Ivan read her and understood. She needed affirmation.

She wants to, he told himself. I got her! Finally!

He opened his arms to receive her.

He said, “I’ve been wanting to hold you for a long-ass time.”

Lucina just stared at him and said nothing.

Well, do it then, she thought. I’ve waited long enough for this, too.

Ivan gently held her body inside his arms and slowly closed them around her. Lucina reached her own arms around his waist and squeezed him back. Then she leaned her head gently onto his shoulder, taking in the attractive aroma of his cologne.

Ivan asked her, “So…I guess this means yes, right? You’re back in with me now.”

She smiled into his shoulder. “I guess so…until you act up,” she teased him.

Ivan eased his hold on her to look into her eyes. He said, “Lucina, I expect us to disagree on some things. That’s just human nature. But at the end of the fight, I’m still gonna be loyal to this company. And I know that we’re gonna make a whole lot of money money together.”

Lucina chuckled girlishly. “You liked that line, didn’t you?”

“Oh, that was classic,” Ivan told her. “That got me going. I can’t even lie. But you’re not tired of hustling with me yet, are you?”

She thought about it and said, “No. I’m definitely not tired of that.”

Ivan said, “Well, let’s do it again, then. I spent a lot of money on this house. So let’s get out there and make it all back. I got us set up to be global brand promoters now. And we can throw parties around the world, with company jet service all the way.”

Lucina responded, “Yes, but I think I want to slow down and see the rest of this house first. Can we do that for a minute?”

“Oh, yeah, well, right this way,” Ivan told her with L.A. swagger. “Let me show you how to use your keys with the alarm system.”

They walked hand in hand toward the hillside home in the bright afternoon sunshine. And as Ivan showed her how to enter the house with her keys, he looked forward to throwing more network parties and events with her. Eventually he would make love to her, and offer her everything that came with it, all while they continued to hustle. And with both of them together…who could ever stop them?

Closing Interview:

The Voice & Viewpoint