,soIosignforsomething,right?"Isaid.

    "No,no.Imyouryear-endbonus."

    "ImafraidIdontquiteuand."

    "Well,yousee,tocutstraighttotheheartofthematter,youdowhateveryoulikewithme.Imagift.IwastoldtoeherebythemaKInchargeofcourtesygifts."

    "Isee,"Igroaned.KInc.wasamajorpublishingpany,andIhaddoneworkforthemmanytimes.OnedaywhenIwasgettingdrunkwiththisparticularmanager,heaskedmewhatIwantedformyend-of-the-yearbonus,andIreplied"Ayounggirl."Ofcourse,Isaiditasajoke.NeverinmywildestdreamsdidIimagisuchatrulyfirst-ratepublisherwouldactuallydoit.

    "Unfortunately,Imreallybusytoday.See,Ihavealotofworktofinishforadeadliomorrow,andanywayImnotreallyinthemoodforsexrightnow.Andthebedsnotmade.IfIhadknownyouwereingtoday,Icouldhavebeenprepared."

    WhenIsaidthis,shebegantosob."Imuseless.Youtevengivemeaway.Itdoasihingright.Theywouldntevengivemeadriverslise."

    "There,there,"Isaid.

    Butthegirllookedlikeshewasjustgoingtokeepbawlinginmygenkan.And,therebeingneighborsaround,Ihadnochoicebuttoinviteherinandgiveheracupofcoffee.

    "Ifyoudontwanttohavesex,letmedosomethingelseforyou.Thebosssaidtoprovideyouwithtwofullhoursofservice.Doyoulikekaraoke?Ising.ImreallygoodatElly,MyLovebySouthernAllStars."

    "Idratheryounotsing,"Isaid,cuttingheroffquickly.Ifshedidsomethinglikethat,Idneverbeabletogetmyworkdone.

    "ThenIllmakecroquettes.Imakeexcellentcroquettes.&q