Chapter 1

'Natalie, where are my brown shoes?'

Natalie ran down the stairs knowing there was only a short time till he exploded. She would need to act fast to prevent it.

She scanned the front room before fixing her gaze on a pair of brown shoes under a desk. She picked them up and walked over to where the man stood by the front door.

'Here they are, Sam! They were under your desk.'

'Oh, were they? I was looking everywhere for them.' He took them out of her hands without a single word of gratitude.

'Are you going out to an event?'

'No, just out for some drinks with some friends and sponsors. I wouldn't have bothered if I had it my way, but it pays, I guess, to be nice sometimes,' he sighed.

'Will you be out for long?'

'Natalie, what is it with all these questions? You're acting like one of my ex-girlfriends trying to keep track of me, and you know how that winds me up!'

'Sorry, Sam. I was just asking because I wanted to speak to you about a particular matter. Perhaps I can have a word now if you're going to be out for a while?'

'Natalie, I am sure it can wait. I'll see you when I get back and I'm running late as it is. This little chat of ours will only set me back even further.'

'Ok, sorry. I'll speak to you when you get back then. Bye, Sam.'

With that, he opened the door to leave, muttering a complaint about women always wanting to talk and his joy that he was not tied down with a wife.