The message from Mrs. Collins said two fifteen sharp, in the Board Room. The Board Room? Suddenly I'm glad I'm an intern, not an apprentice! Still, the way she said 'don't be late' made me resolve not to be late.

The burly guard in the gray slacks and blue blazer standing at the elevator door as it opened is a surprise. He asks for my pass and takes a good long look at it before he waves me on. Security is usually very friendly and full of smiles and apologies for the delays and inconveniences. This guy makes me feel like I'm in his way. I say thanks, walk down the short corridor and open the door. No wonder security is tight. There stands J. Randolph Croder in the flesh, consulting with Marvin, our boss. But Randy is his boss. Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, he's the founder of The Firm.

I glance around the room and see you seated at the table. Oh shit. They called you in too? Do they know? Did we get sloppy? Randy had some hard and fast rules that were conditions of employment. The top directive, the first thing we were taught was 'Do not defecate in your picnic hamper'. Picnic hamper? No 'shit' or 'mess kit' for The Firm. Well Randy has a few years under his belt, but he's no prude. Randy will not tolerate romantic relationships between employees or with customers because it's bad for business. It's fine to entertain customers but it's to be strictly business. It's fine to collaborate with coworkers but it's to be strictly business.

Well with all the travel we did together in cities all over the country, well, how was Randy to find out, as long as we were very discreet. We took great pains to ensure we weren't caught. We were careful not to let any of our colleages even suspect we were involved. We often had to sleep single even when we were in the same city. Even stayed in different hotels. Yet here we were. Randy looks at me with an odd smile. He knows! He is going to fire us. Yes I can tell from the way he's looking at me, he knows. We're toast.

The door opens and Randy turns his gaze toward it. He smiles and says "Well, Jen. You made it just under the wire." Oh no, he caught Jen too? I wait for him to explode. But instead Randy smiles warmly at each of us and asks Mrs. Collins to distribute our packages. As she hands us each a leather portfolio with our names embossed in gold leaf in the upper right corner, Randy welcomes us to The Firm. "Congratulations. We wish to offer you full time positions. Effie's giving out your employment packages, but time is short for one of you so you will have to decide quickly. Jennifer we want you in Boston and Brianna, you in San Diego. Josh. It's Kansas City for you. But you need to decide right now Josh. There's a key meeting tomorrow and your plane leaves in ..." Mrs. Collins fills in the blank. "One hour. The car is waiting. You better just buy what you need when you get out there and expense it."

Mrs. Collins flips my portfolio open and points to a few places. "Salary, bonus, housing allowance, expense account, club memberships, time committment." She gives me one of her patented 'are you stupid looks' and says "Only a fool would refuse." She hands me a pen and taps the page near the bottom. She says one word, "Signature!"

As I stand Randy claps a meaty hand on my shoulder and crushes my hand in a shake I will not soon forget. Quick goodbyes all around and I'm on my way down to the car waiting at curbside.

It's a short drive, but long enough for me to wonder what life was going to be like with us half a country apart. Well with all the travel we do I guess it doesn't really matter all that much, does it? We can meet up for weekends either at one of our places or someplace on the road. Not much different than we have been doing. All we need to do is be careful.

Six months later and everything is just great! Lots of money, lots of interesting work and company nearly every weekend. I'm a very lucky man. My phone beeps.

• BEEP "Hi, wish you were here."

• Yes, being alone is a bummer. Get in bed and put you hand under the covers. SEND

• BEEP I'm ready.

• Remember Omaha? Remember what we did? Think about that. SEND

• BEEP Oh yeah, oh, Omaha! Who woodda thunk I'd want to be in ... OH ... OH ... Oh, Mnah, Aaaah.

• Ok, two fingers now and remember how we finished in Butte? Two fingers! SEND

• It's been a few. Recovered? SEND

• BEEP Yeh, hey that was great. Thanks. I hate sleeping single, but that really takes the edge off.

• Yeah, me too...

"Hey Jase, enough work already. Quit texting and lets get in bed. I hate sleeping single and here's a chance to be together so let's make the most of it." Jen grins at me and licks her lips in that way that drives me crazy. "Jase? Do you remember Amarillo?"

"Yeah Jen. Boy do I remember Amarillo. Be right there. Just let me send one line."

• Yeah, me too. Sleeping single sucks. Vegas next weekend. Nite Bri. SEND