4:54 I Know You Want Me

Annette rushed into the office only a few steps ahead of the woman.

“Mr. Maynard, this woman insists on speaking to you.”

Andy looked from his assistant to the other woman. “It is alright, Annette. Thank you.”

As soon as the door shut, Zalia made it clear why she was there. “I need you to stop sending the flowers. My house is starting to look and smell like a funeral home.”

“Do you not like the flowers? I can send something else instead. How about candy… or steaks? There’s a cheese of the month club that I heard about.”

She put her hands up and shook her head. “No candy. No steaks. No cheese. Nothing. Please.”

He leaned back in his chair and looked at her. “Tell me why I should stop.”

“My husband does not like it.”

“The husband that does not exist?”

He saw the color drain from her face as she sat down.

“I looked over your lease agreement. No husband was mentioned. I found it odd that a young, married woman would not include her husband on a lease, so I had it checked out.”

“You had no right.”

“Oh, but I do.” He opened his desk and pulled out the file. He removed the rental agreement and sat it in front of her. “I own the house that you are currently living in. If you look at the lease that you signed, you will see that you had initialed the line granting me permission to perform a background check.”

“I didn’t read it before.”

“Not reading something before you sign it is dangerous.”

“Obviously. I didn’t realize I was handing myself over to a wolf.”

Andy couldn’t help laughing when she said that. “I assure you I am not the big bad wolf. I am just a little cub.”

“You have been acting more like the Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood.”

I promise I am not a bad guy. Let me prove it to you. Have dinner with me tomorrow.”

She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about it. “If I agree to one dinner, will you then leave me alone?”

“If you do not wish for a second date, I will not bother you again.”

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