Chapter 11

Joe came into work the next morning with a clear purpose. His work for the week was nearly finished. He just had to finish up a few contracts and talk to Charlene about the trip.

Joe knew the next few weeks would be very busy with the end of the year coming up. New contracts would be coming in for new authors who had been in the mill for some time. There were also ongoing rewrites to check on and to finish and conformations of previous issues to settle as well as many meetings in the office. He was looking forward to his time away from work.

He waved for Charlene to follow him as he passed her office and entered his. She left her desk and quickly followed Joe.

“Sit down Charlene. How are you today?” “I’m fine. I called the travel agency yesterday and reserved my place on the trip.”

“Well that solves one problem.”

“Yes, and I think my payment for this trip has been ironed out. I cancelled the trip with Suzan this morning.”

“Well I know it isn’t much consolation after all you’ve been through Joe, but it’s better than another kick in the teeth.” Charlene looked down at the floor. She felt bad about being so blunt, but she thought it was a good move to get Joe thinking of just how badly he had been treated by Suzan. She didn’t want him to forget that too soon.

“Sorry boss.”

“No, you’re right your right about that Charlene. I just want to be sure we have an understanding about our situation.”

Charlene had a very clear understanding of the situation.

“If you come on this trip, you will be traveling as a coworker and nothing more.”

“Yes Joe, obviously. I understand that completely.”

Unknown to Joe, they would be sleeping in the same kingsized bed in all the camps on their safari. The arrangements had already been made for Joe and Suzan. It was easier just to change the name on the ticket. Charlene had seen to that after Joe had made his reservation.

She could have arranged double beds, but that would have defeated the whole purpose of the trip for Charlene. She had a plan.

She was sure she could make Joe love her before the trip was over.

Charlene was above average in looks and smarter than most, or so she thought.

She looked up at Joe as he sat at his desk working. His head was down and he appeared to be reading something of some importance to him. Then he looked up at her. She sat with her legs crossed and had a pad and pencil at the ready.

“We must be careful to keep this trip on a professional level even if it is a vacation, Charlene. I think we should look at it as simply a business trip. I will be working on this side project so I may be unavailable for much conversation and such at times.”

“I have no problem with that Joe. That will keep you occupied and I will simply be in a vacation of a lifetime.”

Joe thought about what she said for a moment but soon let it pass.

He wondered if perhaps working on this side project was a waste of a good vacation, but he thought he needed to be occupied to keep from thinking of Suzan on this trip that should have been their honeymoon and what had transpired between them.

Charlene knew about the life insurance policy Joe and Suzan had taken out on each other. She had done all the research on that issue and contacted the agent.

She had arranged everything including the delivery of the documents to be signed by Joe and Suzan. She knew who the beneficiaries were if one was to meet their death.

If Suzan died, Joe would receive $300,000.00. Likewise, if Joe died, Suzan would receive the money. It didn’t matter if they were married or not.

Charlene knew Joe. Charlene knew Joe hadn’t changed the policy. She would have been the one to do it if he had wanted it done. He hadn’t gotten to it as of yet. She was sure of that.

Charlene thought that $300,000.00 would help Joe off on a good start on the next phase of his life. Charlene wanted to be apart of that. She had no idea of what the near future held for her and Joe, but she was formulating a plan.

The next few weeks went quickly. Work was busy and both Joe and Charlene were busy with their duties at the office. They had little time to talk about the trip.

They decided not to talk about it at work so as to keep it a secret. No one had to or should know about this unusual trip of their’s coming up.

Joe knew that Suzan had a new love and he was slowly trying to learn to deal with that and to heal his broken heart. He spent many nights at home in front of the television even after some of his guy friends asked him to go out on the town with them.

“I’m not ready yet,” he would tell them. He felt that he was slowly recovering from a broken heart and dating seemed less than interesting. Joe wasn’t up for another beat down quite yet.

Charlene thought that her plan would work nicely. She was thinking of what to pack and wear every night when she arrived at the end of her subway ride home.

Would she need a formal dress for one night out to dinner in nice restaurant. There were three scheduled for the trip on arrival into major cities. What kind of sleeping attire should she bring while traveling with Joe in Africa.

Joe was thinking of which cameras to bring and how much weight he was allowed for the flights. Would he have room for his computer if he brought three cameras?

The time for the trip arrived quicker than expected or so it seemed to Joe. Joe had been very busy with work.

Charlene looked over several outfits to sleep in. Some more revealing than others. She picked three different ones. They took up very little space in her luggage. After all, it can get hot in Africa.

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So, there here you go. Joe is thinking a long different lines than Charlene, apparently.