Anne was determin; she couldn’t stay in an envirohat pushed her sciouso the limit. Her nature wouldn’t allow her to ay differently. What once seemed like an unshakable duty now felt like a burden, she o cast off to find peace. At first, her words might have been nervous, but now she realized she might have been a bit impulsive.

  –Stop talking in riddles. – Anne growled. –What do you mean by ‘from less to more?’–

  --I don’t fully uand it either, but A’s a bit illogical to end a retionship based on a feeling. If you think it over a little more, I believe we could find an answer. You’re the person in charge of all the affairs at Lux Animation. I ’t see yning; you love the work you do every m, -- Billy replied.

  –A bit pretentious, don’t you think? I hate that job now, – Anne said. Pride was something she lived by, and she wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. She could omach swallowing that pride she held so tightly.

  –Anne, what do you want from me? There must be something. I’m not smart enough to figure out your thoughts exactly. I’m a mess when it es to uandiions. If you’re not direct, we’ll both be stuck here for a long time, – Billy admitted. He couldn’t quite grasp the issues that led Ao act this way, but ohing was certain: the blonde only wao unburden something she had been holding in her heart.

  --Billy, I need a vacation then. I ’t keep restraining myself. The freedom a trip would ht be the best option for me right now. When we sider that most mistakes we make tend to magnify whe unchecked, eople, always try to folloath that gives us some form of satisfa or at least brings us close to it. The truth is, I want you, Billy. I couldn’t be surer that my desire extends to every step, and I ’t block the memories that flood me again and again. They vibrate through me, reminding me how foolish I’ve been, but a fool heless. -- Anne's voice trembled as she spoke.

  –Anne, how am I supposed to respond to this? – Billy asked, lost in the words he had just heard. He ran a hand through his blond hair and adjusted his shirt, but something elusive was hiding within him. Why was the world so plicated? He uood that, normally, the right option would be to reject this. Yet deep ihe pragmatic young man he was held onto the value of Anne. Losing her wouldn’t be something he could repce, at least not for a year. He had to be smart, and maybe sider a temporary rept, but no one came to mind. Everyone capable was on a path with urn, and he distrusted others as much as he distrusted the potential didates for the position at Lux Animation.

  --I think what you’re suggesting is a mistake. I’m in a retionship, and I don’t want to damage what I’ve built. Sometimes, lettiions take over is... maybe the ideal dream you’ve had is just that, a dream. Reality be as disappointing as it often is. These personal, private enters between two people—they’re just that. Enters are stripped of the muse we carry in our minds. We dream of things that, by nature, are only a mistake, a fairy tale turned nightmare, - Billy said.

  –It’s just the desire I have and what I’m holding onto. Don’t downpy these emotions that e me. I know what I want, and I’m not ag on some silly assumptions... does it hurt to hear the truth? Not hiding behind silence like you do, deceiving yirlfriends or using them? You’re a hypocrite, always seeking bes. Fetting about love, now you tell me you ’t act because it’s wrong? You fool, that’s what you are. You’ll never marry Monica; she’s not enough for you. You just keep her around as a shield. That’s what makes you different from your father, and that’s why I must resign. –Anne’s words cut deep, but they didn’t shake Billy the way she had hoped. He was only thinking about his pany, not about anything else. Love, he thought, was everywhere if one looked for it. He almost sighed at the realization. He was Billy Carson, and he could have anyone he wanted. His mind raced through tless possibilities, but he couldn’t quite figure out what to do. Yet doing nothing was still an answer.

  –Stht here. – Billy said, grabbing Anne’s arms.

  –A tract, let’s make a tract, – Billy said.

  –What are you talking about? – asked the blonde once again.

  “I’ll do it, but under traame your terms, and I’ll state my ditions. It’s the only way we’ll get through this,” Billy said.

  She doubted his words but nodded, realizing that this retionship would be bound by a tract. In her mind, she toyed with the idea, almost as if she were in aiovel. Her heart trembled, her body urged her to gh with it, and she had been dreaming of this enter for months, over and ain.

  –Make love to me, just make love to me whenever you , –Aammered, her words stumbling over themselves, though not in a way she enjoyed.

  –The tract will stipute this must remain fidential. If a third party finds out, it’s void. – Billy added, already calg ges in his pany.

  –I don’t care about anything else. – Anne replied.

  A fsh of something passed through Billy, and with a gesture of affirmatioook Anne in his arms, with a tenderness he had learned. As much as he could muster, and with delicacy, their tongues entwined. Anne moaned as she felt him, but Billy tinued smoothly, step by step, deg to let his pany fade from his thoughts for a moment. Kissing her deeply, he now felt the need for his father to return, if only to help him with the material division of the business. New ideas started f in his mind.

  –You’ll obey me ihing I do ing this. – Billy said, taking a strand of her hair as she nodded, uo refuse anything more.

  –I’ll do whatever you say, – Anne whispered, captive to her feelings. Her mind was clear, and she began drafting the tra her head.

  ...