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Cory smiled and walked into Vi’s office. “No, but why didn’t we?” she replied, raising her arms. “You didn’t think I was going to wait until next week to see you at the gym, did you?”

“I had other things on my mind when I left The Liquor Box,” Vi said, locking eyes with Cory.

Cory gave her a slow smile. “I took your card from Talia when we were at The Neon Rose.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, I knew I’d need it someday.”

“And today’s the day.” Vi smiled at her. Why did Cory look so good in jeans and a T-shirt? “Would you like to have a seat?”

Cory shook her head. “No. Can you pull up a map of all the Spec’s stores in the metroplex?”

Vi furrowed her brow. “Sure.” She tapped a few keys and the map appeared on her computer screen.

Cory came around Vi’s desk and leaned down next to her to view the map. Vi could smell the faint scent of the outdoors and then a fragrance of coconut as Cory studied the map.

“I would like to propose,” Cory glanced over at Vi, “a trade of sorts.”

“A trade?”

“This is where The Liquor Box is located. I can deliver out this far”—Cory indicated an area on the map—“in order for it to be profitable.”

“Okay.”

“If you’ll notice, just past that boundary, there’s still quite a distance to a Spec’s store,” Cory explained. “Is this your sales territory? Or someone else’s?”

“Not necessarily. I can sell anywhere I want as long as another sales rep for Spec’s doesn’t sell there. That’s how I’m able to have such a large territory.”

Cory nodded. “I have several contacts in this area past the point where it's profitable for me. I would be happy to introduce you to them if…” Cory paused.

A slow smile spread across Vi’s face. “If?”

“If you’ll let me have the area around The Liquor Box.”

Vi stared at Cory for a moment then pressed a couple more keys on her computer and another map appeared on the screen.

“What’s this?” Cory asked.

“This map has all the businesses that have placed an order with Spec’s in the last year.”

Cory leaned in and Vi could feel Cory’s breath on her cheek. She felt warmth spread through her body.

“Would you look at that,” Cory said.

“What?” Vi tried to concentrate on the map.

“There are three bars and two restaurants in that area that you could talk to today. According to this map, they haven’t purchased from Spec’s and I just happen to know the owners and managers.” Cory gave Vi the biggest grin. “What do you think?”

Vi leaned back in her chair as Cory perched on the edge of her desk staring down at her. “Let me get this straight,” Vi began.

Cory raised one brow and dipped her head.

Vi scoffed. “Stop that. Okay, you’ll trade me these bars and restaurants and introduce me to the managers if I leave the area around The Liquor Box to you.”

“That’s right. We won’t exactly be on the same team, but we won’t be competing against each other, either.”

“Hmm…”