He pulled into the parking space marked Mr. Dan Stephenson and looked up. What a difference between this office and Keke's, he thought. Sixty floors of pure glass luxury versus an old hut in need of paint. As he was about to open the door and climb out of the car, it enveloped him. That feeling. Oh no, you're kidding me, he thought.
Dan, I've been looking for you everywhere. Where have you been? His father was sitting at his desk in his office. Dan put his hand over his eyes to protect himself from the stream of sunlight flooding in through the floor to ceiling glass wall and peered at him.
Dad, sorry, I had a couple of jobs to do. I'm back now. What's happening?
Ernie Stephenson was sixty-three years old and very tall. He had a full head of gray hair and a tan that showed off his smile. If only he knew how proud of him I am, he thought as he looked at Dan. Your mother has been on the phone, non-stop. She must have called twenty times. Something about the wedding. Apparently Britney has been to see her, and they have been looking at seating arrangements. They seem to want your input.
Jesus, what the hell does it matter who sits next to who? Throw a list of names into the air and see how they land.
I know how you feel son. Weddings are a nightmare. But just bite your tongue. Women love weddings, and you'll get yourself into a lot of hot water if you don't cooperate. Take it from an old hand.
Ernie found it hard to understand how a man of Dan's age, twenty-six, could have so much business acumen. He himself had done okay, but he'd inherited the business from his father and expanded it gradually. However in the two years since Dan had left college, his suggestions had increased profitability by an amount Ernie had never thought possible. Born to it, he thought. All he had to do now was marry the daughter of his long time friend Jeff, and everything would be perfect. Are you alright? he asked his son.
Yer. Just sick of all the wedding stuff. Britney just hasn't been the same since we got engaged. I haven't got a clue where her head is. I can't seem to get through to her.
Nerves. She's very young, give her time. We are all very much looking forward to the wedding. She's a great girl. You couldn't have found a more beautiful woman, and she'll make a fantastic wife and mother. Just be patient and don't go around upsetting her. She'll be a great asset to the family.
What sort of asset? Dan asked himself as he walked to his office. Isn't an asset supposed to be of value and enhance your life? All Britney was doing was driving him away from her. Do you really love her an ugly voice asked him? You don't really do you, admit it, the voice continued. He plonked himself down in the leather chair behind his desk and took a deep breath. He shook his head and blocked all further thoughts of Britney. As soon as he had done so, Keke came into his mind, and the feeling he'd had in the car came back again. Oh no, please leave me alone, he said.
Not again, Dan thought. He'd know for a long time that worker relations weren't good at the mine in Johannesburg, but they'd had a pay increase, and he'd implemented their suggestions for fair distribution of overtime. Now they were playing with his good nature, and he didn't like that. He'd had enough.
Listen, George, we employ you to keep the mine profitable, and it is far from that, in fact, it's leaking money like I've never seen before. So here's the deal. I've been more than fair with everyone. You tell them to get back to work by six am tomorrow morning, or I'm closing the mine, and they can all starve. Got it? He slammed the phone down and looked out of the window. There it was again. The same feeling he'd had yesterday, twice. Give in to it, a voice said.
Time for rational thought, he told himself. You're engaged to Britney, and if you don't marry her, you will disappoint everyone and probably hurt her beyond repair. So much is clear, he decided. Now the hard part, he muttered to himself as he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. Why, when you think of the private detective Keke, do you get this incredibly strong feeling you want to rip her clothes off, bed her and live happily ever after with her? Dan opened his eyes and looked at the clouds that weren't far above his office. Two birds flew passed and it came to him.
Keke sat down in the diner and ordered her usual from Jessie. Take the sugar away Jessie, it's too tempting. As Jessie took the sugar pot away, she shook her head. You're crazy. Nobody's got a body like yours, allow yourself, at least, some pleasures in life.
Keke's cell phone rang. It was Dan. Now there's a pleasure I could really get hooked on, she thought.
Keke? I would like to talk to you.
I'm listening.
No, face to face.
I'm at the diner if you want to come round.
Okay wait for me.
Keke's fists closed in a little show of triumph. She knew he wasn't coming to discuss business; it was too soon after their initial meeting for him to expect any results from her investigations. After forty minutes Keke saw his car pull up outside the diner. He was wearing jeans and T-shirt, not his suit. Her eyes followed him to the door and up to her table.