My Secret Younger Lover.

ret's

me. Richard was pacing in the living room wh

I said proudly. "Malcol

ft out the part

news," he said, pulling me into a ti

, laughing, pretending, just for a moment

nsive restaurants, sometimes in discreet hotels. Malcolm, still grieving the loss of his late wife, b

ind the soft smiles and stolen kisse

ng for a little

ew bracelet I've

ght in the illus

lf for myself, and the leftover scraps went to Richard.

nough. He pulled me aside, his

giving me isn't enough. We agreed this wou

hat do you w

d snapped. "Make something up. A business deal

and left the room, my m

slipped into a silky, dangerously short dress. I packed a tray of food I'd prepared myself, sp

alcolm looked up, s

babe," he sai

th breakfast," I replied sweetl

"You're incredible," he

the only woman in the world. To him,

the briefcase on his desk, the glint of his Rolex, the reflecti

me here to

for the r

was tim

y seat, my heart thuddi

my hand gently on Malcolm's. "Baby,"

ckled. "Ah, now I get the reason for thi

d. "It's nothing too serious," I began. "I just want to invest i

ebrow. "What ki

epared for that question.

use

eup business. I've always been passionate about beauty

ossing his arms, his ex

rise and fall. Makeup is saturated. Highly competitive. It's

insisted. "I just need

we talking abo

said quietly, "Fif

"Fifty million?" He shoo

eart

n, no projections, no strategy," he said. "That's not how I work. Whe

m fell

ing in my chest. When he finished eating, I g

here to be,"

. "Let me know whe

y tray in hand, my face ca

I got home,

layed t

didn'

him. Dress

back home with empty ha

couch, hope flickering in

d the tray on the table with a loud

much. He wants a plan. A pitch. He wants me to

ace fell. "

oice dropping into a l

I ask di

sat alone, d

d Richard. But I loved money mor

to drive

I once admired now looked like a shadow of himself

ith Malcolm. If Richard couldn't pull himself up, I would find another w

n upscale rooftop restaurant. "I need

g was set

re-hugging, showing off my long legs and just enough cleavage. My makeup w

e booth on the rooftop. While waiting, I ordered a drink

Rolls Royce pu

d myself in the mirror, pulling

His driver opened the door like he was royalty. He walked into th

, he joined m

ing smile, leaning in to kiss my

k you, honey. You look

ying a quiet meal. Eventually, he leaned

ortant to discuss," he said, ra

eached across the table, gen

"I need your help. I w

ession s

I'm tired of watching it. Not because I still love him" I lied "but because h

s. "Please. Help him get ba

for a long moment. He stu

men," he said at last. "Especially no

ut you're not just any man. You

s... you ca

is wine glass an

wn and looked me

he said slowly. "But

t up. "Wha