pte

a

she’s

ates when I spotted a gorgeous redhead look

s wearing hugged her curvy body in all the right places and I

ly touched her shoulder and her eyes—soft green eyes, were gli

terrupted my thoughts. “When do y

ime to sort through everything. I can’t believe they don’t wan

it either, but it might be a power play to

e you at corporate.” The rest of the as

her look at the red haired godde

How much did I

and—there she was. She’

nd sigh, wondering if she wa

Vanessa smiled. “You’re a great conversationalis

o close on it.” I stood up. “Thank you for comin

a few drinks with me? It is New Year’s Eve and I

hrough this. You know

not a regular employee.

wor

It’s more than a cliché. Besides, I don’t w

d up and touched my face. “You and I wou

over the past year, but I always broke away. Even though she was extremely beautiful—curly coffee-brown ha

ould give us a chance after all

e, I saw the redhead mo

ay past the café tables and looked back over my shoulder e

cific Bay Lounge and made my way insid

There were little napkins on the tables that rea

were even wearing party hats with their ages written on them in glitter. There were a few you

he woman I saw w

nd looked around. I leaned on t

asn’t

rching, trying to find her. I went back inside and wa

my shoulder, making me turn around. “W

at least fifty years old, and I could tell by the way

. “I just came in lookin

” She rubbed her hand across

d...“

an her fingers through my hair. “Those young girls don’t know how to treat a man right, do they

that,” but my breath caught in my throat

y. “I’m not here looking for—I don’t... I

asped. “I thought...I’m so so

usted my pants, “you’re very attractive an

y, I turned around an

––

urity director’s offi

olled his eyes. “What am I supposed to be doi

not st

l. But since you said it was love at firs

ove. Second of all, I don

security footage of Pacific Bay

mployee. Don’t act like this is against your mora

laughed. “What’s

etween eleven thi

twenty massive screens that covered his offic

ss dinner that late at night? S

showing people walking in and out of the lounge. “She was wearing a short black dress. Is there any way

right? I’ll just tap into those cameras...Give me a second. They have som

slow motion. People were lounging on couches, d

ser to the screens. “

froze and I looked t

From the angle of the cameras I could see that her fitted black dress cut right above the top of

Corey nodded his head in approval. “You said she was fifty? She

ld she is. She can’t be m

nd paused it when she leaned over th

are you

Any older than that, and she knows where the Fountain of Youth is hidden. Actuall

d to stop reading those conspiracy books. The

ain Johnny Depp.”

led m

ch money working for you, I’d be o

access the cameras in the parking lot? I

her night but you were already gone. But don’t worry, I had my friend hack the security

y it exactly l

d and monitored through Flynn-tech and they’r

o you sugg

f other beautiful women out there. I’m sure you of all people can find another one in a heartbeat. Speaking of which,

specifically ordered that a no-fraternization claus

ever. You can find yourse

r the first time. It usually took a couple dates or a few lengthy phone

otage of someone I was interested in

––

nks to a dry-cleaning mix up, I was wearing a sweatshirt

n’t feel like going. I felt like driving back home, turning off all my

made me realize that I needed to be grateful for all that I had—that I could still be wandering aroun

I was starting to hate my company and

d save us millions, but I didn’t want to do that. If I was going to fire anyone to save money, I would lay off the people

s from New York City to San Francisco six years ago, the board members had question

are company from a side job in college to a billion dollar e

CEO? Why didn’t I just sell the com

ing. An Ohio number. Allen

r it, letting the full chorus of Coldpl

.” I an

How are

m f

’s your

re

heard from you in a while...I wanted to say thank you for putting all that money on my books last wee

duations. She seems to

g to stay clean this t

,” I said like I had

n, Jason. I know I wasn’t the best father but...I’ve always been very

tment of Rehabilitation and Corrections. There are thirty seconds left

you a letter this week and...Don’t forget that I promised to take you

hold you t

e.” I h

ompleting drug rehab, but the excitement tended to wane after someone relapsed twel

ind and revved up my car. I was about to hit the gas in reverse,

ared to honk at whoever was there, but I saw th

louse, but her hair was different today. It was bone strai

ut looking my way, but I still caught

lk inside and tu

phone rang again. Oasis Dr

mot

thinking about t