Note - Editing was done by using 2 grammar checkers so beware. I have Part2 almost ready. If an editor would like to contact me for proofing before I send that would be appreciated. If you don't read to the end, don't comment or score.
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I was having a nice business lunch with my personal assistant, Donna, and Tom Flanders of Flanders Inc.. That is until he threw business into the mix. He was trying to force a better deal for him and his company. Of course he was threatening to pull his orders if we didn't give his company an extra five percent off. We could probably do that because of the margins and the size of his orders. Although, the greedy shit wanted another five percent under the table for himself on top of that. My breathing became more rapid the longer I sat there and my hands were closing into fists.
Donna gently put her hand on mine, leaned over to whisper in my ear, "Steve we are done here, end the lunch, and let's go back to the office. Leave it open, tell him, "We will look at the numbers to see what we can do." I would have preferred to grab him by the neck and choke him right there in the restaurant. Instead we got up, said what Donna told me verbatim, paid the bill, and left. Once outside, Donna took the keys, because she wanted me to spit, and sputter about the audacity of the guy, without getting in an accident. On the ride back to the office says, "Let it out, you will feel better."
Once back to the office, Donna follows me into my office and closes the door, and says, "Use Tonya's metronome. You need to relax before you have a stroke." Glaring at her for only a moment because Donna was a friend of my wife's, but she even sounded like Tonya the way she said that. Tonya died in a car accident almost two years ago. I miss her. She always worried about me not being able to separate work from home life. Always saying, I should learn some type of relaxation technique. So one Christmas before that horrible drunk driver barreled through a red light, and ending her life Tonya gave me a present. A two part present that helped me through the last two years without her.
Reaching over, and with a quick flick the arm of the metronome resting on the cabinet began its calming swing. Tick, a metronome arm swings its metered path, tick, back and forth, Tick. As it starts the feeling of calm already settles in tick, Then a tap of the CD player next to it and the self hypnosis tract plays the relaxation mantra, a subtle vocal almost musical accompaniment. Closing my eyes I breath deep and slowly let my breath out. Willing my hands to relax from the white knuckle fist and say, "It is hot in here, time to shed some clothes." Another long intake of breath, tick, I try to push the memories of the customer out of my mind, tick. In a relaxed and dreamy voice Donna says, "Yes." as I remove my business jacket and loosen my tie. I turn and Sit in my swivel chair, I spin away from the metronome's swaying arm.
Comfortable, I look up to see what she might suggest about the Flanders problem. Before I say anything I watch Donna standing focusing on the metronome swings. A slight sway as her curvy body mimics the pendulum action as it swings its measured beat. I have never seen what I look like so I am captivated by what I must look like during a set. As she sways her jacket falls onto the chair she is standing beside. The tick of the metronome accompanied by the CD's hypnotic song fills the room. Usually I am captivated until it runs in ten minute sets. This time I am instantly pulled from its entrancing mantra and sway of the metronome as I break eye contact.
Donna didn't stop though as I watch captivated as she continues unbuttoning her shirt. Thinking she is only loosening it up like I did my tie, but soon she shows no sign of stopping. I have seen her in shirts that show a little cleavage, but she continues down to the bottom of the shirt. As her shirt spreads open I ask in a worried voice, "Donna?" and with a roll of her shoulders, lets it slide off. I just stare, as she continues to sway with the rhythm of the metronome's tick. As if in a dreaming dance her ample breast barely contained within her bra, has its own hypnotic dance.