Jeff Thompson rushes into my office like a child hurrying in to see the principal before he gets in bigger trouble for acting out in class. It’s too late for Thompson to change his behavior now to avoid punishment, but then, what I have in mind gets him off of the hook for all of his mistakes anyway, assuming he goes along with it, assuming his wife does not decline. If that’s the case, he’s in bigger trouble than he knows.“Mr. Merriweather, sir,” he says, offering me his hand. “I’m so sorry I’m running behind. The company car you sent was caught in traffic.”I arch an eyebrow at him. Does he really think I’m not aware that the reason he is late is because he didn’t even get into the car until a few minutes before he was meant to be here? I will not have that discussion with him, though. “Have a seat, Thompson,” I tell him, declining to shake his hand as I can’t force myself to do so at the moment.He drops his hand, drags it along his suit pants like there’s something wrong with it,

I stare at the document on the coffee table in front of the couch in my office. Jeff Thompson’s signature is on the document, as is my own, but there is one name missing. I have no idea whether or not Julia will sign it. If she doesn’t, Jeff Thompson will be looking for a new job soon. If she does, that still doesn’t guarantee I will finally get what I want. Which is her. She’s all I’ve wanted for months, and I am so close now to finally having her in my arms. But there is still a good chance she will turn me down, so as I wait for Springer to return with her to the office, I try to think about something else, anything else. It is difficult. I have presented thousands of contracts over the years, but this agreement is the only one that has ever had me feeling the way that I do now.A buzz alerts me to the fact that Cindy has news for me. “Yes?” I call to her.“Mr. Springer has arrived and is on his way to your office,” she says over the speaker on my desk.“Thank you,” I say, and she

I can hardly believe my ears. Has Julia just asked me where she needs to sign the document, the agreement that will allow her to come with me for the weekend? I stare at her, my eyes wide, as I contemplate how easy it was to convince her. I am confused. I thought for certain it would be difficult for me to convince Julia that she should spend the weekend with me, but here she is agreeing to it with hardly a word from me.My eyes flicker across the room to where Springer is sitting, not a part of the conversation but present to keep Julia comfortable. I was afraid that she would be intimidated with me here by herself, but I have underestimated this beautiful woman more than once, and I hope not to do that again. Springer is hiding a smile from me, and I look away from him so that I don’t give anything away myself.Before she changes her mind, I move to the stack of papers on the table. “It’s not a long document, but it is thorough. Feel free to read through it. Springer can answer any

I could have left work at 4:00. All of my meetings were over with, and I was done for the weekend. But Cindy called me around 3:30 and told me it would be best if I met Julia at the restaurant I’d planned to take her to at 7:00. The shopping had gone well, and Cindy had arranged for a makeover for Julia. I didn’t think she needed that, but then, Cindy said it would be a nice treat for Julia, so I agreed to it. With getting her nails done and all of the other things that take so long for women to do, as well as eating a fancy lunch at the spa, it was taking longer than expected. So… I agreed to meet her at Solar and try not to be bitter that I have wasted a few of the precious hours I have with Julia.I stay at work until a little after 6:00. By then, the office is quiet except for me and Springer, who is only still there because I am. I have asked him to trail Jeff Thompson all weekend and make sure that he is not attempting to interfere with anything I am doing with his wife while sh

Normally, on the car ride back to my home from work, when I bother to go there instead of staying in my apartment close to the office, I am busy working. Either I am on the phone making deals, or I’m checking emails. But tonight, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen is sitting next to me, and even though there’s plenty of space between us and it is obvious she is nervous, I would rather have her here than anyone else in the world.At this time of the evening, after rush hour is over, there’s not a lot of traffic, but it still takes almost forty minutes to get to my house. While we ride, I attempt to ask Julia a few questions, but she is not in a chatty mood. I think it is because she is nervous and decide to leave her be. I wish she didn’t feel that way. I hope I have made myself clear that nothing will happen unless she wants it to.We pull up to the gate outside of my residence, and the driver presses a button in the car that sends the iron gate opening, soundlessly. I am not a f