one more thing.”
He didn’t respond to her twisted frown as he stepped behind
her. “Don’t ever introduce me as your boss again.”
“You’re paying me, so that
makes you my—”
James just shook his head. “I’m
not, nor will I ever be your boss.” That was the last thing he
wanted to be in her life. He reached his hand out and touched her
face lightly. His fingers glided over the arch of her cheekbone and
down the length of her jaw. The blond bun that had gold wisps of hair
shooting in different directions begged to be freed. The gold hoops
in her ears were as delicate as her facial features. When Samantha
raised her arm indicating the time, he nodded and leaned into her
ear. He lingered for a moment before he spoke softly. “Have a
good class, Angel.”
Chapter Nine
James and Raymond decided against the
company car and they each took separate taxis to Sharp Plaza Bar &
Grill, downtown in the heart of the business and financial districts.
James had chosen the restaurant not for its location but because the
casual bar provided private rooms where business could be conducted.
Raymond arrived five minutes after him. They sat and made idle
conversation as they waited for Al.
“How’s your mom?”
Raymond asked.
“She starts her treatment today.”
Raymond only nodded, with a grim
expression. “Samantha’s taking care of her right?”
“Yes.”
“How’s that working out?”
“So far, so good.”
Raymond stared down at the table. “I
feel helpless in a situation like this, but if there’s anything
I can do you’ll let me know?”
“Of course I will.”
“Cynthia sends her best.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
James then asked about Raymond and Cynthia’s kids. They had two
daughters. One had just graduated from college and the other had just
started. They talked for a while before they moved on to the stock
report. It was another ten minutes before Al was quietly showed into
the room.
“Thanks for meeting us here,”
James said as he stood and extended his hand.
Al nodded and then reached for
Raymond’s hand after shaking James’s. “Thank you
for being discreet. You know how vital I believe it is.”
“Yes,” James said,
gesturing to a chair. “I haven’t forgotten.”
After they sat, a waitress immediately
appeared. Once their orders were given and they were alone, Al spoke.
“Is it the same thing as last time?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure,”
James said as he shook his head.
“In less than three months we are
going to release a new electronic program that will essentially
transform programming as we know it.”
Al nodded. “Serious stuff.”
“Very,” James acknowledged.
He continued, “I’ve gone to great lengths to keep this
confidential. I learned my lesson last time. Or at least I thought I
had.”
Flipping open a small, rectangular
notepad, Al wrote and spoke at the same time. “If you have
anything that gives you an edge over competitors, rest assured that
your competitors will make all attempts to find out about it. You
might have learned a lesson last time, but in this business, methods
of gathering information are always evolving. That means we must keep
up.”
James grimaced. “That’s why
I’ve hired you, to keep up with them.” He looked over to
Raymond, then back to Al, who was still writing. “However,
we’re not so sure if it’s the competition this time or if
it’s internal.”
Al looked up. “It won’t
take me too long to figure that out.”
With a serious expression, Raymond
stared at Al. “We implemented all your suggestions from last
time and still there was a leak. It’s beyond me how this
happened.”
Al nodded. “It happens. What’s
been going on with the company? With the exception of this new
technology that you’re going to be releasing, tell me about any
other major happenings.”
Between them, James and Raymond filled
Al in on all the particulars. Their food came and as they ate they
conversed; they made
He didn’t respond to her twisted frown as he stepped behind
her. “Don’t ever introduce me as your boss again.”
“You’re paying me, so that
makes you my—”
James just shook his head. “I’m
not, nor will I ever be your boss.” That was the last thing he
wanted to be in her life. He reached his hand out and touched her
face lightly. His fingers glided over the arch of her cheekbone and
down the length of her jaw. The blond bun that had gold wisps of hair
shooting in different directions begged to be freed. The gold hoops
in her ears were as delicate as her facial features. When Samantha
raised her arm indicating the time, he nodded and leaned into her
ear. He lingered for a moment before he spoke softly. “Have a
good class, Angel.”
Chapter Nine
James and Raymond decided against the
company car and they each took separate taxis to Sharp Plaza Bar &
Grill, downtown in the heart of the business and financial districts.
James had chosen the restaurant not for its location but because the
casual bar provided private rooms where business could be conducted.
Raymond arrived five minutes after him. They sat and made idle
conversation as they waited for Al.
“How’s your mom?”
Raymond asked.
“She starts her treatment today.”
Raymond only nodded, with a grim
expression. “Samantha’s taking care of her right?”
“Yes.”
“How’s that working out?”
“So far, so good.”
Raymond stared down at the table. “I
feel helpless in a situation like this, but if there’s anything
I can do you’ll let me know?”
“Of course I will.”
“Cynthia sends her best.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
James then asked about Raymond and Cynthia’s kids. They had two
daughters. One had just graduated from college and the other had just
started. They talked for a while before they moved on to the stock
report. It was another ten minutes before Al was quietly showed into
the room.
“Thanks for meeting us here,”
James said as he stood and extended his hand.
Al nodded and then reached for
Raymond’s hand after shaking James’s. “Thank you
for being discreet. You know how vital I believe it is.”
“Yes,” James said,
gesturing to a chair. “I haven’t forgotten.”
After they sat, a waitress immediately
appeared. Once their orders were given and they were alone, Al spoke.
“Is it the same thing as last time?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure,”
James said as he shook his head.
“In less than three months we are
going to release a new electronic program that will essentially
transform programming as we know it.”
Al nodded. “Serious stuff.”
“Very,” James acknowledged.
He continued, “I’ve gone to great lengths to keep this
confidential. I learned my lesson last time. Or at least I thought I
had.”
Flipping open a small, rectangular
notepad, Al wrote and spoke at the same time. “If you have
anything that gives you an edge over competitors, rest assured that
your competitors will make all attempts to find out about it. You
might have learned a lesson last time, but in this business, methods
of gathering information are always evolving. That means we must keep
up.”
James grimaced. “That’s why
I’ve hired you, to keep up with them.” He looked over to
Raymond, then back to Al, who was still writing. “However,
we’re not so sure if it’s the competition this time or if
it’s internal.”
Al looked up. “It won’t
take me too long to figure that out.”
With a serious expression, Raymond
stared at Al. “We implemented all your suggestions from last
time and still there was a leak. It’s beyond me how this
happened.”
Al nodded. “It happens. What’s
been going on with the company? With the exception of this new
technology that you’re going to be releasing, tell me about any
other major happenings.”
Between them, James and Raymond filled
Al in on all the particulars. Their food came and as they ate they
conversed; they made
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