The Gift of Love Read Online Free Page A

the next stage of his life because Allison Lindberg was, in short, the girl of his—and any other ambitious man’s—dreams.
    Everything was falling in place. The perfect job and the perfect woman added up to the perfect life. He had it all under his capable control. He’d never have a life like his father’s.
    Eager to share with Allison the results of his successful meeting at CloudCo, Taylor called her cell as he walked back to his office. He immediately got voicemail, which he assumed meant she was on another call. But when he tried again after he returned to his office, the same thing happened. Finally he called her office number. The department’s administrative coordinator was cool, saying only that Allison was gone for the rest of the day. Which didn’t explain why she wasn’t answering her cell, but Taylor couldn’t get any more out of the adco.
    By the time Taylor got back to his office, the news of his success had already made its way from one cubicle to another in his firm. It had even penetrated to the offices on the outer edge of the floor where the big girls and boys played and plotted behind their closed doors while they looked out the windows at the cityscape only they were privileged to see.
    The chairman of the firm’s partnership committee, Nate Benjamin, led a parade of committee members into Taylor’s cubicle. “You won’t believe what the CloudCo guys are saying about your work. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so much glowing bullshit from a client.” The grin on his face belied the backhanded compliment.
    “Thanks, Nate. I was happy with what they said, even if it was B.S.”
    “You earned your pay this month. Nice work.” He stuck out his hand. Taylor stood to shake it, and Nate clapped him on the back with his left hand. He’d been slapped on the back so many times since he’d returned from his meeting, he was sure his suit jacket was wearing thin from the pounding. And as he winced, he wondered if he’d even have a bruise or two in the morning. Which reminded him somewhat painfully of his need to get back to the gym. If a few slaps on the back were bothering him, it was past time to make up for the months of not working out.
    “A couple members of the partnership committee and I would like to take you out for a drink after work tonight. You won’t even have to use any of the bonus you’ll be getting to pay for it. You free to join us?”
    Drinks with the partnership committee? Even if he’d had plans, Taylor wouldn’t have turned that down. “I’d love to. Thanks.”
    “Great. I’ll stop by about six thirty, and we can go downstairs together.”
    As soon as Nate left, Taylor made one more attempt to talk to Allison but, when he got voicemail again, left a message asking her to join them at the bar on the ground floor of his office building so she could be part of the celebration, too.
    This was turning out to be one of—maybe
the
best day of his life.
    • • •
    Taylor was a little buzzed. Three Manhattans in an hour and a half on an empty stomach will do that to a guy. Luckily, he used public transportation to get to and from work. But being a responsible transit rider didn’t help with opening the two security locks on his apartment door. Somehow the keys didn’t seem to be working right tonight. Eventually, he got the right key into the correct lock without putting a dent into either his euphoric mood or the door. He was happy. Very, very happy. Which is also what three Manhattans and the best day of his life will do.
    He knew he should get something to eat, but he didn’t want to lose the glow so he plopped down in his favorite chair and replayed his personal highlight reel from the day: The look on the faces of the CloudCo management committee when he finished his presentation. The conversation he overheard between his boss and the president of CloudCo as he left the conference room. The kudos from Nate Benjamin when he got back to the office. The drinks and