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exploiting another’s weakness.
    She was a predator, and now the bitch thought I owed her something.
    “Shit.” I threw her message down, knowing I couldn’t avoid her any longer.
    To top it al off, I had to find a date for dinner Thursday.
    I picked up the phone and dialed her number. I knew al she wanted from me was free reign to push her product in my office as if fucking me somehow had earned her that right, and it pissed me off. But I accepted it as my fault; I knew better than to sleep with a rep.
    I prayed it’d go to voicemail, but she picked up on the second ring. “Good morning, this is Vanessa.” Always the professional; it reminded me of the sex, al just part of the job.
    “Yeah, Vanessa, it’s Daniel
    Montgomery...returning your cal .” I didn’t even know what to say. The whole situation made me uncomfortable.
    “Daniel...I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.” Her voice was low and laced with irritation.
    What the hel was I supposed to tel her, that I didn’t want to talk to her and had been avoiding her?
    “Uh, wel , sorry. I’ve been busy,” I said as if I couldn’t have spared five minutes sometime in the last three months to return her cal .
    “I need to meet with you.” It was not a request.
    Was I seriously agreeing to this? Yeah, I had to. I just had to suck it up and get it over with.
    “Uh, sure, Vanessa. I have some free time during lunch on Thursday. Can we get together then?” She started to say something, so I cut her off before I lost the nerve.
    “Listen, I need a favor.” I couldn’t believe I was about to do this. I raked my hand through my hair, hoping the gesture would give me some kind of courage to see this through. “I have an important business meeting Thursday night, and I need to take somebody. Are you free that night?” I felt like I was sel ing my soul.
    “Daniel, are you asking me out on a date after avoiding my phone cal s for the last three months?” I couldn’t tel if she was mad or surprised, but it real y didn’t matter. It wasn’t as if I actual y wanted to go out with her.
    I paused before answering. “I guess I am.” Now I did owe her. I’d just given her what she’d set her sights on five months ago.

    “Then I guess I’l have to accept on one condition; we do actual y meet on Thursday for lunch.”
    “Fine.”
    Okay, there was nothing fine about the whole situation, but what was I going to do?
    “Tavalindo’s at noon?”
    “Sure. I’l see you Thursday.” I hung up the phone, gripping my head as I leaned back against my chair, wondering how I got myself into this shit.
    I glanced at the clock—noon. I had no appetite, but I had to get out of my smal office. I felt caged, irritable.
    I passed through the lobby, throwing Lisa a halfhearted wave as I walked out the front door. I shoved my hands in the pockets of my slacks and strode the half-block to my favorite coffee shop just up the street from our temporary office. It was packed, the crowd only serving to flare my already chafed nerves.
    Fifteen minutes later, I made it to the front of the line.
    I ordered my regular, a large latte with a double shot of espresso, careful not to make eye contact with the brown-haired barista taking my order. She handed me my coffee, and I took a sip of it as I stuffed a couple of bucks in the tip jar and mumbled, “Thanks,” before I hurried outside.
    I plopped into a metal chair at a smal bistro table sitting on the sidewalk. I had to escape reality for a couple of minutes. Closing my eyes, I raised my face to the sky and al owed my mind to drift in the cool Chicago breeze.
    September 1997
    “Good morning, sweetheart,” Mom sang as I walked into the kitchen. I smiled in her direction where she sat at the small breakfast bar with Dad and Erin.
    “Morning.” I yawned and rubbed my face, trying to wake myself up. I filled a bowl with cereal and milk and took my place next to Erin. Dad and Erin were talking about the upcoming school year.