The Other Side of the Coin

Chapter One

The window rolled down with that mechanical whir that always grated on her nerves. Now that she was thinking about it, everything these days grated on her nerves. Her Chanel gloved hand slid across the open window, regardless of the noise it made. She liked to feel the air push against her when she was stressed, and right now, she was incredibly stressed. She needed the feel of that invisible uncaring force. This reminded her that she was strong and that she could withstand anything, including the pesky element.

Sadie Braxton was the oldest daughter of the currently named Wolf of Wallstreet, Colonel Jackson L. Braxton. Unfortunately, she wasn’t living the life in New York. Her father had made the decision early on, before she was even born, that his spawn would never grow up in New York, nor would they be entering the family business. He had big plans for all of them, and business or running his company, was, most certainly, not part of it. That didn’t stop him from spoiling all his children, however, quite the contrary. Sadie was indeed extremely spoiled, especially because she was the eldest of the four.

So Starksboro, Vermont was the place he chose to raise his children. A sleepy little colonial village where everyone knew everyone, and you were treated based on what your parents’ income was. Since Sadie and her family lived in one of the grandest houses in the area, it was very well known that they were treated akin to royalty.

Sadie was still not satisfied. She knew that it would not be long before her father demanded that she marry into the business world. That’s what his plan was for each of his four daughters. Instead of making them the heirs to his companies and monies, they would each marry into pieces of the business. He was, at that time, picking out each of the potential spouses as she sat in her awfully expensive birthday present. She had just turned 28. A little old for an arranged marriage, probably. Was it a little archaic? Definitely. She was not happy with the fact that her father had sent her to an expensive college, to get an expensive doctorate, just to make her throw it down the drain to marry one of his colleagues. Someone that he saw fit to run the business.

Unfortunately for her father, Sadie didn’t plan on marrying into the business. She was going to do something with her degree. She didn’t get a doctorate for nothing and she would be damned if she was going to let him take this opportunity away from her. She knew very well, how well this news would be received. That is why she was currently going for a drive in her fancy present. The Rolls Royce was not new. Even her father probably couldn’t afford something so extravagant, but it was gorgeous. Second hand, supposedly, from the British Royal carriage house itself. Her father had said that it was fitting that his princess should have it. She knew that it was an older model. It was well taken care of and it only had a few thousand miles on it. That’s about the extent of her knowledge on cars. She didn’t really care to know anything else.

It was true that Sadie didn’t care about the business world at all. In fact, she hadn’t even minored in business while studying for her doctorate. Perhaps she should have since it was her intention to begin her own company of sorts. She had instead gone as far from business as possible and majored in Equine-Assisted Therapy. In truth, it had been her father’s doing. He had directed her interest as soon as she had been born. It was princesses and ponies. Since being a princess was nearly impossible, unless you were Kate Middleton, Equestrian studies were the bee’s knees.

Now, she reflected upon those choices. Perhaps that was not the smartest run of education. It would be difficult to get started from her current position. Without horses, a ranch, and some kind of income, it would be nearly impossible to get started with what she intended to do. Suddenly, a red and white sign jumped into her field of vision as she drove through main street. The local feed store had a hiring sign out front. She took it as a divine sign and immediately parked her fancy car in front of the building.

Scrambling unlady-like from her car, her Chanel skirt fluttered clumsily around her legs, almost tripping her as she rushed inside. The smell of corn dust, hay, and barley assaulted her nostrils forcing her to stop abruptly. Despite studying Equine Therapy, she was still not used to such smells. She didn’t mind the smell typically, but it was so overpowering in that enclosed space. The counters were dirty, and the sound of small birds screeched in her unaccustomed ears. Dizziness started to overcome her, causing her stomach to lurch, and the world around her to spin uncomfortably. Sensory overload is what her mother would have called it. It took her a few moments to collect herself.

In the time it took her to refocus her energy, someone had been trying to speak to her. Large fingers snapped in front of her face, causing her to flinch as everything came blaringly back into reality. A young man, about her age she thought, tall and extremely handsome by Hollywood standards was standing in front of her with a look that told her he had no patience for her at all.

“Hello? Earth to woman!” He snapped his fingers again, his deep melodious voice annoyed and condescending. “Can I help you?” This time he spoke slowly.

Sadie put a hand to her head, trying to right her world. “Yes, uh, sorry. Heh.” She attempted to chuckle, and it dried up in her throat at his stern look. “My apologies. I came in because of the help wanted sign.” She spit it out so quickly, she wasn’t sure exactly what she had said herself. Her hands gestured wildly as if she had some form of turrets.

His thick blond eyebrows lifted in surprise and his eyes raked her up and down. Under circumstances she was sure she would dream of tonight, that might have been intriguing and welcome, however it was clear that he was sizing her up and she was failing miserably to meet the standard that he had clear in his mind. “You?!” He demanded incredulously. “What would you know about animals and their feed? I doubt seriously that you have ever lifted more than a fingernail in your entire lifetime. What makes you think I would consider hiring you?”

Suddenly haughty, Sadie sized him up with her best rich b***h face. “What would you know about what I have or have not done? Clothing and social status have nothing to do with work ethic.” She tossed her auburn hair over her shoulder with attitude. “I might be a girl and spoiled, but that doesn’t mean I’m incompetent nor incapable. How do I apply?” She asked curtly.

Loud, barking laughter emanated from the office behind the counter. A rather burly woman stepped out and leaned on the counter. Her hair was graying and cut in a butch style, though with her voluptuous body, it was evident she wasn’t as boyish as she first appeared. “I like her already!” She barked, slapping the counter with a weathered hand. Sadie guessed that she was in her late fifties, if not early sixties, though she didn’t quite look it in her face. She held a youthful quality that most women her age would kill for. Sadie knew since her mother was one of them. “Hello, Miss Baxton. To what do we owe the pleasure of your pretty presence this fine afternoon?”

Sadie wasn’t surprised that the woman knew her. She kicked herself for not attempting to get to know everyone in town. To be fair, it had been her mother’s intention that she not fraternize with the locals, much to her current detriment. “Well, ma’am, I saw your ‘for hire’ sign outside and I would like to apply.” Sadie gave the young man a haughty look and made a show of stepping around him to speak to the person who was obviously in charge around there.

The woman pursed her lips and looked Sadie up and down. Not in a rude manner, but more to get a sense of her. Sadie appreciated the woman’s approach much more than she had the man’s. “Not to echo the rudeness of my son, but why should I hire you over some of the more capable males that have come through my door just this morning?”

Not fully prepared to get this far, Sadie took a deep breath and gave it a moment’s thought. “Well, ma’am to tell you the truth, this is just a steppingstone for the rest of my plans. You see, I am trying to be a self-starter. I have a doctorate in Equine-Assisted Therapy. I would like to eventually start my own therapy center, but I need to get a good start in the working industry before I can really get where I want to be. Why not start at a feed store?” She shrugged her shoulders for emphasis.

The young man had come over and leaned on the counter next to her. His scent wafted over her. It was male musk, feed, sweat, and an underlying hint of mint. She was immediately intoxicated, but she gave him little of her attention. At least as little as she could. Why did he have to look and smell so damn good?

“What’s wrong with daddy’s money? It’s not good enough for you?” He asked snidely, pulling a tin of chew from his back pocket, and sliding a dip into his mouth with two fingers. As unattractive as it was, it somehow added to his manly visage.

Sadie snorted. “What self-started do you know actually started out with daddy’s money? I can’t be proud of working for something that was given to me, you know like some of us.” The dig was intentional to getting a rise out of the already unpleasant attitude of the young man. Since his mother was running the show, she rightly assumed that he was to inherit rather than actually building from scratch.

His gaze told her just as much. He stood straight, pivoted abruptly, mumbling under his breath as he walked out towards what looked like loading docks. His mother cackled loudly, slapping the counter with her weathered hands. “I like you. Alright, missy. You’ve convinced me.” She winked her lively green eyes at Sadie. “You’ll start Monday. Best to get yourself some jeans and t-shirts you won’t mind getting dirty. Bring all your normal documentation so I can get you set up. It doesn’t pay all that much, so you know. You’ll only be making about $10.00 an hour.”

Unable to contain her excitement, Sadie squealed like a little kid and jumped up and down. She grabbed the woman’s hand and shook it mightily. “Thank you so very much! You have no idea what this means to me! I’ll be here bright and early! Thank you, thank you!” The woman’s eyes widened in surprise then she smiled sweetly and patted Sadie’s shoulder.

“Call me, Tilda, everyone does. I’ll see you on Monday.” Tilda walked her to the door of the shop to see her out.

Sadie left the store with the biggest smile she had worn since graduating four months earlier. Now she had a purpose and a direction. At this rate, she would achieve all her goals in no time at all. Her thoughts continued to drift the young blond man. He obviously didn’t like her, but she was determined to change that. In addition to building up the funds she would need to purchase land and build her enterprise, she decided right at that moment that she was going to marry that man.