odd coincidence that his luck had suddenly improved. Everything had changed for him right after he met the old man, Jacob. He put his hand on his chest, feeling the worn string of tiny beads under his shirt and for the first time sensed something; a force from within himself that he had never felt before.

It was still only early evening but a slight overcast was bringing with it a spectacular sunset. They crested a small hill and saw the last streaks of sunlight dance over the tall steel and glass structures of the strip, combining with the bright, multicolored lights of the hotels and casinos. It was a beautiful sight and Brent felt a surge of energy flow through him, almost like he was drawing strength from the lights.

Then he recalled that Jacob had mentioned something about the lights providing for him before he had given Brent the beads. Brent wondered if the two things were somehow connected. He quickly asked Nikki, "Can we swing by the shelter? I want to talk to Jacob."

Nikki smiled, "That's really sweet Brent. But you should know that they don't always stick around. Sometimes they only stay a night then move on."

"Well, I want to stop and check anyway."

"OK. Sure. It's only a few minutes away."

Father Hackett was apologetic. "Sorry Nikki, but Jacob left early this morning. And despite my best efforts, I couldn't get him to take the money."

Brent asked anxiously, "Did he say where he was going? Did you see which way he went?"

Father Hackett replied, "He only said it was time to go home."

Brent sighed, "OK. Thanks Father. Please keep the money to help with the shelter."

Father Hackett said, "Oh, I can't. Jacob made me promise to return it to you.

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Keywords: Last, Unicorns, of, the,


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