<b>Chapter</b><b>281</b>
Markwasfeelingatwingeofregret.“So,whenwebumpedintoeachotheragainincollege,Iwaskickingmyselfformissingoutonsomanyyearsofyourlife,forallthetoughtimesyouhadto<i>go</i>throughwithoutme.”
“It’snotonyou,”Ireassuredhim.
Backwhenmylifetookadownturn,hewasjustakidhimself.
Therearesomepathsinlifeyouhavetowalkalone.Nobodycandoitforyou.
Thefactthathewasthereforme,lendingahandwhenIneededitmost,meanttheworldtome.
Whilewewerecatchingup,Christinecameoutwithabigpotofstew,allsmiles,“How’sthechat<i>going</i>,youtwo<i>?</i>Readyforsomegrub?”
Markwasallin,“Fireitup!ImissedlunchandI’mstarving.”
Thatdinner,withChristinearound,wasfilledwitughterandjoy.
Gradually,Iletthetrendingnewssliptothebackofmymind.
What’spast,ispast.
Thenextday,thesnowwasstillfalling,thecoldwindbiting,andthe groundwascoveredinanketofwhite.
Christinehadstayedover andnearlyjumpedwithexcitementafteraphonecall,“Jane,how’syourinjury?Canyou makeitouttoday?”
ItookasipofwaterbeforeIasked,“What’sup?”
“ThecontractwithRFcamethrough!Theysaidifwesignnow,thefundswillbeinbylunch!”
“Sofast!”Iwasasthrilledasshewas.
Normally,you’dexpectamultinationallikeRFtotakeawhile withcontractprocedures andfundapprovals.
Butthiswasquick!
WhenwearrivedatRFGroup’sRiverCityoffice,YorkCarlsonwasalreadytherewiththecontract,waitinginthemeetingroom.
Seeingus,heapologizedwithasmile,“Sorry,our branchofficeisn’tsetupyet,sotheceisabitbasic.”
“Mr.Carlson,you’re settingupabranchhereinRiverCity?”Christineasked,seizingtheopportunity.
Hewasstraightforward,handingoverthecontractwhileexining,“It’sinthens.Weweregoingtowait,butsomeplicationshavespeduptheprocess.”
Ifelthewashintingatsomethingbutcouldn’tpinitdown.So,Ijustwentthroughthecontract.
Everythingseemedfair.
Christine,evercautious,askedwithasmilebeforeIsigned,“Mr.Carlson,areyousurethefinancedepartmentcanhavethefundsinbynoon?”
“Forspecial cases,wetake specictions,”heanswered,asrxedasalways.
Christinecaughton,“Special cases?”
Iwascurioustoo,lookingathim.
Hepausedforamoment,thenchuckled,“IseealotofpotentialinJanedream.Whatifyouturned toanothepanybecauseofadyinfunding?<b>”</b>
<b>4d</b>fo
RFGroup’sefficiencyexceededourexpectations.
Justaswe wereleavingtheir officeaftersigningthecontract,myphonerang.
Thefundswerein!
Christinewasbothshockedanddelighted.Wewereabouttograblunchbutinstantlydecidedtoheadtotheofficebuildingwherewe’dcedadownpayment.
Themomentwesignedtheleaseandgotthekeys,bothChristineandIsawtheexcitementandanticipationineachother’seyes.
We finallyhadourowpany.
Christinewasbeaming,“Whydon’tyouinviteMarkover?Let’scelebrate tonight<b>?</b><b>”</b>
“Sure…”
Iwasjustagreeingwhenmyphonerangagain.
<b>13:32</b>
Chapter281
VENE
MywholebodytensedwhenIsawthecallerID,andIgrippedthe phighter.Answeringthecall,myvoicewascold,“What’sup<b>?</b>”
Ontheotherend,theman’svoicewasdistantandcool,asifwehadneversharedanything,“Areyouavablethisafternoon<b>?</b><b>”</b>
Standingbythewindow,letting thecoldwindseepintomylungs,Ifeltchilledtothebone,mytonejustasicy.
“Whatfor?<b>”</b>
“Togetthedivorcepapers.”
“I’mavable.”This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.