”Penny, sitting next to me, was clearly about to lose it. But at this point, I simply didn’t care if Dante heard her laughing.“$600K. And that�...�s my final offer.”“No, it isn’t. You’re still a bit low. Make it $1.3 million and we’ll call it a day.”“No fucking chance.”“My advice to Melissa will be to turn this over to a team of attorneys who will squeeze $10 million from you, demand injunctions against your company, and generally make your life a living hell. And do you know what the best part is?. “With good marks,” he admitted pouring an icy beer in two glasses and pushing one to me. I hadn’t seen her pulling that face since Brazil was defeated at the world cup. Welcome aboard.We toasted.Since the Brazilian lady was married to the sex-shop guy and the contest was for couples, I still needed a partner. With Luna on a trip, I focused my lower belly needs on Betty, a gloomy just-divorced thirty-something that Luna herself had introduced me to on one of our rare nights out of our den.She. Steve; I’ve never had a man to take care of before, I wanted to do it for you.”“Tinh, you mustn’t get too involved with me; yes, I was your first man, and it was very special for both of us, but you will find a man to care for, when the time is right for you.” I spoke gently, but I had to stop her getting hurt, and being with me couldn’t be a long-term involvement for her: she needed a younger, available man; I wasn’t either. “I’m going to sit on the balcony and have a beer and cigarette for. There was definitely a sense of relief. They both were grinning. All three of them knew what had gone on, but now they had to pretend like nothing happened.“Sorry about that,” Pam told them. “I waited down here for you guys to finish but then realized it was taking longer than usual. So I went upstairs to take care of my own personal business.” Her statement was perfectly worded as she began to write Marlene’s check.“No problem,” Marlene reassured her. “I’m glad you were able to get done what.