Just Another Hero Read Online Free PDF Page A

circle. Chad had not said anything—yet.
    She knew she shouldn’t have taken that Coke into the living room. White carpet? How stupid!
    Her mother, Michelle, was in Chad’s home office with him, completing one of Chad’s required rituals—going over the expenses of the day. She’d gone in there twenty minutes ago with receipts in hand, looking pale.
    Arielle wondered how long it would take this time. Chad sometimes spent two hours going over every item her mother bought. Even ice cream cones and cookies bought at a school bake sale had to have a receipt. Chad was very generous with what he gave them to spend, but every penny had to be accounted for at the end of each day.
    Arielle could hear them from where she sat. In fact, she was sure that Chad had left the door ajar to make sure she would overhear what was being said.
    â€œNow, what about your dry-cleaning bill?” Chad’s voice was deep and modulated, like a newscaster’s.
    â€œIt came to seventy-six dollars and twenty cents, which included Arielle’s winter coat,” her mother explained.
    â€œWhy is the stamp receipt higher than normal?”
    â€œThey just increased postal rates by two cents,” her mother answered hurriedly.
    â€œI’m aware of that. What did you have done at the hairdressers?”
    â€œWell, I got a cut and a shampoo and a new style. Do you like it?” Arielle knew her mom was shaking her curly hair and pasting a smile on her face.
    â€œIt looks very nice,” Arielle heard him say. “Where is the receipt?”
    â€œHere it is, and it even shows the tip I gave her,” Arielle’s mother added.
    â€œYou tip too generously, Michelle,” Chad said. “Ten percent is more than enough.”
    â€œWell, she does such a good job….”
    â€œTen percent is plenty,” he repeated.
    â€œOkay, if you say so.”
    â€œAnd your grocery receipt, please.”
    â€œI went to Kroger’s today,” her mother offered hopefully.
    â€œDid you use your discount card?”
    â€œOf course. That gave me a ten percent discount on all fresh produce this week. See, it’s recorded on the bottom here.”
    â€œGood. Okay, that came to one hundred thirty-two dollars and seventy-seven cents.” There was a slight pause, then Chad said in a tone one usually uses with a child, “I gave you exactly four hundred dollars this morning, and you’ve spent three hundred ninety-seven dollars and seventy-seven cents. That means you should have two dollars and twenty-three cents in change.”
    â€œI, uh, let me see.” Arielle could hear her mother digging in her purse. She heard coins jingle onto Chad’s desktop—imported mahogany, polished and gleaming.
    â€œHere’s two dimes, and three pennies, and let’s see…Ah! Here are the two dollars!” Her mother sounded jubilant.
    â€œVery good,” said Chad. Arielle rolled her eyes. He sounded as if he were praising a dog.
    Chad sounded pleased. “You came out even today,Michelle,” he said. “As a reward, I’m giving you a thousand dollars for the weekend. I’ll check your receipts on Monday.”
    â€œOh, thanks, Chad. I love you, sweetie!” Arielle rolled her eyes again, this time in disgust.
    â€œI love you, too, Michelle.”
    What an ass, Arielle thought. Hallmark cards had more emotion.
    Then she stiffened as she heard Chad order, “Send Arielle in here.”
    Her mother came into the kitchen, looking drained but triumphant. She ran her fingers through her golden bronze curls exactly the way Arielle did. “Chad’s ready for you, honey.”
    Arielle’s mother, who never left the house without makeup and the perfect outfit, was slim and fit. She looked almost young enough to be Arielle’s sister. She worked out every day, had a facial once a week, and had recently looked into cosmetic surgery.
    Arielle couldn’t