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She'll , persuasive, argumentative, beautiful - and she's my dearest, dearest friend

The roads are clear as I set off from Vancouver, WA toward Portland and the I-5 It's early, and I don't have to be in Seattle until two this afternoon Fortunately, Kate's lent me her sporty Mercedes CLK I'm not sure Wanda, my old VW Beetle, would make the journey in time Oh, the Merc is a fun drive, and the miles slip away as I floor the pedal to the metal

My destination is the headquarters of Mr Grey's global enterprise It's a huge twenty-story office building, all curved glass and steel, an architect's utilitarian fantasy, with Grey House written discreetly in steel over the glass front doors It's a quarter to then I arrive, greatly relieved that I'm not late as I walk into the enorlass, steel, and white sandstone lobby

Behind the solid sandstone desk, a very attractive, groo the sharpest charcoal suit jacket and white shirt I have ever seen She looks immaculate

"I'h"

"Excuse htly as I stand self-consciously before her I a to wish I'd borrowed one of Kate's formal blazers rather than wear my navy blue jacket I have made an effort and worn th boots and a blue sweater For me, this is smart I tuck one of the escaped tendrils of my hair behind my ear as I pretend she doesn't intimidate me

"Miss Kavanagh is expected Please sign in here, Miss Steele You'll want the last elevator on the right, press for the twentieth floor" She sn in

She hands me a security pass that has VISITOR very firmly stamped on the front I can't helpI don't fit in here at all

Nothing changes, I inwardly sigh Thanking her, I walk over to the bank of elevators past the two security men who are both far more smartly dressed than I am in their well-cut black suits

The elevator whisks me with terminal velocity to the twentieth floor The doors slide open, and I'lass, steel, and white sandstone I' blonde woreet me

"Miss Steele, could you wait here, please?" She points to a seated area of white leather chairs

Behind the leather chairs is a spacious glass-walledroom with an equally spacious dark wood table and at least twentychairs around it Beyond that, there is a floor-to-ceiling ith a view of the Seattle skyline that looks out through the city toward the Sound It's a stunning vista, and I'm momentarily paralyzed by the vie

I sit down, fish the questions fro Kate for not providingabout this man I'm about to interview He could be ninety or he could be thirty The uncertainty is galling, and et I've never been co the anonyroup discussion where I can sit inconspicuously at the back of the roo a classic British novel, curled up in a chair in the calass and stone edifice