r's

in twenty minutes," Paul, my assistant, reminded

up. "Has Bennett confirmed if

they were coming along with him today. And

percent for ten percent of the work? They'

till comin

them hear

e buzzed in my pocket but I ignored it. My sister wouldn't stop hounding me

f she didn't do these I would not attend. I never did especially after Melina's death. I wasn't a bi

d across from them, Peter Bennett, the investor, had that smug grin he a

handshake I didn't want to gi

or bad deals," I repl

eed to be hostile.

something that sou

n the mood to sugarcoat anything. I had already given them a fair offe

er the percentage of shares he wanted to own in the proposed merger which frustrated me. I wanted

the boardroom, ignoring Paul who tried to brief me on my

levator, loosening my tie. When I got into the car,

sir?" h

red, sliding into the bac

tugging at the top button of my shirt. I stared

e Melina died. Her name still sat at the top of my emergency contact list. I tho

It was a blind date, Bruce, a business associate insisted on. I left halfway throu

ay. I don't know how but she sneaked into my office when I wasn't there. Her clit shone di

omen to throw themselves at men shameless

needed. She made me better. She was there before I made my first million, before the co

pt thinking we'd buy more time. I flew in several doc

covered. N

year. Even my closest staff avoided saying her name. Maybe th

n the glass and didn't reco

red his th

ea

e been

all talk," I said, my v

s,

signs flashed against the car window. Music leaked into the stree

dn't want to go back to the silent space that r

nd myself sayi

d withou

e was cooler than expected. I slipped my hands into my pock

rip

decade. Not since before Melina

oud. Neon flickered across half-naked dancers, dolla

ordered a whiskey. N

if the place around me was loud. Suddenly, the barstool beside me

Melina. She wore a dress that left very little to imagination. Her blonde hair was flowy cascading d

felt voluntarily

There was mascara smudged under red, swollen eyes.

lamming her empty marti

he asked, eyes shamelessly

ld relate to her pain at the same time

tender. "Do I look lik

rned to me, grabbed my half-finished whi

loved he