If Clyde hadn’t been Jeremy’s best friend since we’d arrived in D.C., I would have told him to stay out of his business. But he’d been there for every part of our life when, as a member of New Kingdom, Clyde stood by Jeremy’s side at our quick wedding because Jeremy knew no one else in D.C. who could stand with him. And Clyde had been by Jeremy’s side ever since serving first as one of Jeremy’s armor bearers, but very quickly moving to our agent when deals started coming in and we wanted to take advantage of Clyde’s law degree.

Clyde grabbed his briefcase. “Let’s get this done.”

Jeremy stood with Clyde and I didn’t budge.

Jeremy said, “Let me walk you out and make sure the door’s locked since there’s no one else here.”

After a pause, Clyde said, “I’ll see you later, Ginger.”

“Bye,” was all I could manage.

The moment Clyde followed Jeremy out, I leapt from the chair and ran into my office. I wished I’d already had my bags together to get out of here; I didn’t want to be left alone with Jeremy.

But not even a minute passed before Jeremy was standing in my office’s door. Why hadn’t I packed up my stuff before?

Jeremy asked, “Do you want to tell me what's going on?”

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to sliding the folders I needed to take home with me for the weekend into my tote.

His voice stayed steady as he said, “You’ve been in a funk since I got back from Alabama. And I don’t have any idea why. So do you want to stop acting like the kids and tell me what’s going on?”

Raising an eyebrow, I raised my voice, too. “Acting like the kids?”

“Come on, Ginger.” He threw his hands in the air. “You know what I’m talking about. Clyde just told us we have a contract that with bonuses could more than triple that eight million and will help secure the future of our grandchildren’s grandchildren. Babe, you and I have talked about building generational wealth and a financial legacy. This is it, yet you sat there like you were watching a boring movie. All I’m asking is that you talk to me.”

I folded my arms. “So you have no clue what's wrong?”

“How would I know what’s wrong with you? If I had a clue, I wouldn’t have asked you.”

Never show your full hand. Get your ducks in a row.