's [
ist
n's voice came thro
suo Hattori,
ay, sir,"
ight flash on my office phone, and I
suo?
suo replied immediately in
nice to hea
uss a new contract
ersation along to your boss. I thi
tors at the moment, Mr. Middleton,
new rates," I told him, spinning my
is going to be intereste
at I can do," Nat
ke a sugg
cour
meeting that's taking place in five
dering you are both in California at t
d you kn
know these things," I rep
th your company almost
that was carried out. But I think..
, Natsuo,"
you, that's
Hatanaka all about
what they
for a CEO of a major maritime shipping
mb so far, so fast," I said, still tryin
y before I was at the helm of it. That was the only reason he was u
ll tel
the me
ith your receptio
ent," I
you, N
Mr. Middlet
a pleasure to meet you finally a
e sure all goes well, won't we
do my best
leton." I hung up and leane
I still had a meeting to attend across town, and i
f water and sipped it slo
sun was sending violent rays of oran
e. I was just about to get out of my
if I should change my shirt b
ce. When I had first hired the girl three months
the first week, but oddly enough,
zed, efficient, and
icated instructions without complaint
ful that she had stayed, if for no other reason than to spare me
, however, assumed I was
ad nothing to do with it. Yes, she was tall, slim, and prett
r long hair was a rich summery auburn that b
and I had noticed a few weeks ago that she had a
and I didn't trouble myself
get the work done a
wondering what exactly it was that
ver allowed myself enough time to dwell on
disturb you,
collared shirt with roll-up arm cuffs, and
t at the back of her head so I coul
told me I was missing something obvious, but I p
disturbing m
d my call. What
tter is on line t
k to you." Slightly
, Kristen,
acked out of the office immediatel
ne and accepted the
net
anet's nasal voice spo
to ask if you were on
"It's six o'clock." "Um...six-twenty now, actually," she replie