Chris Carter was thoroughly convinced that his luck had finally run out. He was here in western Connecticut at the request of an old friend who needed some help. Although he was very good at his job, which was fixing companies that were in trouble, the hours he kept didn't leave any time for socializing. In addition, his semi-retired status didn't afford him the luxury of having a vehicle at hand as he had just completed a very expensive divorce. He was therefore without ready transportation and without female companionship.
The northwest corner of Connecticut was cut out of the hills just south of the Berkshire Mountains region of Massachusetts. It was hilly, wooded country dotted with small towns. Most of them had no social center to speak of and those who lived in these towns simply went home when their workday was finished. Chris desperately longed for female attention and found it wanting in this remote part of the country. He passed the time writing some romance/sex novels, which had so far not been published and purchasing lottery tickets on a regular basis. The latter was in the hope he might win a huge sum that would allow him to return to his beloved Australia and live out his years with his motorcycle mates and maybe find a nice Sheila for company.
So it was that he bought the Friday and Saturday tickets on Friday afternoon as usual at the local Stop & Shop in Canaan. On Sunday morning, his friend Jack bought and delivered the morning paper to the farmhouse where Chris was staying and he settled down to read it. Inside the front page was the listing of the drawing numbers for the weekend and he retrieved the tickets from his wallet to check his numbers.
When his eyes rested on the Powerball listing for last nights drawing, something told him to pay close attention. Checking one number at a time, he discovered that he had a ticket that matched all of the numbers drawn.
His shout of joy rang throughout the house and Probably could have been heard some distance away. When he settled down, he read the back of the ticket to find the instructions regarding the collection of his winnings.
It also provided a toll free number to Powerball headquarters in Hartford, an hours drive to the south. Chris dialed the number and, even though it was Sunday, was connected in a few moments. He informed the young lady on the other end that he believed he held a winning Powerball ticket and would like to know how to verify that fact. After excitedly congratulating him, she asked him to hold the line while she transferred him to someone who could help him.
When the second voice answered, Chris repeated his request and was again congratulated. This person, named Marcy, asked him to read the numbers to her from left to right. He did and she paused. Then she asked for the drawing date on the ticket and Chris supplied it. After another short pause, she told him he was indeed the sole winner of the Saturday Powerball drawing. His winning total was $37,875,575.00. The winning prize would be paid out in thirty annual installments with all applicable federal and state taxes withheld. He would be required to provide proof of identity and the winning ticket to claim his prize.
Chris was stunned! After thinking for a moment or two, he asked Marcy if there was any alternative to the thirty year payout. She replied that there was a lump sum alternative but that was subject to a discount on the face value of the winning. Chris asked if she could estimate the immediate payout value so he could decide which alternative to choose and she again asked him to hold the line.
When she returned to the phone, Marcy estimated the immediate payout at about $25,765,391.00. She also reiterated that it was an estimated figure and the real number would be calculated at the time the ticket was turned in. Chris asked if he needed an appointment to claim the money and was told no as long as he showed up during normal business hours, which were 9 am to 5 pm. He then verified the address with Marcy and told her to expect him on Tuesday morning. He thanked her for her kind attention and hung up the phone.
Chris checked his notes, then calculated his after tax winnings. Now that he was certain of collecting the money, he carefully placed the winning ticket in his wallet and drew another cup of coffee. He desperately needed to calm down and do some serious planning. This wonderful windfall had to be put to good use, not squandered, so planning was necessary.
The first thing was to talk with his bank manager in Canaan to arrange a checking account linked to his current savings account. He would also set up the rules for handling his deposit, which he was sure could be wired directly from Hartford, as well as the details regarding checks and access cards.
Then he would have to arrange transportation to Hartford. Since it was only an hour or so away, the trip could be made on Tuesday with a return either Tuesday night or sometime on Wednesday. He was sure the bank manager could help with a local limousine company. He knew the tax laws pretty well and understood how much he could give away to individuals without any tax consequences, so there were going to be at least four very happy people this week when he handed them their checks.
How strange, he thought. I'm a bloody multi- millionaire and I have only $120 in my pocket and no car! I can wait. For today, I'm just going to relax and watch football. On Monday morning, he asked Jack for a ride into town from the farm and visited the bank as soon as it opened. He spoke with the bank manager, Frank Edwards, and explained his circumstances.
Frank promptly congratulated him, then got down to business. A new checking account was immediately set up, linked to his current savings account. Frank would order a supply of checks on a rush and could have them by Wednesday afternoon at the latest. The access card might take a little longer but he expected he could rush that through by Wednesday afternoon as well.
When he asked about the limousine, Frank told him of a firm in the town of Great Barrington, just a few miles up the road. He had done business with them on numerous occasions and found them to be entirely reliable. Frank placed a call to Tony, the owner of the company and explained the need before turning the phone over to Chris.
Chris requested that the driver meet him at eight the next morning at the local McDonalds restaurant. He mentioned that the drive might require an overnight stay in Hartford and that he was prepared to pay all expenses. Tony assured him that would be fine. He put Chris on hold for a moment, then came back on the line and asked if a female driver would be acceptable and Chris readily agreed.
The deal had been struck and the driver would be given his description to make identification easy. Chris thanked Tony for his cooperation then handed the phone back to Frank.
His business finished, Chris walked out into the warm November sunshine and laughed out loud. His dream was about to come true. His luck had finally come back!
On Monday afternoon, Chris advised Jack that he had to take the rest of the week off to attend to some personal business in Hartford. When Jack agreed, Chris also requested a ride at seven in the morning to the local McDonalds where his transportation would be waiting. Jack said that would be no problem and Chris's preparations were complete. He went home that night and packed a small backpack with a change of clothes and his toothbrush. At seven the next morning, he was more than ready when the car came to take him to his appointed place.
Chris was seated in the restaurant drinking coffee when he spotted her. Bright red hair that fell just below her shoulder blades, a starched white shirt and black tie, and black trousers. The outfit did nothing to hide the figure lurking behind it but it did spectacular things for her overall impression. She walked decisively towards the restaurant from the parking lot, head held high and a gleam in her eye that he could see from here. His heart leapt and his groin burned with a fire he almost had forgotten about when he realized that she could be his driver for the trip to Hartford.
He was dressed as expected, wearing a green sweater and white baseball cap with a red brim. If she was indeed his driver, she should easily spot him when she came in the door. She glanced around and when her eyes rested on him, he saw a light so bright that he almost had to blink.
She shuddered visibly and seemed to pause in her stride, and then she looked away briefly and before stepping forward. She came over to his table breathing a little heavily and extended her hand in greeting.
"Mr. Carter, I'm Katy Ryan, your driver."
"Good morning, Katy, and please call me Chris. Would you like some coffee or something? We have plenty of time."
