Amir's P.O.V

I can't explain what it felt like to walk out of Alyssa's house this morning. I was absolutely gutted. I thought that she would change her mind about her stupid no-dating rule after our weekend together. Instead, she served me a big platter of rejection with my coffee and muffins.

I don't understand what happened. We spent the whole weekend together. We seemed to get along great in and outside of the bedroom.

Let's face it the sex was hot. It was the best that I've ever had and I've had my fair share over the years. I've never been with a woman that compares to Alyssa.

Alyssa was great in bed, but I gave as good as I got. I don't mean to brag, but I am no slouch in the bedroom. I make sure that women in my bed are thoroughly satisfied. Alyssa seemed to enjoy our time together. I don't think a poor performance was the issue. What was the problem?

I'm a thirty-five-year-old man who has made a career out of solving some of the most challenging problems for huge multi-national corporations. I should be able to figure out why Alyssa is pushing me away with her lame excuses. Then, I can get her to give me a second chance. I just need to take a step back and analyze this issue from a logical, business perspective.

As a consulting executive, I don't have all the answers. When I need key information to resolve an issue, I reach out to a subject matter expert. Someone who is more familiar with in the ins and outs of the issue and can give me information that I can't obtain through observation alone.

I knew that I couldn't afford to delay. So, I called Alex on my way to my client meeting and asked him to meet me for lunch this afternoon. He sounded suspicious, but he agreed to meet me. I let him pick the restaurant. That's why we are being seated at one of the most expensive steakhouses in the Bay Area.

Alex takes a seat and briefly looks at the menu waiting for our hostess to leave. Then, he looks up from his menu, "I know this isn't a business meeting. Tell me why you were so eager to meet me for lunch. Is this about Alyssa?"

"You hit the nail on the head. I thought things were going great this weekend. This morning, Alyssa ended things before she left for the airport. It didn't make any sense. You seem close and I thought you could share some insight on the situation."

"You seem like a good guy, but you need to realize that my loyalty is to Alyssa. I won't do anything that could hurt her."

"I wouldn't ask you to. I think she has feelings for me, but she won't admit it. She is pushing me away, but I know that we could be really good together. I just need her to give me a chance."

Alex takes a sip of his beer and seems to be deep in thought. "Did Alyssa tell you why she doesn't date?"

"Alyssa gave me a lot of excuses. She told me that she's not ready to date. Alyssa said that she is too busy for a relationship. She said that she has too many responsibilities as a mom. Alyssa even tried to point to a conflict of interest based on our positions in the company. I don't think any of these excuses were the reason for her breaking off things this morning. That's why I need your help."

"Look Amir. Alyssa is a very private person and she doesn't share personal details with many people. I am one of just a handful of people who she confides in. I don't want to betray her trust, but I want to make sure that she has a second chance to be happy. If I help, will you promise that you won't hurt her?"

I look across the table at Alex. Without hesitation, I say, "You have my word."

"Alyssa says that she wants to be happy, but she has a lot of guilt about what happened to her husband. I think she unconsciously sabotages any opportunities for her own happiness."

"I don't understand. Why would she do that?"

"David was a nice guy. In my opinion, he was mediocre husband." He paused and then continued. "I met Alyssa when she interviewed for a position at my last company. I was surprised that she considered the role since she seemed so happy at DNT. Within a few months, we became close friends and she told me that she only took the position for the big increase to her salary. Her husband had been laid off from his job and was having some type of early midlife crisis. Instead of finding another job, he wanted to start his own business. He needed Alyssa to get a better paying position, so she could cover the bills. So, he encouraged her to leave the position she loved and take a less appealing position with a big paycheck."

"That seems like a dick move, but I'm sure they made that decision together. Was it really that bad?"

"I think Alyssa enjoyed working with me, but our CEO was a chauvinist pig. Alyssa constantly battled with him to improve how women were treated at the company. She had a long commute and was expected to work outrageous hours. Outside of work, Alyssa pretty much took care of all the house and kid-related responsibilities. She ran herself ragged trying to please everyone."

"If her husband wanted her to pay the bills, why didn't he step up around the house. Was he really that busy with his business?"

"That's the thing. Alyssa was killing herself balancing work, the kids, the house and even managing the books for David's business. Meanwhile, David was playing golf to network with prospects, taking business contacts to lunch, working on his project cars and hanging out with his friends. Life was pretty good for David. I liked David, but it would piss me off that he would be hanging out on the couch watching sports while Alyssa was working long hours and doing everything else."

"I can't believe that a spitfire like Alyssa put up with that. How long did it last?"

"Can you believe that she put up with that shite for two years?  I can't tell you how many times I talked to David about it.  I told that bastard exactly what I thought of the way he was treating her. I considered David my mate, but Alyssa came first."

"I'm sure David didn't appreciate your perspective. It must have been hard to remain friends."

"Our friendship was rough at times, but I was Team Alyssa all the way and she needed someone to stick up for her."  Alex paused and leans in before continuing.   "Alyssa was paying all the household bills and subsidizing David's business.  She was constantly investing money in David's unprofitable business to keep it afloat.   It never made money, because David didn't take it seriously.  Alyssa told David that she would support his dream for two years. If it wasn't making a profit after two years, the business would be closed and David would need to find a job."

"I can't believe she put up with that for two years. So, David finally shut down the business and got a job?"

"Not voluntarily. He didn't want to give up the business and he wasn't looking for another job very hard. He was putting off finding a new position for as long as possible, but at that time DNT was trying to get Alyssa to come back in a new role. Alyssa realized that she couldn't take the role if she was still covering everything at home and doing work for David's business. She worked her local contacts, found a local alcohol distributor that needed a Sales and Marketing guy and set David up for an interview."

"So, let me get his straight. Alyssa supports David for two years while he has some type of midlife crisis and at the end of that time, David doesn't even look for his own job?"

"Nope. Alyssa had to find the position, write his resume and force him to go to the interview. David got the position because the owner of the company was friends with Alyssa. He didn't want to accept the position, but Alyssa pushed him to take it. When David accepted, Alyssa took the new position at DNT. Everything was going well until David died driving home from a business meeting about six months later. She blames herself for David being on the road that day and I think that's the real reason that she won't let herself move forward."

"Wow. I knew there was something, but that's not what I expected."

"After the accident, Alyssa was broken.  Alyssa has always been a superhero and everything in her life seemed to be in order. When David died, she put her family and friends first.  She balances work and other obligations like a pro.  If you didn't know her before the accident, you would think she had a perfect life."

"She's one of the most positive people that I have ever met.  Alyssa says that she's satisfied with her life the way it is.  Do you think she's lying?"

"She might seem happy, but David's death took the spark from her. It's been missing for a long time, but I've been seeing signs that it's returning. I think you might be part of its return. That's why I'll try to help you.   You better be serious about her.  If you hurt her after everything she's been through, I'll make sure they don't find your body."