Chapter 28
Petalburg City
To have some privacy, Dawn invited May and Brenden over to her hotel suite. However, Brenden had to work late, so he says he will join them later. May and Dawn had caught up through small talk where Dawn learned about May's departure from LaRousse City. While May doesn't tell Dawn her reason for leaving, May does share why she moved to Petalburg as well as her job at the mall since arriving. She shares how she and Brenden started dating, even though it was uneventful.
Dawn shares stories about her business and how it is flourishing. Like May, she doesn't talk about anything relating to the orphanage or Haydens. Moreover, Dawn won't speak about her business plans. Even though she trusts May, Dawn can't risk letting anything slip. The bluenette is doing this so that she and Paul can finally be together.
"How are you doing, Paul?" May asks the purple haired man. Although she rarely spoke to him years ago, he's important to Dawn, who is important to her, so May wants to check up on the man too.
He nonchalantly replies, "Fine, Ms. Maple. Thank you."
Dawn kicks his shin, which makes him glare at her. "Stop being a robot, Paul. It's just May."
Sighing, the man returns his gaze to May. "I'm fine, May. How are you?" He sarcastically replies.
May can't help but giggle as she watches the two banter. She's really missed Dawn's antics. Despite being very bubbly and playful, Dawn is not a force to be reckoned with. When she wants something, she will work hard to get it, and May knows Dawn and Paul will be together someday.
Taking in a deep hesitant breath, May asks, "How's the orphanage?" She's been worried about the orphans ever since she left, but to protect them, she didn't want to risk contacting them. She figured that everything will be better if she completely cuts them off.
Dawn and Paul now look at her where Dawn frowns. Shyly rubbing the back of her neck, Dawn admits, "Uh. I don't know. I haven't visited since the day…"
Dawn can't finish her sentence, though May knows what day she's talking about. It's the day of his wedding. The day everything truly went downhill because of May's selfishness. "I hope they're doing okay."
"I heard they're still getting funded." the gruff voice makes May curiously eye Dawn's bodyguard.
Dawn snaps her attention to him too. "How do you know that and not me?"
He shrugs. "You said you don't want anything to do with them, so I filter out what you hear."
Narrowing her eyes at him, Dawn asks, "What else do you know?"
"He wants to cut the funding for the orphanage."
"What?" May and Dawn exclaim as they get out of their seats.
"Why didn't you tell me, Paul?" Dawn shouts at him.
Glaring at her, he responds, "You told me not to tell you anything about Hayden Corporation or Wakana Enterprises."
"But you can tell me anything about the orphanage!"
Groaning, Paul closes his eyes in frustration. "What do you want, troublesome?"
Before Dawn can berate him some more, May pipes in. "He can't cut the funding!" His parents won't let him, right? They made a deal with her, even if he's the one wanting to cut the funding now. He obviously still doesn't have his memories back, which is how things should be. Therefore, he shouldn't have the power to cut the funding.
Dawn worriedly looks at her friend. Taking in a deep breath, Dawn says, "I can help the orphanage-"
"With what money?" Paul cuts her off. Berlitz Beauties isn't as wealthy as Hayden Corporation nor does Dawn have that kind of power in the company. The board will shoot down the idea instantly.
Dawn shoots him a glare before returning her gaze to May. "He wants my business. I can use it to make sure he doesn't cut the orphanage's funding."
Shaking her head, May tells Dawn, "Don't, Dawn. I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for my old life." Maybe the orphanage will be fine now? They had 4 years of funding. They don't need that selfish corporation anymore.
"No, May. I was selfish all those years ago and made you get your heart broken. I drove you away from your home. Let me do this for you." insists the bluenette.
"Stop being troublesome!" Paul sternly chimes in. As much as he finds Dawn's avoidance of Hayden Corporation annoying, he doesn't want her to be more stressed. He already fears she'll collapse some day. Working with Drew, who she despises, will just make her situation worse.
"Dawn, I don't want you to either." May insists.
"No need to worry!" Dawn reassures the two. "He's right when he says the partnership will grow my business. And then I'll cut him off when I have enough money and power to fund the orphanage myself!"
"Dawn." Paul seriously says, which always gets the bluenette's undivided attention. When he sees those pleading midnight blue orbs, he closes his eyes. Letting out a defeated breath, he agrees. "Fine, but you need to take a day off every week to relax."
"I can't do that, Paul!"
"Then you can't work with him!" Paul glares at him. They already talked about being a team, so she can't order him around. She knows that too since Paul sees her conflicted face.
"Half a day."
"Fine." he mutters back at her in annoyance. "Troublesome."
Ignoring his nickname for her, Dawn returns her attention to May. "We're gonna help you save the orphanage, May. You cherish them, so I will too."
"You really don't have to, Dawn." May worriedly looks at her friend.
With a grin on her face, Dawn once again reminds May, "No need to worry!"
LaRousse City
Drew continues to curse at himself as he drives alone out of the city. Despite being upset and hurt at Solidad, Drew finds himself listening to her advice. Yes, the heir to Hayden Corporation really shouldn't be doing this during his time. He's busy and could be out having fun if he has free time. Nevertheless, maybe this will make Solidad talk to him for once? If he does a favor for her by visiting the orphanage, then she can do a favor to him by talking to him about those three years.
The man parks his car and gets out because he wants to make this visit quick. It's already been annoying him ever since he realized he should come by. Gosh, Soledad owes him big time for this, but will she even listen to him? Whatever. It beats hanging out with Brianna, and she wouldn't think he'd be here. He didn't tell anyone where he was going when he left the office, which is why he drove himself here.
Walking in through the automatic front doors, Drew spots a young woman at the counter. When her eyes meet his, she opens her mouth in shock. Of course she would. Drew Hayden has that effect on people, especially women. Flicking his hair, he gives her his signature smirk. "Hello. Drew Hayden here to see whoever's in charge."
The young woman feels her heart ache at this familiar greeting he once used on her years ago. So the news about him losing his memory are true. Unless he's just joking, though nothing in his demeanor is indicating that he's familiar with her. Giving him a pleasant smile, she replies, "Hello, Mr. Hayden. My name is Betty." Betty then points to the office door behind her. "If you can wait in the office, I'll bring them there."
"Thank you, Betty." Drew winks at her before walking into the office. The perks of being handsome are great. He gets women to do whatever he wants without having to do much for them. Once in the office, he notices it is fairly neat and organized. There are boxes in the back where Drew spots a lot of red tshirts.
Grabbing his head, Drew winces in pain. Again? He thought he was done with these headaches because he has been taking better care of himself. He's been setting aside time to relax every day, which has helped in alleviating the aches in his head. However, now his head is searing with pain again. Maybe it's because being here is stressing him out since he doesn't want to be here?
"Hello, Mr. Hayden."
The deep voice makes Drew turn around and smile at the young man. "Hello. Are you the owner?"
Betty had informed him of Drew, so the young man just scowls. "No. She's elderly, so I take care of the orphanage for her." Walking over to begrudgingly extend his hand, he says, "I'm Tyler."
Flashback
"Why?" the young boy asks the elderly woman.
Sighing, Ms. Lovely replies, "She didn't say."
"No! She wouldn't abandon us!" Tyler insists angrily while Betty and the other children cry. They had woken up the next day to see May's room was empty besides for her bedsheets and a box of things Drew gave her. She had spent the day yesterday with them, and they all thought she was trying to get over Drew. She would never leave them over a heartbreak!
"I'm so sorry." Ms. Lovely feels for the children because she also cried last night after May left. However, Ms. Lovely appreciates everything May has done for the orphanage, so the older woman will let May leave. All the orphans should leave and live out their lives. That's all Ms. Lovely wants for them.
"It's not fair!" Tyler shouts as Betty now holds the hysteric boy back. First Drew and now May? Who's next? Ms. Lovely? The orphanage? Are they all going to be separated? This all started because of Drew!
Storming away from Betty, Tyler goes outside. Betty's tearful eyes gaze at Ms. Lovely before following him. Once outside, Betty grabs Tyler's arm again. "Stop it, Tyler!"
"Everyone leaves! Everyone always leaves!" Tyler yells at her.
"I won't leave you!" Betty insists to her friend.
Shaking his head, the boy tells her, "I don't care anymore, Betty."
"Well, May wouldn't want this!"
"She left us! Get it through your head already!"
"I'm sure she had a reason! You know she loves us!"
Glaring at her, Tyler turns to walk away. He needs to cool his head, like he does after every time someone leaves him.
One Year Later
"Ms. Lovely." Tyler knocks on the office door of the coughing elderly woman. Ever since May left, Hayden Corporation's involvement with the orphanage has increased. While Tyler avoids any interaction with the company, Ms. Lovely welcomes it due to her poor health. She has been very overwhelmed once May left.
Smiling at the boy, Ms. Lovely says, "Hello, Tyler."
Tyler sits on the chair across from her. He fidgets with his hands. Despite not taking the Hayden Corporation courses anymore, Tyler is still a bright student in school. Nevertheless, he hasn't had much to offer, and he can't afford to see Ms. Lovely work herself to death here. Without Ms. Lovely, the orphanage will surely shut down. "I want to take care of the orphanage when I graduate."
Sighing, Ms. Lovely recalls the same conversation she had with May many years ago. "Tyler, you should go to college."
He shakes his head at her. "Someone needs to be here."
"I'm here."
"You need to rest." Tyler insists. His intense eyes don't waver from her soft orbs. "Please, Ms. Lovely. I didn't get into college, and my part time job isn't enough for me to live on my own."
Ms. Lovely frowns, but she knows it's true. Tyler has been ignoring everything having to do with Hayden Corporation, including the standardized test practices and life-skills courses. Remembering her conversation with May, Ms. Lovely replies, "On one condition."
"Sure."
She warmly smiles at him. "I want you to be happy, Tyler."
Flashback Over
Shaking the hand, Drew smirks at the stoic young man. "Well, Tyler, I just came by to ask how the funding from my company is affecting the orphanage?" Solidad did tell him to visit. It must be so that he can hear the sob story about these kids benefitting from the funds put into the place.
Shrugging, Tyler nonchalantly replies, "I'm pretty sure you know how." There are reports about each child and their developments from these programs. Drew can just read up on those. Plus, Tyler doesn't want to talk to Drew or even see him. The green haired man makes Tyler so angry, despite Drew not remembering anything. The fact that Drew can just waltz into here so calm and indifferent infuriates Tyler.
Despite being annoyed with Tyler's attitude, Drew won't let it faze him. This young man is poor and living in an orphanage. Of course Tyler would feel inferior enough to Drew to scowl at him. "Well, should I get a tour?"
Tyler leads Drew out of the office where Betty eyes them. Shaking his head slightly, Tyler makes the girl look away. If Drew's memories really are gone, then that's good. They don't need him destroying this family again. They don't need him coming back here again. They don't need him!
Taking Drew down the living quarters, Tyler shows Drew the more spacious rooms. The Hayden Corporation money had been put to adding more rooms so that the children were not packed into the few rooms they previously had. There is also another staff room for when Ms. Lovely spends the night. Tyler then shows Drew to a large living room that had also been added. Previously, the children would hang out in the large cafeteria, but with the addition of the living room, it makes spending time together more comfortable.
The two men only speak about business, and Drew is very disinterested in the orphanage. His company has already done enough by providing these excellent facilities, so it's okay if he pulls out funding. "I'm going to stop funding the orphanage." Drew tells the young man.
What Drew expected was for Tyler to ask why or to ask him to reconsider. However, Tyler only shrugs. "Okay."
Okay? Should the person running the orphanage really be this young man who is just letting the funding be cut from the place? Just what is going on? In his shock, Drew doesn't reply. He just follows Tyler through the double doors and into the cafeteria. Spotting two children fighting in the corner, Tyler quickly excuses himself.
Drew has noticed that there are about 20 children here. When he sees Tyler lead the two children into the back kitchen, Drew opts to explore. Betty had informed the other children who know Drew not to speak with him. Therefore, the stares Drew gets from them only make him think they're staring due to him being famous and not because they remember him. Not because they remember everything he's done for the orphanage and to it too.
Walking over to a wall full of a lot of polaroid pictures, Drew sees the wall is chronological. It starts from the year the orphanage was first receiving funding, which is also one of the years Drew doesn't remember. Betty didn't put up any photos of Drew because the orphanage was instructed to not have anything tying to him. Plus, Tyler wouldn't allow any photos of Drew due to his hatred for Drew.
Drew looks at the earliest photo, and it's labeled Christmas 4 years ago. There are about 15 children in the photo as well as three adults. One he instantly recognizes as Solidad. So is this why they started funding the orphanage? Because of some public relations stunt from Solidad? It'd explain why she was so mad at him for cutting the funding. He pulls out his phone to snap a picture of the polaroid so that he can ask Solidad about it later. Knowing Solidad, she'd deny it being her, but if he shows her the photo, she can't lie anymore.
Drew then spots the other adult as a man in a white beanie, who Drew obviously doesn't recognize. He must be some volunteer. Drew sees a younger version of Tyler and the girl receptionist from earlier. What was her name again? Well, he doesn't need to know since he won't ever return here.
Gazing at the last adult in the small photo, Drew spots a brunette woman in a red bandana. That smile makes his heart ache as his head begins pounding uncontrollably. It's worse than it has ever been, which makes Drew fall to the ground in pain. When the flash of brown hair hits his mind, he instantly blacks out.
I had the LaRousse City part of this chapter typed last week, but I wanted to make the chapter longer, so I added the Petalburg City part. Where am I going with this story? The details haven't been figured out, though I do have an overall idea of what will happen. Anyway, stay tuned for the next chapter, which will be when? IDK. SORRY! :D