AARON

“I need you to call Clay and reschedule that meeting for me and mail this off,” I said to my secretary, handing her a manila folder and a list of things to tell Ronald Clay when she called him. “And make it clear to anyone who wants a piece of me this next week to wait. I’m not letting anything ruin my getaway.”

“Of course,” she said with a smile. “The break will do you good. I imagine Ben is excited.”

I nodded. “Very. He’ll see some of his friends, too. I’m just glad we’ll get away, and I’ll have a chance to catch my breath.”

My secretary nodded...