"Really, what is it?" Sandy brightened, her blonde ponytail bobbing in excitement.
"I'm going to be doing a website for Ian Campbell," she informed Sandy with a shudder.
"Really? I wonder why Bill never mentioned it to me. He's a friend of Ian's." Sandy's eyes danced with mischief. Abbie hadn't known that Sandy's husband knew Ian Campbell. "Ian is incredibly handsome. I guess you'll be working pretty close together."
"Oh please, Sandy." Abbie gave her friend an exasperated look. "Someone of Ian Campbell's caliber wouldn't even look at me. And I've heard he is not fun to work with." Abbie thought that was putting it mildly but she didn't want to say anything unflattering about someone who was apparently a friend to Sandy and her husband.
"Let me fill you in on the details of those files." She waved her hand at the files that Sandy was holding on her lap, wanting to change the subject. The idea that she and Ian Campbell would have anything in common was pretty comical.
As Abbie gave her the details of her ongoing projects, Sandy listened with half an ear. Ian Campbell? Obviously, Abbie listened to all of the rumors. She could tell Abbie about Ian, but she thought it was better to just let Abbie find out for herself. Her best friend might be in for a pleasant surprise.
Sandy turned her full attention to the projects with a satisfied smile.
*****
Ian Campbell knew he had to quit looking at the website. Damned if he wasn't tempted to donate more money to the charity every time he went there. He'd be broke if he didn't stop bringing up the site.
He cracked a self-deprecating smile. At least his money would go to good use. He doubted he would ever miss it. He had more money than he could spend in several lifetimes.
He wasn't even aware that he was massaging his sore thigh as he scrolled through the site on his desktop computer. He had just gotten his cast removed yesterday and his leg ached. It was so full of metal screws and pins that he knew he would never again be able to go through airport security without setting off the bells and whistles. It was an ugly mess, but at least he could walk again. He knew one man that would not.
As he thought about Leo he was even more determined to get this new foundation going. He was starting his own organization to raise funds for people who were working but had no insurance. He wanted to help people like Leo who worked hard to support their families but couldn't afford medical insurance.
From the moment he had decided to establish the new organization, he had known who needed to make the website. He wanted the friend of Sandy's that had designed such an incredible site for Bill's children's charity. Abbie Wright was gifted and Bill had told him that Abbie had done all of the work in her spare time for free. Bill thought highly of her and she had to be an incredible person to donate so much time for a friend.
Ian clicked out of the site and laid his head back in the chair with a sigh. Bill had been a good friend. He and Sandy had been his main support system along with his family during the six months he had spent in and out of the hospital. It was strange how a man found out who his real friends and loved ones were when something like this happened.
How had he ever become so superficial before his accident? He had been raised with good values, but somehow they had slipped away from him. Having money had been a heady feeling. Having power even more so.
Ian had been raised in a poor but good family. His parents had provided for him and his brother, but they had never had the extras. He and his brother had always been "those poor Campbell boys" with their clean but well worn clothing and tattered shoes.
It had been like he was trying to attain and experience everything that he had never had. The parties, fast cars, expensive clothes. It was funny how it had meant nothing when he