Page 40 of Robert

She glanced at her appointments and let out an irritated sigh. “I have two meetings that I absolutely cannot reschedule.” She bit her lip and decided to put off meeting a minor sponsor. “All right, how does four sound? It’s the best I can do.”

“That will do. I will meet you at Sadie’s, he agreed, referring to a bar and grill several blocks away.

“I’ll be there. And Michael?”

“Yes?”

“Please don’t waste my time by being tardy.”

“I will be there before you.” He promised, something she seriously doubted. Hanging up from him, she went back to what she was doing. Five days and counting, she thought dismally.

She had called his office on the pretext that she had misplaced his number and asked the very efficient and proper assistant if she knew if he would be back on Friday and the woman had told her that she had not heard from him in two days.

“He is staying at The Royale as you know, Mrs. Faulkner and he should still be there. As far as I am aware, he is still scheduled to be back on Friday.”

She missed him, there, she had said it. She missed him so much; it was affecting her thinking and everything else. What does that mean?

Glancing up at the knock on the door, she ushered Gloria in.

“Is he here?”

“With his wife,” she smiled slightly.

“They both look as if they are on a mission.”

“Good.” Firming her lips, Sonya gathered her files. “Where did you put them?”

“In the conference room. I also brought refreshments in.”

“Thanks. Wish me luck.”

“Honey, you don’t need it.” Gloria gave her teal blue suit an admiring look. “You’ve got this.”

*****

“I’d say this calls for a celebration.” Gloria was grinning like a Cheshire cat. “We should really stock on champagne. I am going to make a note of it.”

“Two million dollars.” Sonya could not blame the woman for her glee, she felt like dancing herself. “It was a hard sell and William Blagrove hesitated several times, but I pressed the point that the shelter is necessary for women who have been abused by their spouses and have nowhere to turn to.”

“I bet that got the attention of the wife,” Gloria had rummaged through a cabinet and produced a bottle of sherry. “This will do.” She set about opening the bottle pouring the wine into two glasses. “You did your research.”

“We did the research. I hated to use the woman’s past to get through to them, but I was desperate.”

“Honey, you did the right thing,” Gloria brought over the glass and handed it to her.

“I know. The place is really needed and after the last episode where that husband killed his wife, I was determined to do something about it.” Her expression turned morose. “I feel responsible.”

“You know that’s utter nonsense.”

“I keep telling myself that.” She took a sip of the wine and continued to reflect. “Sometimes I feel as if there is so much tobe done and so little time to do it.” She sighed. “And here I go leaping ahead when I should be enjoying the win.”

“That’s what makes you so special.” Gloria looked up as the phone rang. “Now back to the real world. You are running a little behind.”

*****

He went to the club. His business was finished with, but he decided that he should stop off for a few days instead of going back home to his empty apartment. He had to decide where to go from here. The last few days had been hell for him but getting through the tangles of business had kept him steady.

Mrs. Glover, his very efficient and capable assistant had told him that his wife had called to find out if he would be back in the allotted time. The fact that she had not called him personally had pissed him off. She had his mobile as the hotel where he was staying. If she had wanted to talk to him, she would have extended the effort.

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