On His Terms Read Free Page A

and she gripped her cell phone, wishing she’d just run on
     the road like Julie always told her to do.
                          “Ally Shore?” a very large man in a dark suit spontaneously appeared nearby.
                          Ally screamed at the top of her lungs, terrified at the man who towered over her.
     And she was utterly alone.
                          “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here on behalf of Hale Westbrook.” His
     voice was deep, really deep.
                          She was dumbfounded.   “Hale Westbrook?”
                          “Let me explain, Ms. Shore” he said, determined to get her to relax. “I’m Charles,
     Mr. Westbrook’s personal assistant.”  
    She watched his every move. He didn’t look like any personal assistant she had ever
     seen. As he adjusted the spiral wire coming from his ear, she began to visibly tremble.
     This man was probably three times the size of her. He could crush her in an instant
     and nobody would have a clue.
    Until the rubber sole of one of her New Balance sneakers got discovered sixteen years
     from now.
    “Mr. Westbrook would like to meet with you. He wants to make it up to you. Said you
     falling was all his fault.”
    “Make it up to me?” she was beyond confused.   This couldn’t be real.   Maybe she was on a hidden camera show or something.
    “Here’s Mr. Westbrook’s card. Call him ASAP- he’s a busy man.”
    By now she felt relatively convinced that Charles was not going to dismember her and
     hide her body in the woods, but she couldn’t let go of the shakes. She reached her
     trembling hand out to the giant and took the card from him.
    “Sorry if I scared you. I needed to get to you alone- this needs to be kept confidential
     for now. Until further notice.” Not even the slightest smile on the giant’s face.
    “I can’t tell anybody that the governor wants to apologize to me?” she was both confused
     and annoyed at the rules she was being forced to comply with.
    “He wants to make it up to you, not apologize.”
    She looked at the card, looked up at the bone-crushing assistant, and nodded.
    “One more thing, Ms. Shore,” Charles looked down into her eyes. “Are you in a relationship?”
    “What? No. Why?” she shook her head.
    “Call the number, Ally,” he smiled. “Have a great day.”
     
    * * *
                          Ally ran back home, fast, all the while having the strangest feeling in her stomach.
     She had no idea what all of this was about, but found it completely odd that she was
     to keep quiet about it all.      
                          Why the hell did he ask if I’m in a relationship?
                          And then came the next thought, fast on its heels.
    Could Hale Westbrook really be interested in me?
                          But she discarded that ridiculous notion just as quickly as it had come into her mind.
                          She took the business card out, looked up at the sky, and reached into her pocket
     for her phone.
                          She would never forgive herself if she didn’t at least see what all of this was about.   A moment later, she’d dialed the number and there was ringing on the other end.
                          “This is Hale.” A stern but familiar man’s voice came through.
                          She took a shaky breath and then spoke.   “Hello, this is Ally. Ally Shore. From the diner. I fell and you helped me up. Your bodyguard gave me your card.” She was proud that
     she was able to get so many words out, but equally disappointed in herself for being
     so nervous…  
                          “Yes, of course. How are you feeling? You fell pretty hard. ”.
                          “No permanent damage. Thanks for coming to my aid,” Ally said.