Someone Else

Chapter 29

"Guys, can you move those couches over there? And the TVs? Uh, on the walls, evenly spaced out would be perfect, right?"

I check my phone and it's almost time to pick them up. After the advertisements went up, donations were quick to follow. The two hundred thousand dollars was quickly raised and I already bought the warehouse for three hundred thousand dollars, cleaned it up and did a lot of interior decorating.

There are showers and locker rooms here, like in a school. I've set up three rows of long tables with plenty of swivel chairs; many lounge areas, racks of new clothes, supply closets fully stocked, and snack racks all over the place. Everything is perfect and comfortable and clean.

"Whoa, this place looks professional." Matt said as he came in.

"I know right? This is my masterpiece, everything is perfect."

He bends over to kiss me and I can't help but smile. He's a foot taller than me, he has to break his back to kiss me.

"Please sign all of these down here, and swipe your card." A big burley man said.

"Oh, of course, sorry." I said, blushing. I sign all the documents and pay with debit, then give each of them twenty bucks as tip. "You coming to pick up the kids with me, bello?"

"I have some business to attend to today, I'll be home late." He said, giving me an apologetic smile. As long as he comes home unscratched, it's all fine and dandy.

I pull him down for one last kiss and wrap my arms around his waist since he'd have to pick me up for me to wrap my arms around his neck. "I'll have a little surprise for you when you get home."

His heartbeat gets faster and I know he'll be much more motivated to come home early.

We part ways and I drive a minivan I rented to the hotel. I see the kids looking clean and excited, standing outside waiting for me. Yesterday there were 4, now there's 7. I expected more...

"Let's go to the foundation headquarters!" I yelled out the window.

They quickly pile in and we're soon on the road back to the warehouse.

"Is it far away from here?" A young girl, probably thirteen, asked.

"Just half an hour or so. I think you'll really like it. And I also have some new living arrangements for you guys and everything!" I said, practically bouncing off the walls. "I told my parents about the Foundation so they're letting you stay in studio apartments in one of our apartment buildings here."

The kids cheer and yell excitedly.

"There's a catch guys, there's always a catch." I added, hiding a grin. "You have to go to school and maintain at least a 3.3 GPA, that's it. I can help tutor you if necessary."

"Okay! Of course we'll do that!"

There are hundreds maybe even thousands of homeless teenagers in New York, until they find their way to my Foundation, I'll help these seven first.

"Here we are guys, The Amelia Shackler Foundation for teens headquarters." I said, opening the large doors for them.

They walk in and the look of surprise is very satisfying. The TVs, couches, food, clothes... All here for them.

"Okay guys, let's get straight to work. Supplies are in there; aprons, gloves, hair ties, anything you'd need is here. Let's make the first products to post on the website!"

+ + +

They bracelets and necklaces actually look really really good, and with the high quality materials I bought, they're extremely sturdy.

There are five different style of bracelets, each in all different kinds of colors. The necklaces use high quality platinum chains and the charm is made for woven wire and crystals. 15 bucks for a bracelet, 30 bucks for a necklace.

I use a camera to take pictures and upload them. "All right, everything is up and running! Keep making stuff."

By the end of the day we have 23 orders.

"I didn't think they would sell that fast." Tatiana, the oldest girl said. "Wow, we made 390 bucks today?"

Well, she calculated that pretty fast. "You get 60%, so each of you got made 33 bucks today." I said. "Would you like to be paid daily or monthly?"

"Monthly."

I'm impressed with these kids. "There are some more things that need to be done regarding legal work and such. I need your birth certificates or social security or something. Do you have IDNYCs?"

"Yeah, all of us have one, and our social security too." Anthony, the painter, said. "Why do you need them?"

"Right now my lawyer is working on a way to allow you guys to get a savings account linked to my foundation name. You need to have a parent or legal guardian to have a joint account as a minor. So we're working a case that I'm your legal guardian too just in case. Plus, you need Foundation IDs too." I explained. "When you have a bank account, your pay can be wired there and you can withdraw it yourself at the end of the month."

"So, do you think your lawyer can win the case?" Tatiana asked.

I chuckle. "I hired the best lawyer in Manhattan, of course we'll win. Probably soon too. For now it's going into a business account I opened for the Foundation." I assured them. "Now let's make your Foundation ID and then have lunch. After that we can talk about school."

___________________________________

"Each apartment has a bunk bed so you'll have a roommate. Anthony, you get a room to yourself to paint and stuff, but still, try not to get paint on everything." I said, giving them their keys.

This apartment building is new, so my parents have reserved the bottom three floors for my Foundation. Each floor has ten apartments. I hope I fill out these three floors soon.

"These apartments are nicer than I expected." Justine said.

"No boys can enter the girls' rooms. That's a rule." I said loudly. "Tomorrow you'll be going to school so come here to get your fare and lunch money. Thank goodness you all go to the same school. Come by the headquarters after school."

I hand each of them a twenty and send them off to bed.

"There's something under my pillow!"

They run out with shock in their eyes. "Yeah, what?" I said smugly.

"We all get new phones?"

"So I know where you are at all times. I have your location 24/7." I said, crossing my arms. "Your education comes first, anyone who misses a homework assignment, skips school for no good reason, or is late for even one minute, your phone is on lockdown for a week. Which means the only function left on it is the phone app and the location app."

"Some of our GPAs are really low right now, how can we get that up, the school year is almost over?" Tatiana asked nervously.

There's still three months left, that's enough time. The lowest GPA here is hers at 2.5. Everyone else is at 2.8 and Anthony is 3.5.

"I'll talk to your teachers and principal personally. You'll redo tests, turn in a f**k ton of extra credit and stuff like that. You're smart, you'll find a way." I said, grinning. "The Foundation will pay 20% of your college tuition, Tatiana. If every day is like today, you can afford to pay full tuition at a decent college. Now all of you break in your new phones, and then go right to sleep. I gotta get these orders to the post office."

I go down to the minivan and glance at the twenty three boxes proudly. Today they made 126 products in total, 103 are left.

My phone has been buzzing with new orders for the last few hours. And some texts from friends.

Everyone has been asking me about the Foundation, they've all seen the advertisements and I'm glad. Some of the 23 orders that have been packaged are from different states, I'm so excited! In a month, maybe we'd be able to ship internationally. Hopefully.

I drop these off at the post office and go back home. After showering and changing into a black lingerie set, I make a tiramisu cheesecake from a recipe I found online. Then a light lobster sandwich for dinner.

Matt never has dinner when he comes home late but goes straight for dessert.

"Dono! Your food is ready too!" I called for him. He stops watching SpongeBob SquarePants on the TV and runs to his bowl. He sits in front of it and waits. "Okay, take it."

He starts eating and I grin. He's such a well trained good boy!

I asked Jude to take him out on a walk today since I was busy so I'm sure he's got enough excercise.

My gosh, Dono is past my knee now at one years old. When he's fully grown he should be up to my waist.

I put on a white silk robe and sit on the couch to rewatch Horimiya. They're my favorite anime couple!

When Dono finishes eating, I let him sit on the couch and he puts his head on my lap. I pet him while I'm watching.

Ten pm comes around and I get up to put his bed out here in the living room. "I'm sorry, baby, but mommy and daddy have some business to do in our room when he gets home." I said, giving Dono some tummy scratches.

He barks and wiggles around on the couch and I laugh. He's too cute!

I hope that Matt gets home safe and sound soon, I wish he would let me come with him. He said it's too dangerous or whatnot, like I can't protect myself.

Matt runs the family company and the mafia business now, he's busy a lot of the time. I am so glad he took two nights off for the Food Fest, he knew what it meant to me.

I put Toothless in bed and cuddle him. I have class tomorrow afternoon so I can afford to sleep really late. Who am I kidding, I've lost the ability to sleep alone. Doesn't that mean I've devolved?

Chuckling at my ridiculousness, I take out my phone and try texting Julius and Jude. Jude is pretty much on his phone all the time.

Huzzah! He read the message!

'It's a raid down at the docks, Russian cargo. There's definitely going to be a shootout, but not too major.'

'Do you see Matt?'

'No, I'm more in the back.'

'Go up front today, stay by his side. Call me immediately if he gets hurt. That's an order.'

'Alright, Ms Boss.'

With him there, I'm sure everything will be fine. But why do I feel like I'm going to be sick?

Steph calls and asks about how I've been doing. We talk for about an hour until she hangs up since she has class at 8.

I check on how Dono is sleeping and check the cake. Still looking delicious.

Since the raid hasn't started yet, it'll probably be an hour or two until Matt gets home. I decide to play PUBG while I wait. Time always passes fast when I'm playing PUBG.

After three matches it's 12 am and I turn off the my PS4. I should really get the newest one but the games I play are all available on this one so it's a waste of money.

Okay, not long now. I take a stool and sit in the middle of the house in front of the door. I stare at it, willing Matt to open it and walk in.

I almost miss my phone buzzing. Jude's calling? This can't be good.

"Open the door, we'll be up soon." He said, then he hangs up.

I quickly unlock the door and open it wide. Not a minute later I see them.

Julius and Jude holding up Matt, who's holding his abdomen. There's a middle aged man behind them, probably the doctor.

"Oh, Matt! You've gotta be kidding me!" I exclaimed. "We're gonna have matching scars now!"

If he's here, it must have missed all his organs. Plus, they don't look too worried.

"At least something good can come out of this." Matt said as they get him in. Julius locks the door behind them and I watch as the doctor works to take out the bullet and see him back up after numbing the area.

"Can we have some of that?" Jude asked, pointing to the cake still on the counter.

I laugh and cut all of them a slice. "Enjoy, guys."

"Amore, go out some clothes on." Matt said as he gets bandaged up.

Oh, right. "But the surprise is still on until they all leave." I said, pouting. "Just eat your cake while I give you an earful." He sighs and digs into the big slice I gave him without another word.

"Why in the hell were you even there?! I don't give a s**t about your piss fights but you can't put yourself in danger! Anyone else could have led the raid. Literally anyone! Julius is most certainly capable of following orders!

Or maybe, you could wear a f*****g vest! Would that really bruise your Jupiter sized ego that much? Even better, let me go so I can protect you! You're worried about my safety but unless you've forgotten, I'm a damn good shot. And I'm probably more skilled than all of you!"

"Amore, I will never allow you to put yourself in danger again. So you can forget about it."

I groan in frustration. "That was one time! I got shot one time!"

"It was five times!"

I roll my eyes. "Only one of those bullets did any real damage, and it was reversible damage too."

"No."

So that's it? I'm just supposed to sit by while he needlessly puts himself in danger? "Don't f*****g test me, Matteo! You will not lead another raid or run into another gun fight without a vest. If you come home with more holes in you, you'll have to wait that many more years until I say yes."

"Years? Princess, that's a bit much, isn't it?" He asked nervously.

I cross my arms. "Doc, is it too much?"

"I'll have to say no." He said with his mouth full, not wanting to anger me. I'm glad they know which one of us is scarier. Or maybe he's just a fan of my cake?

"Exactly. This time I'll let it slide. But you better watch yourself. Keep upsetting me and I might decide I don't wanna get married at all." I warned Matt. "Is that clear?"

"Yes, princess." He begrudgingly said.

I grin and come over to kiss him, taking advantage of him sitting down. I hate how he's still almost my height like this. He places his hand behind my head to keep me there and deepens the kiss.

The others wash their plates and forks and silently exit.