Risking It All Read Free Page B

job offer as an investment portfolio manager four years ago, he was living out in Washington, D.C. where he was born and raised. He moved to Atlanta on a whim hoping that it was a good move. It turned out to be an excellent move for Michael. After about two promotions, he was now making much more than some of his colleagues and had gotten numerous recognition awards for being one of t he top performers in his division .
    “I’m gonna take a quick shower, Julissa. Think the salad will be ready by then?” Michael turned up a bottle of water to his face and peered at her over the top, watching her from across the kitchen as she grabbed the bowls and uten sils .
    “Sure. ” She watched Michael’s retreating back as he walked out of the kitchen. Michael relied on her daily for bre akfast and dinner. In fact, six hours of Julissa’s day was dedicated to preparing his meals, cleaning house, and organizing. For four to five hours a day, Julissa worked her part time job as a realtor, from showing houses, going to closings, going to auctions, and listing properties. Julissa welcomed the break in daily routine when Michael went out of town numerous times a year on business. Sometimes, he was only gone for one day and other times for the week. On those day s, she would treat herself to me-time , like a trip to the spa, or a shopping spree at the mall, or even a night cuddled up on the couch watching pay-per-view movies, eating ice cream, popcorn, and all the junk food she could think of. Even a night on the town with Christina or Shanice was expected. Although, since Christina had been engaged and with planning for the wedding, the time with her had been limited. Since Shanice was always the unattached female in the group, a night with her me an t a night chasing after men.
    Julissa decided to move in with Michael at his request. They both knew that her lease on her condo was coming up for renewal and they had been talking about it. Since Julissa was already at Michael’s home 24/7 before she officially moved in, they thought it made financial sense to share a house. Julissa agreed to give it a try and moved her stuff in after her lease was up. Now their life was too much a routine to change things now. The only thing Julissa wanted to change was her title. She was already playing house , no w she just couldn’t wait to be a wife .
    But it was always… After we hire someone to help me out with these new clients, I promise, we will start planning our wedding. Right now, there is too much going on at that office …
    Now months later, after he had hired two new employees under him, they had still not planned for anything and there still was no ring on her finger to prove it.
    Julissa took the salad bowl into the family room, where she knew Michael had sat down in front of the television set. She placed the bowl and glass of red wine on the coffee table in front of him and sat down beside him.
    “That concert was pretty good, wasn’t it?” Julissa pulled up her bare feet on the sofa and tucked it under her bottom.
    “Yeah.” Michael began eating the salad and wine that she had just placed before him.
    “I loved it. We should do things like that more often. How are things at the office? Are you caught up, yet?” Julissa reached out and tucked in the tag sticking out of the neck of his white tee. She let her fingers linger there for a while, rubbing and running them along the base of his neck.
    “Just about…”
    “You don’t sound like you’re too excited about it.”
    “Well, I’ m glad that things are finally caught up. But, we’ve acquired a few new international clients and I foresee a trip overseas in the near future.”
    “How soon?” Julissa turned up her lips at the thought of him going away on business again. He had just returned only a week ago after being in New York for four days. Even though, Julissa loved the freedom, she didn’t like the fact that she would spend more nights alone. Now that Christina