Shades of Deception

It would take about four weeks to finalize the deal.

Tawney started to wonder if it made any sense to go back to work. Now that she was a business owner, management would not take likely to it, because there was a clause in her contract that read, Employees are not allowed to accept any type of employment with any tech company while working for Tech World, Inc.

While technically, she would not be an employee but a part owner of the new company, it would be a conflict of interest and against policy rules. It was a catch-22, and before making any final decisions, she would consult with Jamal.

In one month, Tawney's sabbatical would end. She still did not know if she was going to return to work.

In the meantime, Jamal finalized the purchase of the new corporation and renamed it Info Limited.

The two celebrated their new acquisition.

He asked Tawney to be the C.E.O. of the new company. She was flattered but knew nothing about running a business. She was a software developer and expected to be a silent partner. Jamal told her, he would be her mentor, and she would get assistance from his staff.

When she told him she was planning to leave Tech World, he insisted that she remain there for at least several more months or until Info Limited was turning a profit. She thought that made perfect sense; if revenues were slow coming in, she would still have a paycheck to fall back on.

Besides, Jamal was planning to leave New York for several weeks to do more acquisitions.

Before Jamal left town, he came to see Tawney and had a big surprise for her. He got down on one knee, took out a four-carat diamond ring and asked for her hand in marriage. She was ecstatic, started to jump up and down like a contestant who just won the grand prize on a game show and accepted his proposal.

They got undressed and made intense love into the wee hours of the night. He was leaving the next day, and upon his return, they would plan the most memorable wedding.

For the next couple of weeks, Tawney was craving for Jamal. She had problems sleeping and was tossing and turning every other night.

One evening, it was almost one hundred degrees; it was too hot and humid to sleep. She took out her laptop and started to write the following love message:

My Darling Jamal:

As I lie in bed and admire my engagement ring, I am thinking about you more and more each day. Meeting a beautiful, considerate, and kind man has always been a vision of mine, and you have fulfilled that dream. You have made me the happiest woman on the planet, and I cannot wait to be your business partner, lover, and wife. Hurry home my sweetheart.