Her long straight black hair was twisted up behind her head. In her heels she was almost as tall as me. Her mood had elevated as well. While she was f...nishing her meal preparations we started in on a bottle of red wine and by the time dinner was over we had emptied a second. In between we managed to cover a lot of ground, discovering how we each met our spouses, why we didn’t yet have kids, our heritage and our histories. She grew up in Hawaii. Both of her grandmothers were from Hong Kong, one. Well, that nugget of information, along with multiple sales of the same weapon to three groups of women, is the kind of data blip which attracts attention.”The colony’s CEO slid the salt shaker and pepper mill next to the sugar square and tapped the packet with her finger. “Ixnay onway eaponsway, we’ll skip weapons today. We’ll make up the slack the next time.” She tore open the tiny package of sugar and sprinkled it on her coffee. “Instead, I’ll drop you, Darlene, and a wad of cash off at the. I promise. Just let me go." Stop it!" he said and turned."I need to go to the bathroom." Of course."After I returned, I noticed that Steven had swept the shards. He didn't even mention the vase. This made me feel guilty.This feeling quickly evaporated when he locked me up again. I clenched my fists and cursed.In the afternoon Steven brought a small TV set and books."I don't know what kind of books you like," he said.I didn't answer."Let me see your ankle! It may need a new dressing." Oh, it's. Does he have a wife? Does he have a daughter who knows he looks at teenagers like that?I have to excuse myself from the table. I pass by my admirer on the way to the ladies' room. My heart's thumping. Is he going to try to touch me? Will he follow me toward the bathrooms? I look him in the eye and try to lick my lips. It's like the Spidey testing his superpowers. I fail though. Can't hold his gaze and instead of licking my lips I bite my lower lip. No wonder Mark dumped me.In the bathroom I.