The door opened and the driver extended a hand to me, helping me out. "Do you have your ticket?" When I nodded, he smiled. "All right. Go in and take your seat. Mr. Meadows will see you after the seminar."
"I can't sit with him?"
"No, ma'am. He's up on the stage with the other speakers. You'll be in the front row."
"Thank you ... "
"Michael."
"Thank you, Michael."
Michael escorted me into the building, made sure that I was comfortable in my seat and gave me a program to read while I waited for the other participants to be seated. I watched the conference room fill, amazed at the different types of people that were seating themselves around me. I opened the program and was very surprised to find that Gil's name was at the head of the list of speakers. I felt a surge of pride sweep through me and I suddenly found myself wondering if any of the other women who shared the front row with me had had the same relationship with him as I had.
"No. None."
"That's not fair." I whispered to myself, pretending to peruse the program. "It's not fair that you know what I'm thinking without asking me."
"I always know what you're thinking, Carla. You're as clear as a bell to me but I've never acted on anything unless I knew it was specifically directed at me."
"You always know what I'm thinking? Always?"
"Always."