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My mind resolute on how to handle Warren, I went back to thinking about the prank I wanted to do on Melvin. Kim and I had our plan all worked out. Last night after she came over, I called Melvin and pretended to apologize for my rash behavior. I continued with a small phone interview and promised to meet him to finish up in person. Kim would follow behind me as I finished interviewing him. Then, I would

finalize the piece and turn the screen for him to give it a read.

And then, right on cue, he would lose it.

During all of this, Kim would film his reaction. Near the end, she would pop out and surprise him from behind. Then we would both laugh our asses off.

We planned to use the recording against him—he would have to either leave us alone, or we would share it with the world. It would be his call, really. And at the end of the day, we’d have some fun teaching him a valuable lesson—don’t fuck with women.

I arrived at the address he had given me. The neighborhood was so nice that I wondered how the hell was he going to afford an office in this part of the city.

Did he have secret money or something?

Out of breath, Kim walked up and put her hand on my shoulder.

“You okay?” I asked.

“I had to run the last few blocks because I left late,” she panted.

“Well, I’m going inside so I won’t be late. You can follow me in a few minutes after you catch your breath. Remember, stay back until the end. I’ll give you the sign.”

“Yeah, yeah. You call him a small-penis-mother-fucker and I jump out, hoping he shits himself. Then I’ll show him the video.”

“This is the best plan ever,” I said, giggling.

“I feel like we’re in college again.”

“Right?” I smiled. “I’ll see you in a few.”

As she waited outside, still breathing heavily, I went into the ten-story building. The top floor was supposedly where he was opening his security company.

None of his story made sense to me though. That was one of the reasons I didn’t feel too bad about pranking him. He needed to be taught a lesson.

When I reached the top floor, I stepped out of the elevator and glanced to the left and then to the right, looking for him.

He was straight ahead, standing near the floor to ceiling windows at the other end of a big, open area.

I took a deep breath and walked over, plastering a smile onto my face.

Kim is coming soon, I reminded myself, so just keep cool.

But another voice in my head asked the ominous question: What if he gets angry and hits me?

I swallowed nervously, realizing too late that this was all potentially a very bad idea.

What the hell is your problem, Rose? When will you learn to stop being such a short-sighted idiot? I chastised myself.

My short-sightedness was a fatal flaw that would surely be the death of me one day.

He spun around and smiled, stretching out his arms as if he wanted a hug. I stopped a good twenty-feet away from him, careful to keep the smile on my face.

“Damn, you look good,” he said. The little black dress I was wearing had always been a favorite with men.

“You’re looking pretty fit yourself,” I said.

“Look, about yesterday…” he prefaced.

“Don’t worry about it,” I interrupted, waving my hand dismissively. “Water under the bridge. You ready to do this?” I walked over to the only desk and set up my laptop.