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What did this mean for our relationship? What if this was it? The end? How could I go on without him? A little part of me had wanted him to leave, or at least let up on the investone I couldn’t explain the strange emptiness I felt

I tried to convincewas said and done toh it I prayed we could

I tossed and turned all night I woke in a cold sweat, disoriented when I realized Blake wasn’t with me I ached for him, to have all this upset behind us

I fantasized about sneaking into his apartelsehis hands were on me If I could just feel hih That he still loveddisposition

I fought the urge to go to hier sliced through me, that he could do this to me He’d possessed ht, noas sick with need, literally losing sleep because I couldn’t--wouldn’t--give hiive him what he wanted, more than he could handle even

But at what price?

I poked into Sid’s room where he slumbered noisily I didn’t bother to whisper "Sid, I need a favor"

He turned over and grumbled, "What?"

"I met with my dad yesterday, and he invited me to his place on the Cape this weekend I’ I could borrow your car to get down there?"

He got up, still fully dressed fro me the keys "You don’t really know hiood idea?"

"He’s running for public office I’m pretty sure he’s not an axe murderer, Sid But I appreciate your concern"

He shook his head and fell back onto the futon, disappearing under the blanket

I threw an overnight bag into the silver Audi and adjusted the seat to acco, but he spared no expense with vehicles I eased gently out of the space where he was parallel parked If a knick or ding resulted frorieve for weeks

I found a space close to Max’s office and celebrated inwardly This was a good sign I checked ent on reat for the occasion so I wore a tight white sheath dress, cinched with a thin belt, and nude pu and feeling like the fully-funded CEO I was about to become The receptionist escorted me into the boardroom where I’d first presented

I foundhow Blake had driven ht that what happened today could change us forever

Max entered the rooht white s day!" he said

A giddy laugh escaped ious I ain, but I was feeling so jovial I didn’t care

"So where do we begin?" I clapped , until I saw the stack of papers he dropped onto the table that rivaled an issue of Italian Vogue Dozens ofwhere signatures were needed A wave of anxiety seized me "All of that?" I asked

"Unfortunately, yes This is why these things take so da away my first born, am I?" I settled into a chair across from him, worried now that I wouldn’t have the time I needed to actually review any of this What if I found so that could be a deal breaker? What if I had no idea what the hell I was signing?

"I wouldn’t put it past him," a voice said