As the meal progressed the two masters talked about a number of topics but excluded from the conversation were the recent legal issues that had occupi...d so much of their time and attention. The evening had become an oasis from those concerns.The slaves cleared the plates and then brought each man a slice of the cheesecake along with coffee. Carl took a bite then fed one from his fork to Heather, “I am not sure what prompted you to plan this dinner. There are a number of things we should be. At home, your family is cruel and controlling or coddling and condescending. Your neighborhood is supposed to be one of the safer ones, but it seems every predator and pervert has you sniffed out as easy prey and harasses and cat calls you everytime you come out from hiding. Your world is a hostile, cruel, stifling, and terrifying place, and it's about to get worse.All this abuse and alienation, badgering and belittling, ridicule and rough treatment have left you shy, shell shocked, and more. At only 35 years old, Deirdre expected to be considered for a leadership role in Barton when Elizabeth Barton-Warner decided to take a step backward. She knew Beth well enough that to know the woman didn’t plan to stay at the helm until her late 50s or early 60s.She wasn’t happy to see Beth’s young son and his protégée move into leadership roles. She wouldn’t go so far as to put Barton in jeopardy but she wouldn’t be unhappy to see Philip Warner and his bimbo girlfriend fall flat on their faces. I had been out with a few colleagues on the Thursday night and as many had early flight they headed to their rooms and left me to my own devices. I thought I would have a nightcap before retiring, the bar was packed with all the conventioneers and I found a small table in a lounge to watch the world go by. I hadn't been sitting there long when a couple asked if the other seats at the table were free and I said yes no problem. They sat down commented on how busy it all was and we got chatting..