Free August 9th by Stu Schreiber

or my therapist. For a reason I’m beginning to understand, I feel like I can tell you anything and everything.
    It wasn’t planned. It all started very innocently and unexpectedly. Rogers Schmidt was considering an investment in a start-up software company in June. As is typical, the company founders gave their presentationin our office and I then made an appointment to spend a couple days in their office talking with their staff and checking out what they’re doing firsthand. That’s what I do, analyze and make a recommendation.
    After spending a couple of hours with the two founders I was given a tour of their small offices and then introduced individually to their handful of employees. As with most start-ups, almost everyone has an impressive title since it’s much easier to hand out titles than money. Except for the small corner office the founders shared, the remaining office space was divided into cubicles. When I was introduced to their VP of marketing I was shocked. Trying not to look like I’d just seen a ghost I shook hands with the very attractive woman. It was a handshake that felt like foreplay as she squeezed my hand then let go of her grip only to squeeze my hand even harder.
    There stood Hope, probably the last woman in the world I wanted to see. Nine years after we had one night of drunken sex that nearly destroyed me and my marriage here she was, but now she was working for a start-up Rogers Schmidt was evaluating for a possible investment.
    As I listened to the CEO praise Hope Bennett and her marketing plan, I flashed back nine years and Hope telling me she was only an escort to pay her way through college. Back then she was going to San Jose State. I also remembered how she stroked my ego by telling me she really liked me and was very selective. After the CEO suggested I get together with Hope later in the day tohear her marketing plans I tried to reassure myself the past was the past and I had learned my lesson.
    Later that afternoon I met with Hope. Standing in her cubicle felt awkward and I was relieved when she suggested we grab a cup of coffee and sit outside at one of the picnic tables provided for the building tenants. I started the conversation by telling her how surprised I was to see her. After she told me she didn’t believe in coincidences I paused to ponder what she meant. Smiling with a twinkle in her eye she said she had read about me in an article in the San Jose Mercury News about the movers and shakers of Silicon Valley. Flattered, I tried to remember if I had ever told her my last name.
    Without me asking, Hope volunteered that after graduating from San Jose State she got her Masters from Cal. Then she went to work for a start-up and later married the founder. Their marriage lasted a couple of years before they divorced. Ironically she added their marriage ended when her husband cheated on her. When she asked about my life I nonchalantly told her business and family were both great. When I started to ask her questions about the marketing plan she smiled, looked me straight in the eye and gave me somewhat of a confession.
    “You know you were different, don’t you? I needed the money back then but you were different. I wish we had met in a different context when we were both single. Intelligence has always been the biggest turn on for me. I hope our past doesn’t affect your analysis becausethis Company really has something that’s going to be very big and I think I’d really enjoy working with you.”
    As I swallowed hard she made a smooth transition to her marketing plan. She really did know what she was talking about and I was impressed by her answers to my questions. The trouble started when I needed help figuring out a spread sheet she handed to me. To point out what I was missing she walked behind me, leaned over my shoulder and casually pressed her breasts against me as she circled some numbers with a pen. When I didn’t pull away she whispered what any man loves to