Kat grinned at him as he mentioned his inheritance. "Oh I don't know... a classic T-bird.  That could get you pretty far."  She teased. 


She enjoyed spending the evening with Paul. He was a great conversationalist, and was of great assistance to her in keeping some of the more pretentious attendees satisfied when she had to step away.  After a while she had stopped thinking of Paul as just another reporter along for the story, she relaxed into the evening as if he were truly her date.  She sighed softly as the voice in her ear reminded her that it was time to start the speeches.  She turned to Paul and whispered softly. "I am so sorry to abandon you again.  Duty calls."  She said before brushing a kiss across his cheek and slipping off into the crowd making her way to the stage.  

She cleared her throat and then took the microphone. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome, and thank you all for being here tonight.  It has been a lovely evening thus far.  Please don't forget there is only another 30 minutes on the silent auction.  Place your bids now.  That shameless plug for more money aside."  The crowd laughed with her, they were used to her humor.  

"I would like to introduce someone very special to me.  Not only is he the President of the Society, but also my Grandfather.  Please welcome to the stage Mr. James Malloy."  she turned and kissed her grandfather on the cheek as the crowd erupted into applause. She handed him the Microphone and headed off the stage.  "Well now, that was quite the introduction.  Let's hear it for my lovely Granddaughter Ladies and Gentlemen."  Kat gave a small wave to the attendees before slipping into the crowd intent on finding Paul, but it seemed that he had vanished.  

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The next morning, Kat ran through the door of her office, she was running late.  She had stayed too late last night supervising the clean up.  She saw the roses sitting on her desk, but she didn't even have time to look at the card.  She dropped her phone on the desk and scooped up the folders containing the information she was about to present.  She was asking the society to fund a system of programs for homeless women and women with children.  It was an undeserved population as far as education went. 

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sure you will see based on the information in front of you, that will an operating budget increase, that Sarah's house could do so much more.  First and foremost, they really need a building that isn't falling down around them.  But we are in the process of working on some federal grants to help with that.  Once that is in place..."  She clicked her remote and brought up a slide.  
"We would love to see more life skills being taught.  Most of these women are unaware of how to handle the most basic of life's tasks."  

She continued to explain the programs that she had worked on developing with the director.  She wrapped up the meeting and headed back to her office. She sat down in her chair with a sigh and picked up her phone.  She had a voice mail.  She listened to it smiling as she heard why Paul had disappeared.  It was probably the only excuse that would have saved their date.   She reached for the bouquet and found the check.  She laughed out loud.  It was absolutely perfect.  This check alone, would fund Sarah's house for a complete year.  

She picked up the phone to return his call.  She hoped it would go to voicemail.  She tapped her pen against her desk as the phone rang.  She jumped a little in her chair as he answered the phone.  "Well Hello."  She said.  "Thank you for the flowers, they are beautiful, and words cannot express how much the little tag along with them will be able to help."