Room 702 by Ann Benjamin Read Free Book Online Page A

frame.   Agent M believes his attention to detail and perfectionism proves he is someone high up in the company – perhaps vice president of research and development, or similar.  
    “Agent?”
    “Yes?” She walks back over with the beverage and places it next to the laptop.  
    “Just a few questions.”
    They spend the next half hour discussing various details of the plans – how they can be implemented, which factories the competitors are using.   Seemingly satisfied with her conclusions, Mr. S opens the laptop he’s brought with him.   Connecting to the internet, he types in a few buttons and her iPhone dings letting her know the money has arrived.  
    Looking at her, he asks, “Everything is satisfactory?”
    “Yes.”
    “We appreciate your professionalism throughout this process.”
    Mr. S has been careful.   Throughout their transactions, he’s never once referred to his company, used a company e-mail address or even his full name, title or referenced anyone within the organization.   In the event of legal action, Agent M has kept copies of their transactions, but as of now sees no reason to have to use them.  
    “I don’t suppose I could ask for a reference, could I?” she asks, smiling and allowing some of her true personality to come through.
    Apparently unused to such humor, Mr. S looks alarmed for a moment and answers, “My apologies, but such arrangements were not written into your contract.”
    “I was kidding.”
    “Oh.”
    She wonders if they had met under different circumstances how they would interact.   In her job, she doesn’t get many chances at long term relationships.  
    They silently put their laptops away.   Collecting his briefcase and standing up, Mr. S shakes Agent M’s hand and says, “A pleasure doing business with you.”
    “Happy to help.”
    Mr. S moves to the door and in the vestibule stops and before he reaches the door, she comments, “I wonder…”
    He turns around and she finishes her thought, “If you might like to join me at the bar downstairs for a drink, now that we’re officially off duty.”
    Against his better judgement, he looks her over for a moment and says, “That would be… nice.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
February 4, 3:03 P.M.

    “Greetings, Oscar, how are you today?” Nancy asks from her seat at the desk.
    “Pretty great.   Thanks for talking to me on the phone last week – my schedule was a little hectic over the past month.”
    “My pleasure.   However, please let me remind you that you’re not going to get better until you make time for yourself.   When all the other people in your life demand time of you, and you do not firmly create time for you, or you and Dani, then we won’t be able to make much progress.   I know there are excuses you can give me, but think hard about what you want to accomplish.”
    “Okay.”
    She looks at her file and says, “On the phone, we last spoke about your relationship.   Can you tell me what progress you’ve made in the past couple of weeks?”
    “I’m trying to communicate more.”
    “How specifically are you doing that?”
      “I’ve been texting her more, and—”
    “No.”
    “What do you mean, ‘no?’”
    “What I mean, Oscar, is that while we may live in an age of technological advancement, your wife is worth picking up the phone for.   I’m sure you have the technology to Skype or video chat with her when you’re on the road.”
    “Oh, we do that.”
    “Good, now, what have you been telling her exactly?   Have you told her that you are meeting with me?”
    “No!”
    “I understand these are private sessions, Oscar, and that you would like to keep some of the details to yourself, but I think Dani would be hurt if she found out about our meetings and you hadn’t told her.”
    “It’s not that I don’t want to tell her.”
    “What are your concerns about?   She is your wife.   From what you’ve told me about her, she’s a very compassionate individual and one that