Passions Pique (Passions Pique Satin's Passion) by Adrian Milan

out together.”
         Satin’s heart was warmed. This was so like Derrick. Always eager to throw himself under the bus on her behalf.
         “Thank you honey, but Mr. Pique has some very specific instructions concerning this account. And I’m not at liberty to share what’s going on with anyone. That includes you.”
         Derrick was taken aback.
         “What does that mean? This isn’t some top secret government agency, Satin. It’s an investment bank. And you’re not a spy with the C.I.A., you are my woman. So since when don’t we trust each other? We’ve been best friends and taking up each other’s slack for over ten years. Why would this be any different?”
         Wow, Derrick was visibly upset. Satin was a little stunned at his counter. Then she remembered that she had stood him up today. They were suppose to clear their calendars and spend the entire day together. Derrick had told her that he had the entire day planned. That he was going to make it a day that she would never forget. But once she left to go see Roland, she never got back in touch with Derrick. Not even a courtesy call to cancel. Nothing. She had just left him hanging. That is what he must be angry about.
         “Derrick, I’m sorry. I know that we were supposed to do something special today, but this business with Mr. Pique was unexpected. I had no idea that an opportunity like this would fall into my lap. And now that it has, I have to do everything within my power to see to its success.”
         Derrick had his hand in his pocket. He was squeezing the engagement ring between his fingers. Tracing the curve of the symbolic circle over and over again. This is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. Why is she suddenly speaking to him like he was nothing more than just a co-worker?
         “Satin, what does any of that have to do with what I just asked you? I asked you; Since when do we NOT trust each other? We have been best friends for over ten years. And we have been helping each other with work and everything else for all of that time. Why would this be any different?”
     
         Derrick was staring Satin directly in the eye. He wanted to drive home the seriousness of his point. And for the first time in her life, Satin did not have an answer that she knew would be acceptable. She was stumped. Something she never dreamed she would ever experience. And she didn’t like it one bit. It made her feel like she had no control. And Satin was the queen of control.
         “Derrick, I don’t have to explain myself to you. I told you that I can’t talk to you about this and that needs to be the end of it. I’m sorry that this messed up our day together, but we can just reschedule whatever you had planned for another time. This is important to me. Without question it is the most important account I’ve ever had. And if I pull this off I’ll be set to retire from this place and start my own investment firm in less than a month!”
         Derrick was miffed. Satin was trying to stress that this could be the most important event of her life. Now Derrick wondered how that would stand in comparison to him pulling out a ten thousand dollar engagement ring and asking her to marry him. At the end of the day, he decided that both were too important to allow one to overshadow the other. Still, he was disappointed in how she was choosing to handle this issue and him.
         “Fair enough Satin. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ll let you do whatever it is you have to do.”
         And with that, Derrick strolled out of her front door.
     
    *****
     
         Roland watched casually as the events at Satin’s place unfolded. He smiled to himself as Derrick left closing the door behind him. Clearly, Satin is committed to getting the job done. And with any luck, that will be enough to get rid of Derrick Billings once and for all. If not, Roland was prepared to take matters