Conflict.
I saw it in her eyes.
The offer was on the table. South Korea and Cancun, how could she refuse it.
Was I bribing her? Some others may see it that way but it truly wasn't bribery.
Keziah, no matter how hard of a time I gave her, always proved herself in every situation. And I didn't want her to throw away her position because of a prank gone wrong.

All Keziah had to do was say yes. And quite honestly, it would be in her best interest to agree to this deal.
But It wouldn't be fair to say that I didn't understand her hesitation- though it was hugely misplaced. I felt that She had to trust me.
Keziah primly sat in the leather seat at the other side of the sturdy oak desk in her grey windowpane jacket and matching skirt. The blush blouse was truly flattering against her rich skin tone. That was the other thing, she always presented herself impeccably dressed and always in the latest fashion.

'Ms. Mills.' It wouldn't be in my interest to get her name wrong. I had to avoid making her more worked up than she already was.
'Mr. Gold appreciated our efforts in the comm-connect.' The community event the company organized a week ago.
Keziah was essential in the planning and executing of it.
'Don't you want recognition for your hard work.'

'I do! And I would have but you strutted Archer in front of the cameras giving her the credits while all I got was cold lungs.'
Claire's stupidity made me wince internally.
I honestly wouldn't have allowed her by my side if I had known what she had done.
'I didn't know she was responsible then.'

'And when you did, you promoted her and still said nothing.'
I sighed.
'It was not a promotion and you can choose to dwell on the past, but I'm presenting you with a future. Do you not want this?'

She scoffed leaning back and watching me with narrowed eyes. 'Did Claire already turn you down?'
I wouldn't dare call Ms. Archer, she had burned all the bridges between us to ash.
'Are you suggesting I ask her?' I raised a cool questioning brow.

'No.' She angrily replied.

'I understand you need some time to think this over.' I got up and sat at the edge of my desk to face her. I smiled as she shifted from the discomfort my nearness brought.
'You can take your time with your decision. I also want you to understand that on this trip we will be equal partners.'

I knew from the sharp intake of her breath that I had her interest yet again.
It would truly be a waste to lose such a hardworking and innovative thinker like her.

She deliberately got up attempting an expression of neutrality.
'I'll call you with my decision.'

I nodded, walking her out of the office.
'And until then, I'll consider your resignation invalid.'

She frowned a little but said nothing else.

'David.' I found Mrs. Mills was the caller and she was fast approaching us.

'Mom?' Keziah said surprised to see her mother in the building.

'David, I told you not to let her back so soon.'

'You two talk?' Keziah falling further into disbelief with each passing second.
'You know each other?'

'Liz, can't you see I'm walking her out of the office? I don't break my promises. She won't be returning just yet.' I chuckled.
She watched her mother hug me and me bend so the shorter woman could kiss my cheek. Her round cheeks and big bright brown-eyes gave her a youthful aura making her look younger than she really was.

'Mom?' Keziah was trying to make head or tails about the situation she was experiencing.

'Yes, darling?'

'How do you know my boss?' she struggled to keep her tone from being accusatory by adding a smile at the end of the question. We both knew better.

'I'm taking him out for a thank-you brunch.' Liz smiled widely.

'We can go to Capital Grille,' I offered.

'You took me there for lunch the other day.'

'And you loved it.' The banter wasn't unusual between Liz and me. 

'Are you two dating?' I slowly turned to Keziah and tilt my head ever so slightly in a nonverbal question.

'Don't be silly Keziah.' Her mother said exactly what I wanted to.

'But you have done this before?' I assumed she meant lunch.

'Yes.' I replied.

'When?' I pressed down my lips to quell the smile which would no doubt have angered her. However, her interrogation, I found was quite amusing. I had never seen this side of her.

'I came to surprise you in the office one day but I missed you. David didn't want me eating lunch by myself so he treated me to lunch. It was such a charming offer, how could I refuse?'

'And you never mentioned this, why?'

At this rate, brunch would surely become lunch. 'I asked her not to. We both agreed you wouldn't be very comfortable.'

Liz tapped my arm, 'I promised myself not to forget. I have a gift for you, for helping save my daughter's life.'
She began to tear up.
'I don't know what I'd have done if anything had happened to her.'
I handed her my handkerchief and gave her a brief little hug.
'You don't have to think about it again.' I reassured her. And I meant it, I wished to forget all about that harrowing incident myself. I noticed Keziah staring open-mouthed at me.

'Do you want to join us for brunch?' I already knew the answer Keziah would give to her mother. For some inexplicable reason, Keziah never seemed to care to have lunch with me, not willingly anyway.

'No. I'm meeting Tommy.'

'Oh, send him my greetings.' I've met Thomas before, he was really a nice person. With his dark hair, piercing amber eyes, and easy personality, made him something of a ladies man I heard. The man couldn't just walk into a room and leave the women as they were. And somehow, out of all those women fawning after him, he'd chosen Keziah. They honestly made a striking couple, but for some reason, I wasn't a big fan.  He was too nice of a guy.

'Okay baby, see you later.'
Liz placed her linked her arm in the crook of my elbow and walked with me down to the lobby, the entire time, I could feel Miss Mills eyes on me.

'I need help convincing Miss Mills about something?'
Keziah's eyes nearly popped open.
She pointed at me and mouthed

'Oh you...' the rest of her phrase I couldn't make out.
'I told you to call her Keziah.'
I caught a glimpse of the scowl thundering her face before we turn away towards the exit.

                                                                                               ~

No voicemails or text messages from Keziah. Yet.
10:30 pm was displayed on my television screen. I hoped Mrs. Mills would keep her promise and convince Keziah to take my offer. I would be very disappointed if she did not jump on this offer.

The short Luncheon with Mrs. Mills had been quite enjoyable as the first time had been.
She had various anecdotes to share, a precious of them were about Keziah.
A smile played on the corners of my mouth as I open the fridge and hunted for the night's repast.
I was too tired to cook and too conscious to order take out so I settled for Marie Calander's frozen chicken and mashed potatoes and placed it into the microwave to cook.
I replayed the voicemails from the top taking time to listen to everyone else's messages.
My mother had called about my upcoming trip to Busan, 'Let me know if you need anything.'
I made a note to myself to reply when I got the chance.
That reminded me, I had to call Don.
'Hey, Davie,'
I shook my head at the annoying nickname Don had reserved for me.
'Donnie,' I replied getting him back.
He laughed.
'I know why you're calling,' he said.

'You do?'

'You're calling to cancel our day out I suspect.'

'Wow. You're getting good at this guessing game.'

'My mom and your mom were talking about your trip to Asia. I put two and two together, the time and our date. It only made sense.'

'I'm sorry about that.'

'It's fine. I'll ask Anne.' He put the phone away from his mouth and asked her.

Anne, another blue-eyed beauty gracing the greater Charlotte area with her petite presence. She was also Keziah's best friend. And she also just happened to be dating and working with my cousin in the Marketing firm uptown. As I thought more of it, Anne was the one with more influence over Keziah. Neither one would do something without the other's approval stamped over it. Don even claimed that Anne had plainly told him that for their relationship to work, Keziah had to like him. The two girls were like sisters. There was no doubt in my mind now, I should talk to Anne. Or better yet, Don could do the talking.

'She's there?' I asked him, my brain working to piece an idea together. Don was reluctant to reply. 'May I say hi?'

'I'm not sure she's talking to you.'

Keziah had gotten to her. I deeply breathed in and then exhaled. Hope wasn't yet lost. I knew Anne to be level-headed, she couldn't possibly believe that I had some hand in Claire's actions.

'That's perfectly fine. Has she gotten to you, yet?'

Don chuckled lowly and whispered, 'Not yet, she was getting there right before you called.'

'She probably already knows that I did not accept Keziah's resignation.'

'Yep. She is accusing you of bribery and blackmail.'

I was surprised. 'Blackmail.'

'Keziah's mother.' Don summarized in two words.

'I had no idea that was what I was doing and so I apologize. Put me on speaker please.'

This was my chance to get Anne on my side.

'Anne, It wasn't my intention to reward Claire for her silly actions. But I did not think it fair or safe to have her hoard another personal vendetta against Keziah.'

'So this was for her own good.' She was probably standing far from the phone, arms crossed and credulously looking at the phone.

'Yes. That is why I also refused her resignation. Her quitting, it is not the right way to go. She's giving up before she's really even started.'

I paused and sighed for effect.

'Did she tell you that on this business trip we are ging as co-equals and there will be no boss or assistant, only co-workers?'

I took the gruntled sound like an affirmation. 'This would be her time to really show the CEOs she's consultant material. She shouldn't let me be what stops her from doing what she really wants.'

The microwave went off and my food was finished.

'Is that Dinner?' Don asked.

'Yes. I'll leave the two of you now. I have a briefing on Wednesday. Anne let Keziah know, the door remains open. Goodnight you two.'

I set my phone on the charger and ate my food to the background noise of the CNN news. I knew I had said all that I could to Anne, now I could only hope Don would be my advocate, and Anne, Keziah's voice of reason.