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"Oh, it's really nothing that couldn't wait, Olivia I'm not here on business I'm here for personal reasons; I'ed

to always be friends?" he asked

"Yes, I re ed

"I swearI'm here because I've becoht pause "Samuel? Why?"

"Hehe's not his old self these days and I think it's because you have him on such a short leash"

"What?" I didn't knohether to laugh or scream "Who came up with that? Short leash?"

"I did, iven more authority, more responsibility Some of ourhio can suffer before his whole personality suffers"

I stared for a moment in silence

"I hope you're not offended by my concern, but" "Did Sa?" I demanded

"Absolutely not," Nelson said with his hand raised as if he were being sworn in as a court witness "I decided completely on my own to do this I wanted to express to you how ht it would be e if"

"Nelson," I said slowly, "hoould you like it if I went to see Louise and gave her some advice about how she treats you? Hoould Louise like it?" I asked

"You and Louise don't have the relationship we have, Olivia," he said

"What relationship?"

"Our friendship," he said "The last thing I want to do here is upset you," he added quickly He reached out to take my hand "Please believe that"

I looked at my hand in his and felt my heart flutter