Tuesday, October 10th, 10AM meeting room

The conference room buzzed with low conversation as department heads filed in for the Norton integration meeting. Grayson stood at the head of the table, reviewing notes on his tablet, but his mind kept drifting to Joy Smith.

She'd looked so different this morning. Not just the clothes he'd sent, though the navy dress fit her properly for once, showing hints of the figure she usually buried under shapeless fabric. He had been honest about her choice in ...