Secret Liaisons by Shelia M. Goss Page A

his waist.
    Terrance didn’t wait any longer and kissed Mona with an intensity rendering them both breathless. Terrance’s hand roamed over Mona’s body. He felt himself getting aroused so he stopped.
    â€œNow I can go to the meeting with confidence,” Terrance said with a huge smile on his face.
    â€œGive me a minute to catch my breath,” Mona responded, with a huge smile on her face as well.
    â€œAre you sure you don’t want to come with me? I could always use your support.”
    â€œI think me being there would be a distraction.”
    â€œI disagree.”
    Mona ignored his comment. “I heard your pitch. It’s perfect. You’ve done this type of thing before and I haven’t. Maybe once I get some experience, I’ll feel more at ease about doing it.”
    â€œYou have to start somewhere.”
    â€œTerrance, I appreciate you having confidence in me, but this is too important to take any unnecessary chances. You got this. I’ll be here when you get back.” Mona kissed him lightly on the lips and then took a seat.

Chapter Twenty-Five
    Terrance left the office early just in case he ran into bad traffic. He would rather be early than late. Charlotte’s assistant Felicia had already called to make sure he hadn’t forgotten about the meeting.
    Terrance couldn’t seem to get Mona off his mind as he weaved in and out of traffic. His lips still tingled from the kiss they’d shared earlier. He smiled thinking about how she made him feel. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the horn coming from behind him.
    â€œOops,” Terrance said out loud. The light had turned green and he was still sitting there.
    Less than an hour later, Terrance was seated in the receptionist area waiting on Charlotte.
    He heard Charlotte before he saw her. She seemed to know everyone working in the office. He heard her voice greeting different people as she made her way around the corner.
    â€œHi, Terrance. I’m sorry I’m a little late.” Charlotte extended her hand out revealing freshly manicured nails and a huge, sparkling engagement ring.
    â€œI’m just glad you’re here. I’m normally not this nervous.”
    â€œLet me do the negotiating. You just concentrate on the stories. I got the rest,” Charlotte assured him.
    Terrance sighed with relief. “I wish Mona would have come.”
    â€œI spoke with her while on the drive over. She’s confident that you will represent her story well.”
    Terrance smiled. “Has she told you anything else?”
    He knew how close Mona and Charlotte were so he was curious to know if Charlotte knew the extent of his and Mona’s relationship.
    Charlotte smiled. “I like you Terrance. You have great ideas. You love your community and it looks like you love my friend, but for now, we’ll table this discussion.”
    Before Terrance could respond, a woman dressed in a designer, two-piece, beige pants suit walked over to them.
    Charlotte stood first. Terrance followed suit.
    â€œThey are ready for you now,” the woman said.
    â€œGreat,” Charlotte responded.
    Terrance followed the two women. They were led towards an office. The office was surrounded by glass. Terrance noticed there were ten people seated around a conference room table before he walked through the door.
    Charlotte slowed down and said to him right before going in. “Don’t be nervous. You got this.”
    Terrance hoped so.
    They entered the room and introductions were made. Charles Osgood, the man he’d met at the dinner party led the meeting. “Terrance, we were just discussing how excited we are to be working with you. We’ve allotted the next two hours so the floor is yours.”
    Although he’d pitched show ideas before, it didn’t erase the nervousness he felt. Terrance said a silent prayer. The prayer gave him the confidence he needed. He walked to the front