Chapter 1 Prologue

• Jake’s [POV]
• “Kristen?”
• “Yes, sir?” Kristen’s voice came through on my intercom.
• “Get me, Natsuo Hattori, on the line.”
• “Right away, sir,” she replied.
• A few minutes later, I saw a green light flash on my office phone, and I pressed the little button next to it.
• “Natsuo?”
• “Hello, Mr. Middleton,” Natsuo replied immediately in his thick Japanese accent.
• “It’s very nice to hear from you.”
• “I wanted to discuss a new contract with you,” I said.
• “Hopefully, you can pass this conversation along to your boss. I think it will be mutually beneficial.”
• “We are talking with other contractors at the moment, Mr. Middleton,” he replied, sounding reluctant.
• “That’s because you haven’t heard our new rates,” I told him, spinning my tone into one I hoped was appealing.
• “Trust me, Mr. Hatanaka is going to be interested in hearing about this.”
• “I…will see what I can do,” Natsuo said, at last.
• “May I make a suggestion?”
• “Of course.”
• “Convince Mr. Hatanaka to attend the meeting that’s taking place in five days at my corporate office,” I said.
• “It shouldn’t be too difficult, considering you are both in California at the moment.” Natsuo paused for a moment.
• “How did you know that?”
• “I make it my business to know these things,” I replied. He laughed lightly.
• “Mr. Hatanaka worked with your company almost a year ago now,” he said.
• “He was not so happy with the job that was carried out. But I think…with you…it might be different.”
• “Thank you, Natsuo,” I smiled.
• “Coming from you, that’s high praise.”
• “I shall tell Mr. Hatanaka all about you the Major CEO.”
• “Is that what they call me?”
• “It is unusual,” Natsuo pointed out, “for a CEO of a major maritime shipping company to have served in the army.”
• “It’s my discipline that’s helped me climb so far, so fast,” I said, still trying to market myself to land this contract.
• “Be sure to explain to Mr. Hatanaka that he worked with this company before I was at the helm of it. That was the only reason he was unhappy with the partnership. It’s going to be different this time.”
• “I shall tell him.”
• “And the meeting?”
• “I will confirm with your receptionist in two days.”
• “Excellent,” I nodded.
• “Thank you, Natsuo.”
• “Of course, Mr. Middleton,” he said.
• “And if all goes well, it will be a pleasure to meet you finally after so many phone conversations.”
• “Well then, we’ll have to make sure all goes well, won’t we?” He laughed, sensing my hint.
• “I shall do my best,” he said.
• “Good day to you, Mr. Middleton.” I hung up and leaned back in my swivel chair.
• It had been a long day, and my back was aching, but I still had a meeting to attend across town, and it would take me at least a half hour to get there.
• I poured myself a glass of water and sipped it slowly as I checked the time.
• It was already six o’clock, and the sun was sending violent rays of orange and red streaking across the sky.
• Some days, the view was my only solace. I was just about to get out of my seat when I heard a knock at the door.
• “Come in,” I called, wondering if I should change my shirt before I headed to the meeting.
• Kristen entered with an apologetic look on her face. When I had first hired the girl three months ago, she had struck me as too timid for the job.
• I had expected her to quit after the first week, but oddly enough, she had managed to fit in well.
• She was well-organized, efficient, and quick on her feet.
• She handled my brusque moods and complicated instructions without complaint and never forced me to repeat myself.
• She had been my third receptionist in two months, and I was thankful that she had stayed, if for no other reason than to spare me the irritation of interviewing yet another candidate for the job.
• My friends and colleagues, however, assumed I was happy for another reason.
• But as I had assured them all repeatedly, Kristen’s looks had nothing to do with it. Yes, she was tall, slim, and pretty, but there was also something about her that unsettled me.
• I could never quite put my finger on it. Her long hair was a rich summery auburn that brought out the gold in her hazel-brown eyes.
• Her smile was almost shy when it appeared at all, and I had noticed a few weeks ago that she had a dimple on her right cheek, but not on her left.
• They were odd observations, and I didn’t trouble myself to analyze them too deeply.
• I just needed her to get the work done and get it done well.
• Still, now and again, I found myself wondering what exactly it was that I found so unsettling about Kristen.
• It nagged at the back of my mind, but I never allowed myself enough time to dwell on it long enough to figure out what it was.
• “I’m sorry to disturb you, sir,” she said.
• She was wearing a dark pencil skirt, a white collared shirt with roll-up arm cuffs, and black heels that were exceptionally sensible.
• She had tied up her hair into a knot at the back of her head so I could see the heart shape of her face.
• Again, I felt that familiar little nagging that told me I was missing something obvious, but I pushed it aside and gestured for her to come in.
• “You’re not disturbing me,” I said.
• “I just finished my call. What’s the problem?”
• “Uh…your babysitter is on line two,” she told me.
• “She asked to speak to you.” Slightly annoyed, I nodded.
• “Thank you, Kristen,” I said.
• “I’ll speak to her now.” Kristen backed out of the office immediately and closed the door behind her.
• I picked up the phone and accepted the call on line two.
• “Janet?”
• “Hi, Mr. Middleton,” Janet’s nasal voice spoke from the other line.
• “I was just calling to ask if you were on your way?” I frowned.
• “On my way where?” “Home, of course.” I checked my watch again. “It’s six o’clock.” “Um…six-twenty now, actually,” she replied. “I won’t be home for another couple of hours, Janet,” I said.