Legacy

Even after athletics, Dakota's head was still spinning. Usually a good workout was exactly what she needed to ground her, make her feel as if she had control of her life, if only for a little while. Today, it had done nothing of the sort. She lingered in the shower even though the water was already lukewarm, letting the tepid stream sheet down her back as her golden hair lay heavy against her skin. All the while, the woman's words replayed in her head.

"This is a very special opportunity, Dakota," she said. "A once in a lifetime opportunity."

"What opportunity?" Dakota had asked.

"A chance to learn and grow in an environment that doesn't constrain you like this one does. A chance to network. To meet important people. People who can shape your life going forward—who can give you guidance. People who can open doors for you."

"Why me? I'm not anybody special."

"Because we owe you a debt, Dakota. Your mother was killed while working for us."

"She died in a helicopter crash."

"Exactly. While working for us."

And, as a result, she was being offered a place in what Evangeline Morgan called a leadership development program. Why the hell did she need to learn about leadership? She was just a kid from the wrong town. The wrong school. From the wrong end of the state. She turned off the water and reached for her towel. It was soaking wet. She rolled her eyes.

"It's exclusively for young women," Evangeline had told her. "You'll learn about your true potential and how to unlock it. You'll begin to understand your power."

"Ok, but you said it takes almost a year?" said Dakota, her voice edged with disbelief. "I've already signed up for classes for next semester!"

"Yes. At community college."

"The credits transfer—"

"You were accepted at Yale and Princeton, and you want to go to community college?"

That stung. It still stung, even now. And how did Evangeline Morgan know about that? She hadn't shown the letters to anyone. She'd only applied to see if... Well, it didn't matter. She couldn't go. She couldn't afford to go. There weren't enough scholarships in the known universe. She'd managed to get just enough scholarship money to ensure she'd have crippling debt for the rest of her life. Community college was her only choice, and then maybe a nice state school once she chose a major. One of the cheap ones.

She dried off as best she could and went out into the locker room, her flip-flops flapping on the wet tile, her wet towel hanging from her hand. Only when she came to her locker did she realize that the locker room wasn't empty.

Evangeline Morgan was there.

"Tan lines," said Evangeline. Her eyes roamed shamelessly, exploring every inch of Dakota's body. "You are the perfect combination of sex and innocence."

Dakota made to cover herself with the towel.

"No," said Evangeline, and her voice carried surprising force. "Please, don't. You must never be ashamed. The only shame would be for a creature of such beauty to feel shame."

Dakota shivered once more. Not because of the cold. Still wet and gleaming, she dropped the towel onto the concrete floor and stood there. She held her head high, even though every instinct was screaming at her to curl up, or to find a place to hide. She swallowed and said, "Why are you here?"

"Because we never finished."

"The bell rang."

"Little rules for little people," said the dark-haired woman. "Obedience isn't everything."

"Can I get dressed?"

Evangeline seemed to consider her request for a moment before answering. A long moment. A moment that lingered like her eyes. "Yes."

Dakota found that she didn't want to hurry. She dressed slowly, and not only so that her skin could dry a little more. Those eyes—they made her feel powerful. The obvious effect she had on Evangeline was something she'd not experienced before. Oh, practically every guy in the school would leer at her given the chance. But they were infantile. They were all nobodies like her. This dark-haired beauty was another matter: she was something exotic, from beyond the city limits. Maybe from another world entirely.

"I didn't want to mention this," said Evangeline, "because it is by no means guaranteed. But if you truly excel in the program—if you distinguish yourself above the rest—there is a substantial financial reward."

"Can you define substantial?" said Dakota. She was trying to pull on her jeans, but tight denim and wet skin weren't a good fit for one another. She sighed and sat primly on the bench by her locker, legs together. Then, with her eyes on Evangeline's, she relaxed her pose and let her thighs part. Evangeline smiled that devilish smile of hers, with dark eyes and red lips.

"Suffice it to say that you would no longer feel compelled to apply for scholarships. Not even at Yale."

Dakota's mouth fell open. Her brows knitted and she shook her head. "Wait, just how much are we talking about?"

"It's a stipend. You would receive a monthly allowance. The amount isn't fixed."

Ah. She knew there had to be a catch. "So it's like a scholarship? You get a stipend for four years and then—"

"No," said Evangeline. "You would receive a monthly payment, deposited directly into an account of your choice, for the rest of your life."

"Hang on..." Those words barely came out. Her mouth was dry. She was shaking her head and she'd forgotten entirely about her jeans, and she was just sitting there naked, with her thighs open and her tits out and her cold-sharpened nipples on display. "When you say it's for the rest of my life, what is that?"

Evangeline laughed. "For the rest of your life," she said plainly. "Until you die. There is no requirement. On occasion, the amount will be adjusted for inflation, and you may receive regular performance incentives. But you can't lose it for bad grades, if that's what you were thinking. Once you earn it, it's yours forever."

"Until the day I die."

"Exactly."

Dakota shook her head. "This is too good to be true."

"It's not guaranteed, Dakota. You would have to be one of the best in your class."

"Can I have some time to think about it?"

"You can. You'll have until January third. Your place is reserved already. You only need to show up."

"Ok."

Evangeline approached her once more, and Dakota found that she instinctively held her breath whenever the woman was close. She got to her feet, awkward, half-dressed, expecting a goodbye and wanting to be respectful. She wasn't expecting another kiss. Not until she felt Evangeline's hands on her face, and then wrapping around her, and pulling her down and then guiding her lips. She couldn't understand why she didn't pull away. She wasn't gay. She didn't kiss girls.

But Evangeline wasn't a girl. She was a woman. And yet she was more than that, too. She was... Something else. Something that gave Dakota goosebumps and made her hold her breath.

"Take this," said Evangeline. And then Dakota's heart raced when she felt Evangeline's gentle, delicate hand against her sex. Those soft fingers touched her, brushed her, caressed her, tickled the soft, blonde fur of her mons, and then thrust something into the pocket of her jeans. "You will call me when you decide."

Dakota could only nod. She no longer trusted her voice to speak.