The Ties That Bind

looked just right for a warm summer's day, very breezy and carefree. Disgustedly she paused to try smoothing the fabric a bit before heading toward the glass wall of doors. Then she bent to check her hair in the side mirror. At least it didn't look as if it had just come out of a steam room.
    Straightening, Shannon examined the angled-glass-and-steel structure in front of her. The name Sherilectronics on the front was done in a hard-edged script that was reminiscent of a computer printout. The building was three stories high and seemed to be entirely occupied by Garth's company. There were other structures nearby, done in the same cold, modem industrial style and they all had signs declaring that they, too, were part of the computer revolution. Together they formed what was called an industrial park. Shannon couldn't see anything parklike about the acres of high-tech industry that surrounded her, unless she counted the few trees planted along the sidewalks.
    Her first impression of Garth's world confirmed her worst fears. It looked very alien.
    When she discovered a uniformed guard at the entrance of Sherilectronics , Shannon knew she was definitely in another world. He was very polite but very firm. The name Bailey Security Services was embroidered over his left pocket.
    "Can I help you, ma'am?"
    "I'm here to see Mr. Sheridan," Shannon admitted self-consciously.
    "Is he expecting you?"
    "Well, no, but I don't think he'll mind." Much.
    "I'll call up to the office for you," the guard said pleasantly. "This is Saturday, so the receptionist isn't on duty. Have a seat." He gestured toward a lobby chair.
    This wasn't quite the way Shannon had planned it. "Couldn't I just go on up and surprise him?"
    The guard looked at her with a wry expression and shook his head. "Afraid not. Mr. Sheridan doesn't like surprises. That's why he hires people from my firm to stand here at the front door. May I have your name?"
    "Shannon Raine ." She hitched her tote bag onto her shoulder and decided to wait standing up. Sitting down would just add a few more wrinkles to the cotton skirt. Tensely she listened while the guard contacted Garth's office.
    "Bonnie, there's a Miss Raine here to see Mr. Sheridan. Shall I send her up?" There was a pause while the guard politely scrutinized his guest. "Okay, fine." He hung up the phone. "Third elevator, top floor. Sheridan's secretary said you're to go straight up."
    Shannon nodded and started for the elevator. Even now the mysterious Bonnie would be telling Garth he was about to receive a visitor. Shannon's palms went damp as she rode the elevator alone to the third floor.
    When the doors hissed open she found herself in another spacious lobby. In the center of it sat a striking woman who could have just stepped out of Vogue magazine. The smile she gave Shannon was as perfect as the rest of her. She probably typed a thousand words a minute, too, Shannon thought with a sigh. The woman looked competent as well as beautiful. The name on the discreet plate in front of her was Bonnie Garnett.
    "Miss Raine ? I'll tell Mr. Sheridan you're here."
    Shannon clutched her tote. "He doesn't know yet?" For some reason she felt as if she'd received a small reprieve.
    Bonnie shook her head. "He's in a meeting with Mr. McIntyre. They've been at it since seven o'clock this morning." She leaned forward and touched a small button on the intercom. "Mr. Sheridan, you have a visitor. A Miss Raine ."
    Shannon realized she was holding her breath waiting for the response. The pause before Garth answered seemed to last a hundred years. When it came his voice sounded so cold and devoid of emotion that Shannon nearly lost her nerve entirely.
    "I'll be right out, Bonnie."
    Bonnie released the intercom button and gave Shannon another of her perfect smiles. Her eyes slipped to the tote and suddenly there was more than professional interest in her gaze. "What a lovely bag. Where did you get it?"
    "I, uh, made it." Shannon smiled weakly. The door to the inner office remained ominously closed.
    Bonnie got up from behind her desk and came around the corner. "May I see it? I've never seen anything quite like it."
    Obediently Shannon extended the large tote. Bonnie's interest took Shannon's mind off the door to the inner office. "It's a silk-screen process. I brought a few of my totes along with me on this trip just in case I decide to stay through Monday or Tuesday. I thought I might be able to pay some calls on some potential buyers