Strictly Business

He pushed her forcefully against the wall, knocking the air from her lungs.

Without hesitation, her hand shot out and slapped him across the face. Her mother did not raise her to be treated in such a manner. She was a woman and he would respect her as such.

Immediately, he released his hold on her. She gathered herself, smoothed her slightly crumpled blouse and proceeded to exit the room.

In all his life, Alexander Castellanos had never been slapped by a woman, not even his own mother. He stood, shell-shocked, as he watched Caroline Galanis, the woman that had been on his mind for the last twenty years, walk out of his office.