Page 89 of Devil in a Tux

He lifted up and brought his face over mine. “Sorry. That was a joke. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away. Is that better?” If it was true.

“It’s not horses I’m worried about.” Family connections, family responsibilities held a sway people outside the family couldn’t fathom.

“I’ve already told you that what my father thinks doesn’t matter.” He gave me a quick kiss, and disappeared into the bathroom. He returned with in a bathrobe and held one out for me. “Get up. We have to finish our date. Your pizza awaits.”

“You know,” I answered. “I like this a lot better than our other dinner dates. But, shouldn’t the pizza and a movie have come before the sex?”

“We could try that next time.” He held the robe up for me to slip into. “Did you mean what I thought you did about the potato chip room?”

“A little adventure never hurt.”

We went for round two after the pizza and never got as far as the movie.

CHAPTER27

Evan

Monday morning,I pressed the button for the twenty-seventh floor in the McAllister building elevator and then moved to the back of the car. Other employees made room for me. I wiped my sweaty palms on my trousers. It was time to face the devil, or the music, I wasn't sure which it would be today. It was make or break time.

We stopped several time on the way up, and after letting the last of the others out on twenty-three, I decided I wasn’t ready yet and pressed the button for twenty-five.

Diane looked up from her desk. “Good morning. Martin’s admin called. He’d like to meet at nine.” His admin was Rita, but for some reason Diane never used her name.

“Good morning.”

Her head cocked to the side. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Your hand is clenched. You only do that when something is bothering you.” She was way too good at reading everybody including me.

I consciously relaxed my hand. “I have a meeting with Dad this morning. Tell Martin’s admin that I can’t make his meeting.”

“What time should I suggest for a reschedule?” Her pen hovered over a sticky-note.

“I’m not available.”

She nodded. “Anything you’d like me to do?”

“Not yet.”

She handed me sheets. Every day she printed out copies for me of the press coverage, if you could call the tabloids and various blog sites press. “She really likes you.” Diane even read the body language off two dimensional photographs.

“I like her too,” I admitted.

“I know.” Of course she did. “That’s been obvious for a while.”

I shook my head and closed myself in my office to prepare.

Dad liked to play chess. He said it taught him to foresee contingencies.

I preferred poker because it involved reading the other party’s weaknesses and gaging when to up the stakes.

Intending to make sure I didn’t have a weakness I wasn’t prepared to address, I called up Bradley Jenkins.

“I’m in a hurry this morning. What’s your take on the approach I laid out last week?” I asked without any preamble.

He answered quickly. “In my opinion, it’s very solid and it will play well.”

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