Obama spoke: "As you all know, America is facing the toughest economic downturn in its history. The trillion dollar economic stimulus package only mad... the situation worse, as corrupt CEOs and presidents simply took the money offered to them and left the country, leaving untold insurance and car companies without leaders. The last few months have been incredibly difficult for many out of work Americans. Over twenty percent of the country is now unemployed, with more losing their jobs every. Portraits of earlier partners in the firm peered down from the walls. Serious looking men in serious suits seemed to gaze down at Allison as if taking a dim view of what was now going on in the company they had founded. She knocked on the door of Lionel’s office, feeling anxious about the possible outcome of the encounter and excited by the sense of transgression she felt from knowing their shared secret in this most conservative of settings.“Come!” Lionel’s request took on a rather specific. Itold her the fee would be expensive and she didn't complain; instead shetrebled the figure I had in mind, asked if that was acceptable and saidthe money would be transferred by the end of the week! I also got theimpression the subsidiary CEO would be moving fairly soon.Carol and I worked hard and long right over the weekend yet there wasstill time for some casual chat. Of course, Carol wanted to know detailsand whilst I told her less than we had Zoe, she loved to be part o it.She insisted on. Why don’t you spend the day with us, Jay? Let the men do the boring stuff. We’re going for a perusal around the shops, a fancy lunch on our husband’s expenses then coming back here for drinkies.”“That’s very sweet for you to invite me, but I think I’ll stay with the boys. They’re hopeless on their own.” She replied, gripping my hand tight.“Nonsense,” Sue said and took Jay’s other hand. “Come with us. It’ll be fun. The boys can meet up with us later once they’re done all that boring rubbish. We.