“It looks old,” she remarked. “Where’d he get it, a pawn shop?”One of the other girls giggled a little but the others shot her a very dirty ...ook.“I’m just saying,” she said, trying to explain away her nasty comment. “I didn’t mean it wasn’t pretty, but where else would you buy a ring that old?”“It belonged to Trey’s grandmother,” Lisa sharply responded. “When she died his mom inherited it. I didn’t know it but when Trey went home a couple months ago it was to tell his folks he was going to. I tried to speak but he tightened his grip around my throat. He kicked at one of my feet and I raised it up onto the toilet seat, staring at him with wide, scared eyes. He cupped my breast in his hand and began massage it, biting his bottom lip, his eyes fixated on my body.“No,” I whimpered, but he ignored me. He moved his hand over to my other breast and slipped it out of my bra, moaning. He pinched my nipple and I turned my head away, closing my eyes. “No, please don’t . . .” He bent and took. The following morning I rang Geoffrey and said I was minded to take uphis generous offer and join the Board as Operations Director. Wearranged to meet for dinner that evening and talk over the fine detailof my new role in more intimate and comfortable surroundings. I then setoff on my flat viewings. The first two apartments, although nice,weren?t quite to my taste, but the third was just right. It was on thetop floor of a converted Victorian commercial building in WhitworthStreet in the centre. You blush, a look of startled confusion in your eyes. I can tell you're worried you made a mistake."I really like you. I want you to be happy. I don't want you to need to get drunk, it's not healthy," I say as I pull you up onto the bed, where you sit next to me."I...like you too," you mumble, looking at me. I lean forward, resting a hand on your cheek as I kiss you, my lips against yours, with a calm sense of urgency. You kiss me back after a little hesitation, and your right hand finds my.