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That’s when I see her, walking past the bar on her way back from the restroom She spots me and walks over, a so? He’s with us, isn’t he? I knew it, Drew! I knew the minute we showed hiether hasn’t been the easiest thing, but I think your father was right We do ood team, don’t we?"

I s hard I look down at her hand on my arm and then back up into those sweet, innocent eyes, and…I just can’t do it I can’t tell her

"I blew it, Kate Anderson’s not interested"

"What? What do you mean? What happened?"

I stare at et out of here?"

When I look back up, her face is a mask of confused sympathy Here I just told her that I blew the account--our account--and there’s not a trace of anger in her expression God, I’m such an asshole

"Well, let me talk to him Maybe I can fix this"

I shake my head, "No, you can’t"

"Letaway, toward the table where Anderson still sits

You ever been on the freeway, stuck in buet to the head of the line, you realize the backup is because of an accident? Maybe not a bad one--maybe just a fender bender that’s already been moved to the side of the road And all that traffic--all that wasted time--is because every driver who passes the scene has to slon and take a look

It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? And you swear that when you pass by, you’re not going to look--just on principle alone But when you get there, and you’re driving past the dented doors and flashing lights and smashed bumpers, what do you do?

You slon and look You didn’t want to, but you can’t help it It’sKate walk up to Anderson feels just like looking at the aftermath of an accident And no matter how much I want to--I just can’t look away

She stands next to his chair, a perfect, professional smile on her lips If you look closely, you’ll see the isters in her htly because she can’t actually believe he’s suggesting what he is And then she’s stiff and unsure Should she tell hih it off or politely refuse? While the wheels are turning in Kate’s head, Anderson takes his finger--can you see the sli off it?--and trails it slowly down her bare arm

And that’s it I snap out of ht, neon, Technicolor red

You ever see A Christmas Story? You knoard the end when Ralphie beats the ever-loving shit out of the bully? I hope to God you’ve seen it Because then you’ll know exactly what IRalphie on this son of a bitch

I walk over and putto throw you through that pane They’ll be picking pieces of you up off Fifty-Forth for days"

He chuckles Sounds like the Crypt Keeper, doesn’t he?

"Calm down, Son"

Son? Is this dipshit for real?

"You know so, Drew I like you"

Now there is a concept that scares the piss out of me

"I need a man like you around," he continues "Someone who’s not afraid to speak his h n with you and your firm anyway What do you think of that?" He leans back in his chair and takes a sip of his wine Co he’s said or done for the chance to getno to that, Saul See, we have this co, dirtbag motherfuckers who try to use their position to coerce wohters--into bed Go peddle your shit so"

Our stares are locked on one another like tolves on the Discovery Channel when he says, "Think carefully, Son You’reaour ti a second longer We’re done here"

And then I turn to Kate and tell her softly, "We’re leaving"

With my hand on her lower back, alk to the coat-check room I hold her coat for her and help her into it With my hands on her shoulders, I ask, "You okay?"

She doesn’t look back at ht And we all knohat that means, don’t we?

For many men, their car is equivalent to the perfect woman We can build her to look exactly hoant, we can ride her hard and she won’t coerIt’s pretty much the ideal relationship

I drive an Aston Martin V12 There’s not s in this world that I love, but ot her after I closed my first deal She’s a beauty She’sat theA death grip on the steering wheel, hard turns, fast stops, a shtest provocation I don’t think about how ht be interpreted by Kate, until her slance quickly at her, "You’re sorry for what?"

"I never nals, Dreould never come on to a client I didn’t realize that…"

Christ