“‘Hope you have -- er -- a good holiday,’ said Hermione, looking uainly after Uncle Vernon, shocked that anyone could be so unpleasant.

  “‘Oh, I will,’ said Harry, and they were surprised at the grin that reading over his face. ‘They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer....’”

  “The End,” I read the st word of one of my favorite books before closing it shut. “And that’s how [The Philosopher’s Stone] ends, kids.”

  “A,” Arjun, a small boy, groaned. “I wao know what happened . you start with [The Chamber of Secrets] already?” His brown eyes were doing the best puppy dog expression I had seen in a long time.

  I melted right then and there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time.

  “Yes!” “ part!” “I have seen the film, the snake is so terrifying!” came a chorus of replies from the other kids who were surrounding me from all sides.

  I gently patted Arjun’s head, who stood before me, “Maybe some other time, kids. It’s getting te, so I must go.”

  “A!” Another round of disappointed voices filled the air, but I curbed my instinct to give in to their demand at the ess overload.

  I got up and walked away to find that Emma and Jamie were also surrounded by all sorts of kids they were iing with. When Emma learhat I had been ing to the hospital for the st week, she insisted on joining me. I floated the idea with Dad, who suggested that I should invite Jamie as well, and make it a friendly outing rather than a romantie.

  It helped that Warner was gearing up for the DVD release of [Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban], so if used correctly, this would be a very good PR strategy. Not that I was here only for the PR. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have e here for a sed time, let alone every day for the past week or so.

  Emma looked up suddenly as if she could feel my gaze on her. I smiled at her and started to move forward when Dr. Rothschild came towards me with another woman.

  “Troy,” she said with a smile. “You wao meet other volunteers, right? Meet Allison Cox. She is also a social worker who handles some of our more extreme cases, like Felicity.”

  My smile instantly vanished as I was reminded of the small girl. She had talked a bit to Emma but was still relut to let me in.

  I turo Allison Cox and took in her appearance. She was a retively younger woman, in her early to mid-twenties. She had brown hair and blue eyes. She was on the plumper side, but that didn’t diminish her beauty at all.

  “Hi, Allison,” I offered my hand, which she shook. “I’m Troy.”

  “I have heard of you,” she said casually. “I don’t watch a lot of movies, but I read the news, so I have e across some articles about you.”

  “All good I hope?” I asked nervously.

  “Ah, now that would be telling,” she grinned mischievously.

  “I’ll let you two talk,” Dr. Rothschild said before taking her leave.

  Allison suddenly turned serious. “Vicky tells me that you need my help with opening a charity. I’m all ears.”

  I nodded, “The process has already begun. My wyers and atants are already dealing with the legal and financial side of things for the trust that will be known as the ‘Frank Armitage Foundation for Kids’. But I’m not very knowledgeable about this. I want to help kids who have suffered at the hands of adults and make sure they grow up to have normal lives.” I finished my spee a passioe.

  I believed that I could do something good with this step. So, of course, Allison had t me doeg or two.

  She scoffed audibly, “That sounds very good on paper, but it's very idealistic. Most of such cases go ued because kids are afraid to talk about their parents, teachers, retives, neighbors—these predators be anyone, anywhere.”

  “We have to start somewhere,” I said in a somber tone. “I’ve already set aside five million pounds for this cause, and every year, I’ll keep donating at least five pert of my future ine, probably more.”

  Allison’s eyes widened ically when I said that.

  “Not just that, I will personally promote this charity so that we help kids, especially those who are in foster care. I’ll tact other celebrities as well whom I know to help spread the word. We’ll hire social workers like you, along with doctors and therapists to make sure that no kid goes through what I had to.”

  “You?” she asked hesitantly, apparently unaware about the case that made global headlines not too long ago.

  I shook my head, not willing to eborate at the moment.

  “Tell me, are you willing to work with me? You will essentially mahe charity from top to bottom. While I would like to be involved initially, I have other itments, so I ’t do this full-time. I ’t offer you a high sary because most of our funds will be for the kids, but I’m sure you’re not doing it for money, right?”

  I had a gut feeling she was a good person. A simir feeling I had gotten from Tobias all those years ago—one of my better career decisions. Let’s just hope I’m correct here as well.

  “You are me a job without even knowing my capabilities?” she asked, surprised by my boldness.

  “For a month, yes,” I nodded. “I think judging someoo be capable of a job within half an hour of versation is impractical. I’ll pay you five thousand for this first month. If yood at your job, I’ll make you perma. If not I'll find someone else...”

  She nodded slowly, mulling over my offer for a few moments.

  “I’ll have to think this through,” she said after some time.

  “By all means,” I nodded before fishing out Tobias’ card. “Take a week a bay personal manager. He'll be expeg your call.”

  She could only nod before taking her leave. I then turned around to my friends, only to ugh out loud at the se in front of me where Jamie was swinging a kid around who was in a ‘Superman pose,’ while Emma was taking their photo like ahusiastic paparazzi.

  I could get used to this.

  (Break)

  “Thank you for flying to London to meet me, gentlemen,” I said gratefully to the three men I was hosting at my home. “I would have loved to e to you, but I retly started a charity, and I’m a little busy with it.”

  “No problem, Troy,” Lyndon Hanson, one of the founders of Crocs, said genially. “Your offer was something we couldn’t refuse so easily.” Then he looked down at my feet. “And I see that you like our product already.”

  “How I not?” I asked rhetorically. “I haven’t worn anything else when I’m at home ever since I got them. And if our colboration turns out to be a good one, I’ll wear them outside as well.”

  Scott Seamans, the other founder, said, “While all three of us really appreciate your offer a lot, I think a 20% stake in our pany is too much.”

  “And why is that?” Tobias, who was sitting beside me, asked fidently. “We are iing in the pany 10m as well, which is on top of our 10m endorsement fees for the five years. At your current valuation of 40m, we are already giving you more than double the amount of your worth. As soon as Troy’s name is attached to your brand, your sales will skyrocket. I guarantee you that.”

  Tobias had gotten much better at these business versations. He wasn't as good as Dad, but I think he will get there sooner or ter.

  Scott looked over at my father, who was silently sitting in the room but had yet to speak after the initial greetings. That’s because I had asked him to leave the matter to Tobias and me. He was only here because, as long as I’m a minor, I have to have a parent present for such settings.

  “I’m not so sure of that,” Scott said, turning bae. “I’m not sure the be y is equivalent to what you’ll get. We know that you have a great fan following, but your fans are young. They don’t have that much buying power. If we keep everything else the same, a 10% stake would be doable for us in exge for five years of promotion and the 10m which you’ll pay us.”

  “Hmmm,” I pondered over their offer. It was a good one, and I could agree with it as it is. But there was just otle problem: why settle for less?

  “How about a bet?” I offered. Before they could question me, I answered on my own, “I know for sure that my involvement will increase your revenue by a lot. So let’s keep a target of three years. Your st year's revenue was less than 5m, yes? If I join the pany, I know the revenue will go to at least 500m per annum in three years.”

  Every man in the room was staring at me as if I had grown a sed head, including Dad, the three entrepreneurs, and Tobias.

  I stifled the urge to grin at their reas and said with utmost ess, “This I’m very fident about because I believe in my fans. So here’s my teroffer: if Crocs reaches 500m in annual revenue by the end of the year 2007, I would take 25% of the share. If not, then I’ll be happy with just 5%.”

  As soon as I annouhat, Scott, Lyndon, and Gee, the three entrepreneurs, turo each other and shared looks. Uanding that they needed a private versation, I said, “Why don’t we give you guys the room to talk it out?”

  Lyndon turo me gratefully, so I got up and motioobias and Dad to follow along.

  “Have you gone crazy?” Dad hissed fiercely as soon as we were outside. “They barely have any reveo their name. And you think they will get to 500m just like that?”

  I smiled. “You haven’t tried these clogs, have you?”

  “Why would I wear these ugly-looking things?” he tered. “I ’t wear them in my professional meetings, and I prefer flip-flops at home.”

  “Try them out,” I said with utmost seriousness. “I lied to them inside. I don’t trust in my fame—I trust in this product. I may not have goo business school, but I know the four Ps of marketing, and their product is their USP. Their price is good, and it’s easy to get pt. Leave the promotion to me. As soon as they sign this deal, I’ll promote the hell out of Croake them a household name.”

  It didn’t look like Dad believed me, but my track record speaks for itself. All my business decisions have been good ones until now. Be it [Harry Potter], Yahoo, or [Billy Elliot]. Even my stock market portfolio was showing steady but positive returns. So eventually, he just ined his head in acceptance.

  It didn’t take them long for the three old men to e to a decision. After a lot of bad forth, the final decision was that I’d get a 10% stake if reveer three years was less than 500m, and 20% if it was above 500m. I promptly got Dad to write them a check for 10m after the tract was signed, and we were doh the deal. Now all that was left on my end romoting it, but that would e at a ter date.

  (Break)

  “Emma,” her mother called out softly. “It’s okay, love. He’s a very busy boy. What with all these other films he’s been doing. Not to mention his new charity and endorsement. It’s not fair of you to sit here sulking like that.”

  “He fot my birthday, Mum,” Emma said tiredly. “I don’t expect him to do a graure of romane. I don’t even expect him to shout to the world about us. Heck, I wouldn’t even mind if he’s not here in person, but at least he could have called.”

  Her mged her gently while smoothing out her hair. “There’s still time. We get all your friends to e here for a party. It’s not every day their priurns 14.”

  “I’m not 10, Mum,” Emma grumbled, but didn’t push her away. She loved snuggling up to her Mum.

  Her mother kissed the top of her head befetting up from the spot. “Be that as it may, I’m making your favorite dish for you. sider that my gift. I’ll be i, okay?”

  “Thanks, Mum,” Emma smiled at the older woman, but the smile never reached her eyes.

  Sometimes, Emma found it hard to believe she was dating Troy Armitage.

  She got to know him for the first time during a chemistry read with him and Jamie. She was a nervous wreck because she hadn’t done any ag before, but Troy calmed her down. She hadn’t seen [The Sixth Se that point, so she had no idea how big of a deal he already was in Hollywood.

  To the world, he might be a genius actor who won awards right, left, aer wherever he went, but to her, he was just Troy—her first friend o of [Harry Potter]. When the filming began, Troy would hold practice sessions with all the kid actors o, includio teach them ag. He even tutored them whehey struggled with their studies in a particur subject. So, obviously, she looked up to him a lot.

  She hadn’t even realized whearted g for him beyond friendship, but she did. She was beyoatic when she found out that Troy reciprocated her feelings. Their first kiss was nothing short of electric. Things went a little crazy for a while when their families found out, but eventually, everythiuro normal.

  But there was one versation her mother had with her that stu her mind.

  “He’s a superstar, love,” her mother had said. “A very rid handsome superstar going through puberty. I wouldn’t be surprised if irls start throwing themselves at him. Boys are not the best when it es to loyalty. Take your Dad, for example. I don’t want you to be heartbroken like I was just because some irl tried something with Troy and he couldn’t trol himself.”

  After a lot of thinking, Emma had e to a decision: she wouldn’t get angry at him for things that an actor would fa their career, like kissing someone else or even filming an intimate se. In her opinion, she was the most aodating girlfriend a boy could ask for. So was it too much to expect him to remember her birthday?

  Instead, Troy was in the U.S., shooting a ercial for some ugly slippers. Now Emma issed off. Troy would regret this day forever. She’d make sure of it.

  “Emma!” her Mum called out from the kit. “ you help me out, love?”

  Sighing, Emma got up from the chair in her room and walked out. “ing, Mum!”

  She made her way downstairs slowly, still thinking about the ways in which she would take her revenge on her boyfriend, when…

  “SURPRISE!”

  _____________________________________

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