She Put Her Hand In His, And

The Past Was Always There, Lived Inside Of You, And It Helped To Make You Who You Were. But It Had To Be Placed In Perspective. The Past Could Not Dominate The Future.

Elizabeth Was Counting On Marco To Keep Cousin Mary Occupied Until After The Board Meeting Was Over. A Piece Of Cheese Might Catch A Mouse, But An Afternoon Alone With A Muscular Masseur Would Ensnare Her Cousin Far More Effectively. And Afterwards, While Mary Lay Sated And Sleeping Upon A Massage Table, Wiser Heads Could Determine The Company's Future. There Were Times, Elizabeth Thought, When Success In Business Demanded Utter Ruthlessness.

Life Was Life. It Happened. You Never Knew What Was Going To Come At You. Or How You Could Defend Yourself.

Elizabeth Studied The Blurry Tabloid Photo, Which Showed Her Cousin Mary Stuart Leaving A Paris Disco At Dawn, Drunkenly Clinging To The Arm Of A French Tennis Pro. The Message Was Very Clear. Put Passion First And You End Up Neither Loved Nor Respected.

If Anyone Asks Me Whether I Like Being A Popular Writer, I Ask Them Whether They Think I'd Rather Be An Unpopular Writer.