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“I won’t allow one single woman to be treated the way Albert Plank treats women,” Annabel said. “Be subtle I don’t want him getting wind of this.”

“I’m sure she’s got a sick grandmother or something,” Charles said.

“Now, what’s next,” Annabel asked.

“Did you finalize your arrangements for Thanksgiving?”

“Sort of,” Annabel hedged realizing she forgot to ask Andrew and Ryan.

“What did Olivia say,” Charles tilted his head as he recognized her evasive answer.

“She said to invite them,” Annabel said. She sorted mail and set it aside to address later.

“But you don’t want to?”

“I want to but I sort of forgot.”

“Were they distracting?”

“Yes,” Annabel grinned.

“You should order them to come to your office and ask them,” Charles said.

“You just want an up close look at them,” Annabel sat in her chair.

“Take out your phone and tell them you need to talk to them. Ask them when they have a free hour.” Charles crossed his arms. “I promise to guard your door so no one gets in.”

“I can ask…” she frowned as she checked her calendar.

“Yeah. You’re busy. Not a lot of time for sexy time. Text them.”

Annabel raised her eyebrows and stared at him for long minutes. She rolled her eyes and snorted. “You are the only one who doesn’t whither under my woman of all things look.”

“Text them.”

Hi

Would you have an hour you could come to my office today? I need to ask you something and I want to do it in person.

“There, you happy?”

“They’ll think you want to break up with them.”

“What? No. I… well shit.”

Is there a problem?

Andrew texted.

I’ve got a full schedule but can shift things. I want to ask you something, I meant to last night but we got distracted.

We’re booked until 3 ????

Great! I’ll see you at 3.

“I’ll clear your schedule for an hour or ninety minutes.”

“One question won’t take ninety minutes,” Annabel scoffed.

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