Uh, I’m good.”“Okay then,” she replied, “I could get you some water or something.”“Uh, oh no, I’m good, really,” Nathan stammered.Th...s was the first time he had asked his assistant to stay late and help him finish a project. The entire situation was a first for him, having just been the youngest executive in his company’s history promoted to a vice president. With his new title came a new spacious office and a new personal assistant. Though company policy prohibited romantic or sexual. By the way.’ I added as another thought popped into my mind. ‘Have you had any dinner?’ ‘No, we normally get a meal after we’ve finished work. I had something better to do!’ he said, still grinning like a cat that had swallowed the cream. ‘I thought so. Now, get on to room service and order something, I don’t want you fading away from lack of energy.’ I don’t think until then that he realised that I planned on us doing it again and, if it was possible, his grin got even wider still. I got him. He studied them for several moments trying to get a sense of their temperament."Do not be afraid, little ones," he smiled, while talking slowly and softly. "I am called Dao. You have nothing to fear, I will take very good care of you." W-W-Where are we?" the little girl asked hesitantly."You are at my home, your home now," Dao smiled. "What is your name, little one?" M-M-Melvina," she stammered in reply. "I want my mommy." Your mommy is gone, Melvina," Dao replied softly. "The bad villagers did. She wanted to be hanging out in her room laughing with Kaija; she wanted to be drafting Professor Salinger's next book with him; she wanted to be eating dinner with Kaija and Barc where she and Barc would torture Kaija with all their psychobabble from class; she wanted to be getting to know Ben better over pizza and a movie. But none of that was happening. Not even close. Instead, her life--and the lives of those around her--seemed to be careening out of control. Ally desperately tried to.