Ivan took a deep breath and told her, “Basically, they wanted to know the extent of our relationship, and if I was willing to break away from you to do things on my own. But I pretty much told them that I get all of my ideas from you and then shell out the money to back your genius. And at that point, they wanted to see if I would be willing to back them.”

Lucina stared at him. She concluded, “So, you made yourself out to be the moneyman, while I would be the idea girl.”

Ivan nodded. “Yup. That’s about it.”

Lucina said, “Clever. So now you make us both valuable in different ways.”

Ivan told her, “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

Lucina shook it off, too tired to argue. It had been a long evening for both of them.

She said, “You already had your website before I met you. You had your charm, good looks, drive, ideas, a following, intelligence, Hutch and Mitchell Accounting, and the Urban League.”

“And none of that would have meant anything without the Chargers party, impulsive girls, my new look, confidence, game plans, and the pocketfuls of cash that you allowed me to share with you,” he countered with a smile.

Lucina smiled back. “And you listened.”

“And so did you,” he told her.

Just that fast, they had pulled up to the front of his apartment building.

Ivan looked over at Lucina and said, “You really don’t feel like going home yet, do you? The night is still young. Don’t be an early bird on me,” he teased her.

Lucina chuckled wearily. She said, “Tonight, I will have to be an early bird. I’m exhausted, Ivan. I don’t remember meeting this many important people in one room, in one night, in my life. I mean, I’ve met more wealthy people before, but not all at once.”

Ivan reached out to hold her hand in his anyway.

He said, “Are you sure you don’t want to lie down and rest with the birthday boy?”

“Ivan, your birthday was last week. And I did come over and share it with you.” She said, “Have you forgotten my company already, and the pink dress that I wore just for you?”

Ivan acted as if he had amnesia. He frowned and answered, “Pink dress? Birthday last week? What are you talking about?”

“Nice try, Ivan. But I’m going home now to go to bed. I’ll call you when I get home.”

Ivan sighed. It was no use. Lucina refused to break down for him.

“All right, so, call me when you get in,” he told her as he climbed out of the car.

“I will.”

“Good night, Mr. David,” the chauffeur told him.