"November one niner seven seven t, please contact North Atlantic, on 13297. Have a good day." "Departure, contacting North Atlantic, on 13297. Thank you for your service today. November one niner seven seven t." "North Atlantic. November one niner seven seven t requesting route following to London. November one niner seven seven t." "November one niner seven seven t, We have you on contact. Climb to and maintain flight level 335. Let us know of any pilot advisories. North Atlantic." "Climb t...

Jaqueline stood in the middle of her front room staring at the door. Steven and Sam left in a hurry of confusion. Processing the feelings that erupted in her from Steven's brief touch wasn’t coming quickly. The electric current that coarser from his lips on her neck all the way down to her toes, that was definitely meant for Sam, right? Embarrassed she was unable to control herself. I can’t remember the last time someone made me feel like that, the last time my body reacted like that. I am a g...

Riding for about twenty mixtures in stop and go New York traffic, staring out the window not saying a word, Sam whispered to the driver, “can you please pull over?” Steven looked at the back of her head with furrowed brows. The driver looked in the rear view mirror to see if he heard what he heard. “Excuse me,” came the response from Steven and the driver at the same time. If this was any other situation it would’ve been comical. There would’ve been “jinx” involved and she’d be owed a soda. Th...

Steven knew that he only had a moment to respond or Sam would be gone. She has run more than once in the past. "Sam, we have over stayed our welcome. We should go. Jacks...uh...Jaqueline. Thank you so much for your hospitality, but we better go." Steven quickly crossed the room and grabbed Sam's hand and led her to the front door while Jaqueline watched them go. They were in the elevator and almost to the ground floor when Steven realized that Sam had no shoes on. Steven did not want to go back ...

Matthew new he wasn't going to get the relationship he'd fantasized about with Jacks. He’d been bidding his time to tell her he'd been watching and falling in love with her over the years. University was just the beginning. He followed her career after graduation. When Richard wanted someone special to handle the marketing campaign for their new highly sensitive companion project, he knew just the right person for the job. Hiring a head hunter to specifically reach out to her and groom her for...

Steven set the table with the simple dinner. He heard Sam come out of the bath and chat with Jaqueline. Sounds came from the bedroom of rummaging through what he could only surmise was Jacks closet possibly looking for clothes for Sam. He smiled with the notion they were enjoying each other's company. "Jacks. Why did I use that name?" Steven thought. It's not like she gave anyone permission to call her that. She'd just mentioned it was the name her mom called her and it felt so natural after th...

Jaqueline headed back to the front room and stopped where the foyer opened up to the front room and connected the hallway to the bathroom and bedroom. Steven was there with Sam's head in his lap. He was looking at her and running his finger across her face. Tracing a line that started at her forehead and wound down along her nose and under her cheek bone and over behind her ear. Then he threaded all of his fingers into her hair starting at the bottom and working them up her skull. As he moved up...

Matthew looked like he did not want to answer Jaqueline's question. He took a deep breath and began. "Do you remember when we all were in college?" "We all?" Jaqueline queried "Yeah, the three of us." Matthew confirmed. "Steven and I discovered that we went to the same university at the same time and that you and he were classmates so we all must have been there at the same time." Sam said. "It makes me wonder if out paths ever crossed." "Your path never crossed anybody's in college. Any va...

"Hurry up." Steven punched the wall above the elevator buttons as he watched the illuminated up arrow go dark and the down arrow illuminate. Jaqueline and Matthew were standing behind him now. "Where do you think she will go." Matthew queried. "How the hell would I know?" Steven snapped. Matthew was smart enough to know that if he did not want to get a reaction like Richard got, he better not push Steven and let him continue at his own pace. "Maybe she will get on a train and go to Paris. May...

Steven jumped up and headed for the door. “I need a set of your cloths,” he said as he paused with his hand on the doorknob. “What are you talking about?” Jaqueline was right behind him. “Who’s on the phone and why do you look so flustered?” Turning to stare Jaqueline in the eyes “It’s Sam.” Jaqueline ran to her room and grabbed a pair of slacks and a blouse. “I’m coming with you.” Steven didn’t have time to argue. Jaqueline grabbed her phone and called her lobby man to pull a car around. ...

Steven leans his head back as Jaqueline continues to cry. The crying has become sporadic. He can feel her gain her composure then to lose it again. Steven tries to process everything that just happened as the car pulls up to their destination. Steven releases his hold on Jaqueline and she sits up. He opens the door, gets out, and holds it as Jaqueline composes herself and climbs out of the car. "I am so sorry about how this day turned out." Steven was thinking about how he thrust himself into ...

“Prove it?” Jaqueline said incredulously. “Just how would you like me to PROVE it?” Steven shrugged and they both looked at Matthew. “How are you going to prove it, Matthew?” Matthew’s lips parted as if he was about to reply when Jaqueline steps within inches of his face and said, “Take me to the manufacturing floor.” Shaking his head, Matthew stepped back, “I can’t do that. You’re not authorized on the floor.” “Not authorized.” Her voice started to rise, “and who was ‘authorized’ to use my ...

“Does not know?" Steven said under his breath. The magnitude of the stupidity of the idea was melting Steven's brain. Who would make a multi-million dollar robot in the likeness of someone and not tell them. It seemed like the perfect recipe for a lawsuit. But, considering the last three weeks, Steven was not sure if Matthew and his team understood what the law was, or people for that matter. "She really does not know?" Steven said, this time in a normal voice. "No." Matt said continuing in a ...

The URL screamed at Steven for the last time...the hundredth last time. Shutting down his phone he shoved it in his back pocket as he grabbed his bag, exited the plane, and got into his waiting car. Steven was in no mood to talk to anyone let alone look at them. He knew exactly where he was going and the only person he was going to talk to. “Is he in?” Steven barked not waiting for an answer he blew right past the protesting lady behind the desk. His heavy balled up fist slamming into the cente...

Sam and Steven spend the day in bed. They talk about anything that crosses their mind. They watch the morning sun push the clouds away. The late fall sun does not rise high in the sky so they are not over whelmed by its heat. Through out the day the wildlife wanders through the meadow paying little attention to the bubble and its occupants. Steven notices that his mind has let go of the world they left. He does not think about his dad, the caretaker, Foresight, the company in New York, the kidna...

The deafening silence was broken only by the crunching snow under her feet. Sam was in awe with the beauty all around her. White covered everything, the trees, the roof tops, the car her and Steven had parked only the night before. When did it snow this much, she thought to herself. The skies were clear last night that’s how we were able to make love under the magic of the Northern Lights. Looking around like a giddy school girl, Sam knew she hadn’t been this happy in a very long time. She h...

Steven opens his eyes, not sure what has awakened him. Sam is sitting up on the bed staring up at the sky. Transfixed by the sight before her. Steven looks up and sees a river of green light weaving through the black canvas with the millions of pin pricks of light. They watch in silence as the green lights dance for them. Steven feel like it is just them and the universe. In his mind's eye, Steven pictures the shield of the atmosphere protecting them from the waves or radiation like the clear bu...

Let's get out of here, Steven says to Sam as he watches the water run down her hair that is laying flat on her back. Steven can see every curve of her body from the soaking t-shirt that is clinging to her body. "Yeah, I am ready to get out." "No. I mean, let's get out of town. let's go on an adventure." "Paris?" "Hahaha. No." Appreciating that Sam's humor is coming back. "I know a place that I have been meaning to check out. We will be gone a few days. Do you have any loose ends you need to ...

Sam woke when the sun was no longer warming the bed. Her head still on Steven’s chest she listened at his rhythmic heartbeat dancing with his deep even breaths. Smiling she lifted her head and propped it on top of her hand to get a better look at his sleeping face. It had been a stressful couple weeks. Watching over her as she healed from her physical wounds and soothing her emotional wounds would take its toll on anyone. But right now, right now none of that mattered. Tracing his face with ...

The car with the exploding robot. The crowded train platform. Steven was still trying to formulate a plan to get them out of this mess when Sam jumps up and jumps off the train. She hands her phone to a 20 something girl that is standing on the train platform and tell her something. The girl starts filming Sam with the phone Sam gave her and her personal phone. Steven does not know what Sam told the girl but it looks like what ever Sam is going to do it is going to be immortally placed on the in...

Walking to the car Sam’s mind races but no quicker than her heart. Her memory came back but she still has a few holes. She did not remember her and Steven having a physical relationship. She recalls feelings of desire but his kiss surprised her to the point her toes curled for more. Turning her head she catches Steven staring at her and wink. Biting her bottom lip as the familiar tingling sensation travels from her chest down to her nether regions. “I can’t wait to hear all about your friend...

Before Steven can answer the phone Sam has pulled that bloody robot into bed and it snuggling up next to it. She must not have been staring out the window for long, the shower glass was still fogged over and her wet feet prints led out of the shower to the chest of drawers in the room. Where she clearly decided the only thing worth wearing was Steven's old t-shirt. Steven was flooded with jealousy seeing her half naked body pressed up against that bloody robot. The phone was still in his hand ri...

Sam was tired of being tired. After waking in the morning, she was taking a nap an hour later. The doctor told her to be patient, she’s suffered a traumatic brain injury and sleep helps to heal. Sam didn’t want to sleep anymore. The dreams were so vivid and disturbing. Having Steven next to her in bed helped. Life didn’t seem so daunting when she’d cradle the nape of her neck on his mountainous bicep. It was strange, the moment he walked into the room she could remember the feeling of comfort ...

Sam woke up yesterday and was doing really well, but her memory had not returned. Steven was getting anxious for answers. He was good at playing a long game and was not worried about the time that had passed but he was ready to make a move. Steven decided that he would check out Sam's apartment to see if there were any clues there. The last time he was at her apartment was still fresh in his mind. He wondered about the stranger. Is he looking for Sam? Is he a part of this? Both thoughts made Ste...

The idling car was the only sound Steven could hear as he sat in the dark waiting. He hadn’t had much time to formulate a plan and really hoped it would work. He opted out of calling Scotland Yard, he didn’t want them getting in the way and fucking it up. Not when Sam’s life was on the line. Plus, Steven had experience with thugs like this before. He contended with the darkest underbelly of society in his MI6 days. He understood the power move of making him wait in an unlit parking lot. They w...

Flipping on his office light and dropping his carry-on bag. Steven promised himself that he is only going to take care of the most important emails, get an idea of what Monday is going to look like before he calls it a weeks and heads out to see his dad. It will be nice to go out a day early. His trip to New York was good. Steven met up with a small tech company that wanted to utilize Foresight's software. The company seemed well funded but he was not able to work out who was funding them. They...

Sam opened her eyes and wiped the drool from her cheek. Pulling back from new favorite resting place, she wiped the drool from new Steven's chest. Today is her last day of work and she wanted to get in early so she could leave early. Feeling a bit guilty leaving with so much that still needs to be done. Her replacement is perfectly capable of finishing it, but that didn't alleviate the gut wrenching feeling that she didn't want to leave Steven in a lurch. Or, maybe the feeling was the fact Steve...

"Good Night, Samantha." Steve said as he watched her slide in to her car. His stomach tighten as he felt a surge of desire as her dress slid up high enough to expose underwear that matched her dress. He stood there and watched as she drove away thinking about the dance they shared. The feel of her skin still fresh on his hands. The closeness of her body as they danced still warming him. He was still deep in thought as she turned the corner and his phone range, jarring him from his lucid dream. I...

Sitting in his 2021 matte black Audi R8 waiting for Sam to arrive he could feel the nerves building. She is breaking her own rule by going out with him and he’s taking that very seriously. Sam never called Steven back. She texted her acceptance to the birthday party invitation. He texted her back the time, address and dress code. Happy she is accompanying him but still distraught how their conversation ended. Steven sees Sam’s 1970 powder blue Fiat pull into the parking lot. He gets out of ...

With his head down and his eyes closed Steven let the water pour across his scalp and neck. Feeling the water choose its path down his body. Some water flowing forward off his sagging shoulders and down his still swollen pictorials from his morning workout. The other half of the water flowed down his back, stiff from sitting way too much in an office chair in front of the computer. Steven hated gyms so he would do his exercises at home, push-ups, sit-up, crutches, planks. Doing body weight exerc...

Sam walked around for a week with new Steven sitting on the couch. She tried to acclimate herself to having a “man” in her home. She hasn’t had a man in her home in years and the first night she wrestled to sleep knowing he was just sitting there, eyes closed, not moving. She knew he would do her no harm, but her instincts struggled to relax. Sam is supposed to test him as a “companion”, but companions rarely just show up at your doorstep, wrapped in a gift box, expecting attraction. Is there s...

"Sammy" the voice on the other end of the phone nearly yelled, in a joyful kind of way. "I am glad you are coming back." "I have not committed to coming back just yet." Sam replied to the over exuberant caller on the other end of the phone. "What!?" the caller squeaked. "Richard would not have sent the prototype to you if there was any doubt in his mind that you were not on board to sell this." "All he told me was there is a prototype product that he wanted me to look over. By the way, what i...

Laying in bed Sam thinks about her day, it had not ended as it had started. It hadn't even started the way she intended. She went to work with the objective of keeping her relationship with Steven professional. She’d been vigilant for a couple weeks about not allowing herself to slide into casual conversation with him. He’d tried a couple times and she’d route the conversation back to something that needed his attention, but it wasn’t easy. She’d grown fond of their relaxed time together. She’d ...

Lying there waiting to make sure they were in the clear. Steven felt complete comfortable holding Sam. Sam, now that the immediate concern had past, noticed that there was something hard pressing against her leg. With a sly grin she says "that was fast." Steven laughs and says "yeah, I was convinced those foot guards were going to catch us. I did not mean to trip and fall." "No you goof ball, I am talking about the banana in your pants." Steven's face showed confusion for just a moment, the...

Life settled back into the rhythm of before, not before Paris, before Steven swept Sam’s legs out from beneath her. Before they started chatting. Every interaction was professional and nothing more. At first Steven thought this was a great idea. They wouldn’t have to endure awkward conversations that clearly neither one of them were eager to have, but even if they weren’t going to be friends, he wanted to thank her for the impact she’s had in his life since the day she had the courage to tell hi...

Sam spent the train ride to Paris in a haze. She had lined up everything. There was not single thing she forgot. He had nothing to do the rest of the day. Why did he not want to get on the train with her. They had spend so much time chatting over the last month that she thought that is exactly what he wanted. The way he dropped her hand and said he had other stuff to take care of was not how she had anticipated his response. Sam made it to Paris and tried to have a good time with Michael and J...

Steven sat in his chair staring out the window. He knew he had to confront Sam about Paris and he didn’t know how to start the conversation. Sam walked through his office door. Seems like one could set their clocks by her punctuality. He liked that about her. Schedules are important and it shows poor form to make someone wait. Sam started right in with the day, “you have an 8 am with John from HR to go over the new hires. Your 9:30 got bumped to noon, sorry you’ll have to take it in your car ...

Steven said "Paris? I was told it is dirty." Sam stopped walking turned around and inquired, "you have never been to Paris?" "So", Stephen said. Samantha retorted, "it is barely a half day drive." "So" was all Steven could say to Sam as she stood there in her yoga outfit looking at him like he was an alien that had just landed on earth and had just asked to her to come back to his ship. Because that is exactly how he felt right now. Like she was trying to abduct him. Take him away from his w...

Over the next few months Steve looked for any reason to interact with Sam. He’d call her into his office to help with things he really could do himself. Most of their chats were professional, but occasionally, at the end of the day their shop talk would spill over into existential discussions…that weren’t a drag. Why? Matthew is his best mate. They used to stay up till dawn discussing girls, future, starting a company together, traveling the world. Maybe having the same conversation and getting ...

Ug, what a drag. What was supposed to be a fun weekend with Matthew turned into a two day existential discussion. Middle age was getting to both of them. Neither had any regret or at least not many or major regrets, but there was a constant pull of the thought that it was time to change. Like a Sunday afternoon nap when you are deep in sleep and your body wants to stay that way but your mind keeps trying to wake up. Steven did not know how to process the feelings he had been having for a while. ...

Samantha exhaled as she shut the door to her flat. It was a long day that she looked forward to putting behind her. Being a subordinate again is an adjustment one she didn’t realize would be so hard. She took this job because she needed something easy until she could get her life back in order. Losing everything over a period of five years seems like a long time, but it really is a blink. Five years ago Sam was married and a mom of a beautiful strawberry blonde spit fire. Seth called her his l...

Matthew knew he’d crossed a line with Samantha the minute he took her hand. Her hand was rigid, and he felt her glare searing into the top of his head as he bent to kiss her hand. She is definitely classier than the women he usually charms with his tactics. As the door was closing, Matthew saw Samantha turn around like she was going to come back in the room. Their eyes locked. A chill ran down his spine, he could see she was restraining her contempt. Matthew didn’t understand why he still acts...

The door slid shut and Samantha paused to decide if she should open the door back up and give this guy Matthew a piece of her mind for disrespecting her with his disregard of her position. She wanted to push her knuckles into his face during his mocking romantic gesture. The worst of it was that he did it in front of her boss. "Her Boss", what a turn of events. A year and a half, ago she was called boss by over a thousand people. Now she has a "boss" and he has a chauvinistic friend. Two years ...

Matthew coming for the weekend is just what Steven needs. He hopes Matthew will feel the same after Steven tells him they aren’t staying in the city. Matthew has an “addiction” to city life. He loves the fast-paced human interaction. If he can’t find the object of his desire at one bar, it’s different every night depending on his mood, they’ll hope to the next and ultimately end up at the Carwash, the self-proclaimed most popular disco and pop club in Europe. Steven isn’t too upset skipping al...

Matthew is coming into town this weekend from his home in New York. Matthew's visits are always a welcome distraction. Matthew Carmichael has been Steven's best friend since college. When his mother passed away and Steven needed to get away from the constant chaos at home and the dark mood that his father would bring Steven turned to school. He focused on learning everything he could about business and economics. His efforts paid off getting a full scholarship to the London School of Economics...

Waking up in his Frette Hellas sheets Steven thought he should feel more rested. He didn't wake up to stare at the clock 3 times as usual. He believes he made it the entire night. Sitting up he realizes he started the night on the opposite side of his king size bed. Looks like I was being chased by a snapping turtle. Wrestling himself free from his swaddled sheet burrito Steven gets out of bed grumbling under his breath chastising his assistant. She was asked to go out and purchase him the sof...

Steve heard that you can buy anything in the world with money. He found that to generally true. But, there are a few things that seem like it can't buy. Those that say you can't buy happiness are wrong. Every person who does not have enough for their essentials will be happier with more money. Of course he learned that you can't buy happiness all the time. Continuous happiness comes from somewhere else. Growing up poor. Living in a double wide trailer with 8 siblings Steve knows what it means t...

Steven is the CEO of Foresight with a glass lined office on the 23 floor of the Shard in downtown London. He has never married. He's allowed people to give him a casanova reputation even though no one has ever met one of his "escapades". They just can't imagine that a man of his stature doesn't have a line of women admirers. He tends to keep people at arms length, not letting anyone close enough to know the real him. Steven is never available on the weekends, unless it's an important business tr...