Several moments passed before she slowly continued.  “So what are you proposing, Tina?  A brief separation?  A visit to my favorite shrink to help us patch things up?  A romantic trip to Maui?  What do you need, Tina?  I’m not letting you go.  I need you too much.” Alexandra said softly into the phone.

Tina shrugged in exasperation.  “Alexandra, I thought my intent was clear… just where has your head been – other than between someone else’s legs.”

Even Tina was shocked by the boldness of her exchange.  She couldn’t stem the anger and hurt that threatened to overwhelm her reason.

True to her alpha form Alexandra would not be deterred. 

“Tina, I love you.  You know how much you mean to me.  I want to fix this, baby.”

Her subtle emotional manipulation was not lost on Tina.  She had steeled herself for the emotional pleas she knew were coming.  What Alexandra wanted, she generally received. 

This time however, she had made a grave miscalculation.

Tina was certain that Alexandra wanted to repair their relationship.  She also wanted to prevent Tina from leaving Shaolin.  She was her best executive producer, consistently bringing in quality films under budget and often ahead of schedule. 

Tina had excelled as an executive producer; by the close of her second year at Shaolin, she had secured sufficient savings through her salary and investments to live independently for several years without employment.  She knew she could safely leave the biz and transition to a career that stimulated her creative juices. 

“Alexandra, please allow me to repeat myself.  I am tired of the cheating.  I am tired of the lying.  Most of all, I am tired of the movie business.  I’ve decided that I need to leave both of you.”

“Oh, come now.  You are just making a rash decision out of some misguided principle…”

“No, I am not,” Tina interrupted. “I am standing up for myself and demanding a simpler and more fulfilling life.  It is clear that I will not get that from our relationship or the movie studio,” she said emphatically.

“Okay…okay, Tina.  I’ll reluctantly agree to take a break from us as long as we agree to work on it but please, please don’t leave Shaolin because of me.  I need you in production.  I can’t manage all these upcoming film projects without your extraordinary expertise.  Baby, you are too valuable to me.  I know I don’t tell you that often enough, but you must know…after all the time we have spent together.”

Tina laughed silently to herself.  Oh, how the mighty have fallen. 

“For the third and final time Alexandra…WHAT is it YOU want?” Tina beseeched simply wanting to end this alpha driven banter.

“Tina, please don’t do this without giving me a chance to explain.  Have dinner with me tonight.  Baby, I really need to talk with you about this… the past three days have been absolutely dreadful without you lying next to me…I’ve missed you so much.  Everything I touch at home carries your scent.  My heart is utterly breaking at the thought of losing you because of my thoughtless actions.  I want to make it right.  I want to…”

Alexandra’s voice cracked and signaled to Tina that her Ex was beginning to understand the finality of her earlier message.  It was finally permeating her steel-coated facade.  Genuine emotions were rising to the surface.

Although Tina hated to show a sign of weakness she wanted to stop the endless badgering by Alexandra; especially today.  She frankly had too much work to do.  She probably owed her Ex at least one final meeting; particularly since she was not terminating her ASP anytime soon. 

Tina enunciated her words with crystal clarity.  “Tonight.  Lugio’s.  7:00 p.m.  Don’t be one minute late or I’m leaving.”

Tina quickly pushed the red button to terminate the call.   

She had to tolerate one more meeting.  There could be no losing control.  There WOULD be no losing control. 

Tina returned to her desk and sat comfortably in her executive chair.  Oh, this would be an evening to remember.  It would soon be time to unveil the second phase of ASP. She returned to her desk and sat in front of her computer screen.

Using her mouse she clicked on the file on her desktop with the title Resignation Letter.  She would save herself the trouble of having to visit Alexandra’s office tomorrow, by delivering the letter to her in person this evening.  After all, her latest alpha had taught her one lesson well…everything’s fair in love and separation.