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Back at the apart soak in the claw foot tub that stood in the center ofbathroom Sure, it was midday, but today was no ordinary day Today had been possibly the most intense of my adult life, and it most certainly could have been worse Still, I needed to take things down a notch I took a little sip ofhthe soundscapes playing through my phone

"Hello?"

"Erica, it’s Max"

"Oh, hi" I pushedI could write on if I needed to

"Is this a good time?"

"Sure," I lied, embarrassed that I was about to have a business conversation in the tub

"So good news The deal is all set I’ht now, and we should be ready to sign off to, if that works for you" My nerves would be shot if we scheduled it any later

"Great I’ with you, Erica"

"Likewise, Max I can’t thank you enough"

"You can actually Thankof fear shot through ht I’d like to celebrate with my new business partner"

I smiled, but my excitement was daoing horribly wrong What were the chances I could get through another one without Blake delivering death threats and choke holds?

"I actually have plans in the evening, but how about a celebratory lunch, ood I’ll see you tooodbyes and I sank back in the ater of the tub, enlivened by the sudden reality that with these funds,low the past feeeks, waiting for this big break Now, in aon a er scale I’d have employees, payroll, paperwork, and probleht now

The future was uncertain and scary as hell, but a little flutter of excitereithin e I sent up a little prayer to the universe that I wouldn’t screw it up

I was very relaxed and a little buzzed when Blake came in

"Hard day at the office?" He sat on the lip of the tub where my feet propped up out of the bubbles

"I need a down day before ets busy"

"After tomorrow, I’ainst hope that soh his own fir with Max tomorrow," he said "Can we talk about alternatives?"

"No, we can’t, Blake, because we’ve already discussed this and the answer is no" I sounded as resolute as I could without yelling