His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

"A business associate. You'll need to talk to the person in charge, though. I'll take you there," he said matter-of-factly.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Carlos rarely mentioned his connections, let alone offered them up so freely. As we pulled up to another office building, I felt my nerves returning. But I knew I couldn't afford to waste this chance.

When we entered, Carlos introduced me to the person in charge. I straightened

my posture, gathering my thoughts before diving into the presentation. I carefully outlined our company's products, the potential for the exhibition, and why our

partnership could be mutually beneficial. I tried to stay calm, but I was hyper-aware of how much was riding on this conversation.

The man listened thoughtfully, occasionally nodding, and to my relief, he seemed interested. After a few minutes of discussion, he agreed to cooperate temporarily, with a promise to discuss the details further after the exhibition. It wasn't a permanent solution, but it was enough to keep things moving.

As we left the building, I turned to Carlos, unable to hide the overwhelming

gratitude I felt. "I don't know how to thank you," I said softly. "I wouldn't have had

this opportunity without you."

Carlos shrugged, as if it were nothing. "You did the hard work," he said simply. "I just pointed you in the right direction. You made it happen."

His humility made me smile, but I knew better. He had played a bigger role than he was letting on. "Thank you," I repeated, and this time, I caught the small,

satisfied smile on his face, though he tried to hide it.

Later, back at the hotel, I called Blair to update him. "We've got a temporary deal in place," I said, relief washing over me. "It's not ideal, but it'll keep us afloat for now."

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His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

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Blair sounded thrilled. "That's amazing! Who helped you out?"

Before I could answer, Carlos's voice came from across the room. "Doris did it all on her own," he said firmly. "I had nothing to do with it."

Blair chuckled. "Of course, Carlos. But whoever helped, make sure they get a drink."

I looked at Carlos, who gave me a small nod. He still downplayed his role, but I knew he was pleased with how things had turned out. We had made it through the first hurdle, and for now, that was enough.

After Carlos and I left the meeting with the new partner, I returned to the hotel feeling lighter, almost giddy. The day had been an emotional rollercoaster, but somehow, everything seemed to have fallen into place. I couldn't stop smiling as I made my way to my room, eager to share the news with Vesta.

As soon as I entered my room, I called her. Vesta picked up almost immediately, her voice as lively as always. "Doris! How did it go?"

"Well, it was a wild day," I said, unable to suppress a laugh. "First, I lost my original partner-let's just say he wasn't worth working with-but then Carlos introduced me to someone new, and they agreed to a temporary partnership. I can't believe how quickly everything turned around." Vesta's voice was full of pride. "That's incredible, Doris! You handled that so well. I'm sure you made a strong impression."

I beamed at her praise, feeling a little more confident in how things had gone. "Thank you, Vesta. I was so nervous, but it worked out in the end."

"Of course it did! You're resilient," Vesta said. "But now that the work is done, why don't you relax a bit? You deserve it."

I sighed, realizing just how tense my body still was. "You're right. I need to

unwind."

His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

"Go exercise, get your body moving, and then have a good night's sleep," Vesta advised. "You'll need your energy for tomorrow."

It wasn't a bad idea. I hadn't been able to swim in a while, and the thought of gliding through the water sounded refreshing. "I think I'll take your advice," I sai with a smile. "Thanks, Vesta. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

After hanging up, I changed into my swimming costume, eager to clear my head the pool. The moment I stepped into the water, the coolness washed over me, an I felt the tension begin to ease. As I stretched my arms to start swimming, I notice someone at the far end of the pool. It was Carlos.

I almost didn't recognize him at first. I had always thought of Carlos as composed perhaps a little reserved, but seeing him now, his muscles toned and defined, gliding through the water effortlessly, I realized he was in far better shape than I had imagined. He moved like a swimmer-strong, smooth strokes, completely at ease in the water.

Carlos caught sight of me and swam over with a smile. "Fancy seeing you here," he said, resting at the edge of the pool.

I smiled back. "I didn't realize you were such a good swimmer."

He shrugged lightly, but there was a hint of playfulness in his eyes. "Want to race?" he asked.