e

nth time, the same old dreaded anxie

e. It was one of my pet peeves.

swore under

five minutes, I would cancel the

business partners walked in. There we

hat they'd witnessed my humiliation five years ago. But I had

ook hands and I took them back to the seat w

dn't have time to waste, and I wasn't one

't even know her name -

ith your partner?" The woma

room. She'll be back soon." I sa

wife is a catch." One of the men

fway to the Maldives with my card. I was a fool

way to make it happen, I wouldn't be tal

pen and she walked in, loo

was the same woman who'd le

I'd ever seen. I hadn't noticed before, but she had nice, clear skin,

as st

ce as she came to meet us. Th

said as she extended and shook their hands and I

o help convince our company that we were marri

u waiting." She said, and didn'

y her charm, especially the men. They all smiled a

stare. Who wa

spered into my ear once she was seated. She sm

nvestors who were whispering

f the deal just because she'd bought ni

ergency." She plead

ld get to leave with nice clothes, jewelry and a ring worth thousands of dol

the partners asked with a

rse, I

food for them and keep them distracte

I grabbed my wife's hand and took her aside to a corner o

anger rising inside of me. "What are you trying to pull? We have a

l acting. "It's my father, he got in an accide

ed people with her charms, who knows what else she's capable of

the text."

er eyes darting

satisfied that I caught her. She did

lain myself to you,"

n't know when that word 'husband' escaped my mouth

paper," sh

yself back. Maybe if I appealed to her sense of humani

and tried to calm myself. I wouldn't

r. But her eyes were beginning to swell with

right now." She sa

wanted to hold her, and comfort her. But I didn't,

od riddan

her brown eyes shining with relief. She was shorter

card. "You can call me if you want, and take

a thank-you. She didn't even bother explaining

they didn't get suspicious. They we

reath and settl

he woman asked as soon

to come up with t

of the men chuckled, and

he other added, and n

ced a

lady though," the woma

the lie tasting

le

lly subsided, but the woman's curious gaze persisted, her voice sl