Page 34 of Resolutions

I take out my cell phone. “I want you in black and in position in five minutes.” I turn away from the windows. I'm going to be fantasizing about the fear in her eyes when I finally catch her. God, it will be exquisite.

Hitting the hidden button on my desk, I wait for the door in the wall to slide open. “Now the real fun begins!”

Cameron

After lunch, I decide I would head over to Michael's office. I hadn't heard from him last night when I said I had been at the hospital. Not sure exactly why I'm going, I guess I just feel theneed to make sure he's there and alright. Inside the gleaming corporate headquarters, I keep my eyes on the floor, not wanting to see the pitying looks from people. I've been getting them ever since the word spread about Mel's disappearance.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Whitaker.” Michael's assistant, Jill's, voice, is carefully neutral.

“Hi Jill. Is he in?” I can barely muster a nod.

“One moment.” She lifts her phone. “Sir, Mr. Cameron Whitaker is here to see you. Yes, sir.” She hangs up. “Go right in.”

The massive wooden door is carved in a Japanese fight scene. Anywhere else it would look pretentious, but leading to Michael's office, it fits. Everything about his space screams power, money, and success. Sometimes it's hard to reconcile this Michael with the scrawny kid who used to share my lunch with when bullies took his.

“Cameron!” He waves me in with his usual energy. “Grab yourself a drink.”

“I'm good.” I sink into one of the black leather chairs facing his desk.

“What can I do for you?”

“Where've you been?” I try to keep the accusation out of my voice. He's probably busy running his empire, not sitting around obsessing like me.

Michael closes his eyes for a moment and breathes a couple of breaths before meeting my gaze. “Sorry, man. Been swamped trying to fulfill this needy ass group of client's request.”

“Shouldn't that be requests?” I attempt our usual banter.

“Nah, they all want the same thing. Bastards.” He closes his eyes again, tension visible in his face.

“Must be one hell of a request.”

“Oh, it is.” His eyes remain closed, a slight smile playing at his lips. “But the fun is in obtaining it.” His eyebrows knit together,then relax. “You need something specific, or just missing my charming company?”

“I was wondering if-” His raised palm cuts me off, his hand forming a fist. The tension in his face increases, followed by a long exhale. He releases his hand.

“One second.” He rolls his chair back from the desk. A dark-haired woman with a long straight ponytail, pale skin and gothic eyes rises from beneath it, wiping her mouth as she turns. My brain takes a moment to realize what just happened. Michael stands, casually doing up his zipper as she saunters past me with a wink.

“I saw that.” His voice cracks like a whip and she stops mid-step. Turning with cat-like precision, she faces him, her head bowed. “You know better. I want you in the corner position when I get there tonight.”

She nods, then spins gracefully. Stopping at the door, she bows with clasped hands before gliding out.

Michael turns to me like nothing happened. “You were saying?”

“Damn, Michael! You couldn't have had me wait out in the lobby?”

“Why?” He looks genuinely puzzled.

“So, you could finish,” I gesture vaguely, “that.”

“I did finish.” He settles back into his chair.

“And why the hell do you want her in the corner? Is she in time out?”

His laugh fills the office. “Shit, you're so fucking vanilla, bro.”

“What?” I could hear my own confusion in my voice. “Is the corner a sex thing?”

“Google it. You'll thank me later. Now, I'm going to assume you didn't come for sex lessons, although God knows you need some.”

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