HOOKED ON ZERO

L

an antidote

ng my fingers and wearing my carpet thin.

ing stir-crazy at home, amongst my staff. I probably checked the company mail about ten times every hour. When that d

I began t

mail to a company and waited for weeks for a reply. They eventually called sayi

was what pro

impressed, so what wa

me a personal text message but didn't have my number.

e fact that I guarded my phone number like a vault. Only a handful o

o news was good news. But the silence fr

patted my pocket but it was empty, then I remembered I put it on my desk earlier on

he side - big mistake - because I watched in horror as they slid across the desk

me, that only ha

longside them. With the agility of a two year old, I dived for it. Unfortunately, it stopped ringing before I wa

it immediately. "Al

I mentally slapped myself for

way to answe

my fist around the edge of m

Alex, son. Sorry I wasn't able to come for your wife's

ow a lump that had suddenly erupted in my throat. Obliv

can remarry? And this time, it has to be to a woman that sui

ing of my heart. I opened my eyes once more and silently counted to ten before I replied. "I was

rang again almost immediately. I picked the cal

to herself fo

ime to be a

nathema to marry

was a g

the fact that Aretha had captivated

ked Aretha, not even when Aretha (who was a professional chef), regularly made her sumptuous food to eat, and w

sed a sigh that helped ca

longer. Even after sending word to her about Aretha's passing, she had

of mothe

, and Kelly walked in. There was a look on her face I couldn't place. She waved

urier. It has the sta

e at it. They didn't send a mail or place a call aft

would, precious stones. I've never used glasses before, but suddenly it s

ake out a long slip of pa

and it just might open itself."

orgotten she was s

fe and slowly opened up the edges of the letter. This time,

ies and went straight t

own...... beginning......that .......Exceva .......the one. When we first ta

ecessary information

artment of Justice's drug enforcement ad

and the letter sl

me in some second

it had fluttered to the floor and

eva was the one. When we first talked on the phone, your passion and drive were palpable to me. You almost

type this? Kelly looke

in shock at that point. She sho

y condolences, once again. Anyway, back to the matter at hand, without further ado, the department of Justice's drug enforcemen

mouth opened up in a wide smile and then she hollered, pumpi

up in the excitement pouring out from her. "Fifteen

urned to me, a dangerous gleam in her

ear with one hand behind her back. She stopped in front of my desk an

occasion." She announced it l

oor. She took out two flute glasses from my cabinet and poured a health

etha, baby, t

inst the rim

my hero." Kelly smiled coyly. She traced the rim of the glass with her finger

d within an inch of me and I waited, waited for her to make a

froze. Turned into a complete icicle. I closed my eyes, swallowed

bonds that bou

t take it

k and side stepped her. "'I've got to