She waved into the camera, "Hello darling. How are you?"

"Missing you." The little boy in the screen pouted, "When are you coming home?"

"Mummy told you. She'll be home by tomorrow night." She held up her phone, "Remember, my flight is tomorrow afternoon and then I cross the whole world to beat the sun home to you."

"Promise."

"Promise." She kissed the camera. "Now, mind your grandparents and go to sleep. I'll be home before you know it."

"Bye Mummy."

She closed the lid to the laptop and sighed. With a glance toward the clock, she slipped her feet into a pair of high heels and snatched her bag from the side table. The mirror in the entry to her hotel room allowed her a moment to situate herself before walking into the hallway.

As she stepped out of the door someone's hands reached out to stop her running into the maid's cart as it passed. She let out a shuddering laugh and turned to see who saved her. He smiled, removing his hands and holding them up toward his chest.

"I hope you didn't find that too invasive."

"It was helpful."

"I figured you wouldn't want to upset her carefully stacked tower to toilet paper." He smiled, extending a hand, "John Bates."

"Anna Smith." She pulled the bag over her shoulder. "Funny, I didn't think I had to travel all the way to Shanghai just to meet a fellow from the UK."

"Nor me but it's good to not have to worry about the grimaces from people when I try out my horrible accent in Mandarin." He pointed toward the lift, "Mind sharing a ride to the lobby with me."

"I'd be delighted Mr. Bates."

"John, please." He laughed, "I'm only 'Mr. Bates' in any of the meetings I have here."

"What kind of meetings are you having?"

"I work in technology. My company sends me out to seal the deal, as if were, in our acquisitions."

"Soul of the party then are you?"

John laughed, shaking his head, "It's more that I look intimidating but then they find our I'm a teddy bear and that's it."

"Sold like that?" Anna snapped her fingers.

"About." He sighed, pressing the button for the lift, "What about you? What brings Ms. Smith to Shanghai."

"I'll tell you on the condition you call me 'Anna'."

"Deal."

"I work HR. Mostly I run personnel interviews for advancements or promotions and, on the bad days, I handle staff disputes from the headquarter level."

"The kind bringing too much office drama?"

"Yes," Anna rolled her eyes, "And never the good kind. It's always something stupid like hurt feelings or someone got drunk at a party and then made an ass of themselves."

"Happens more than we'd like to admit."

"Don't tell me," Anna stepped into the lift before him, "You accidently snogged someone at the Christmas party."

"I accidently snogged someone's wife at a Christmas party, while the man she cheated on me with watched, and then we went back to hers."

"I hope this story doesn't finish with you telling me you took a short trip toward the land of bisexuality."

"For the sake of my daughter, no."

"You've a daughter?" Anna cooed, "That's lovely."

"She is." John smiled, "Most days she's everything I could ever've wanted and more."

"But?"

"But some days…" John sighed, checking his watch, "If I had more time I'd detail it all to you but I've got a meeting that I can't miss."

"If you're not leaving in a hurry," Anna checked her own phone before tucking it away, "Could we share a drink at the bar later?"

"Eight?"

"Suits me fine." Anna grinned, "I look forward to seeing you there John."

"And I you, Anna."

He winked and headed for a man standing by the doors. They greeted one another and Anna watched them enter a shared car before joining the impossible traffic. She turned out the rotating doors and raised her hand for a taxi.

"Pamuk International please."

Anna opened her bag as they drove, flitting through the contents until she found what she needed. Wrapping it over her wrist she pulled her hair back and tied it securely there. Two pins held the strands too short for the ponytail and she sat back.

When the car stopped she paid the driver and walked inside the building. Security had her extending her arms to the side and she handed her bag over as they ran a wand over her. It chittered at her hair but she showed them the pins and the hair tie. They waved her through and Anna took her bag back.

The lift ride to the top offices was as smooth as she could imagine and when Anna exited a woman immediately came to her side. "Mr. Pamuk is ready to see you Ms. Cotton."

"I just need the ladies first." Anna waited and smiled when the woman pointed her toward it. "I won't be a moment."

Anna went through the door and locked it before setting her bag on the counter. She rifled through the contents again and drew out a long rod. Removing the pins from her hair, she attached both to the end of the rod and lifted it toward the ceiling vent. With a tap they dislodged and Anna pulled out her phone while collapsing the rod back into her bag.

Her thumb swiped to a screen and she pressed on it. Two blinking dots appeared and she smiled, tucking the phone away before removing the hair tie to twist it around her wrist. Anna checked herself in the mirror, touching at the corner of her eye for a bit of mascara, she took her bag and left the bathroom.

"Sorry about that."

"Not a problem." The woman assured her, "This way."

Anna followed her to a large glass office and extended her hand to the man who stood up from his desk. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Pamuk."

"The pleasure's all mine Ms. Cotton." He offered her a seat, "Please, we've much to discuss."

"That we do." Anna took the seat, holding her wrist to remove the hair tie and snap it into a single length before brushing it on the underside of his desk. "I know this meeting's a bit rushed but our company's fighting stiff competition about this project."

"I know. We're dealing with a great many people interested in keeping ahead in the world of technology." He sniffed, face scrunching a moment, and then waved it off. "We're ready to offer your company an acquisition deal I don't think you'd find ungenerous."

"I'm sure, in other circumstances we wouldn't, no." Anna shifted in the chair, fingers fiddling over her phone screen without looking at it. "But you see, I'm not here about the acquisition that won't happen."

"Excuse me?" Mr. Pamuk coughed and Anna waited, "I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind if I take a glass of water for my throat."

"Take all you like, it won't help." Anna waited as his eyes widened, "You've an acute peanut allergy that's bound to already be affecting you through your skin where it touched my hair tie and through the spritz coming off your desk now."

"What?"

"I'm here on behalf of Mary Crawley," Anna stood, ripping the strip from his desk and tossing it in the rubbish. "She asked that you take the last moments of your life to think about what you did to her."

"I can offer you more than she can."

"I doubt that." Anna held up her phone, "See, on here I've already broken your security so they'll never know I was here, and shut off your cameras, and taken what I was offered from your private accounts."

She reached over the desk and buzzed the secretary, "Mr. Pamuk's having an allergic reaction, send help." Anna rolled her shoulders, "They should be here in just enough time for your empire to crash about your ears."

As the secretary and security burst into the room Anna used the same door to catch the lift doors before they closed. Inside the lift she tapped a few things on her phone before holding it up to her ear. It rang on the other end and she kept her voice professional when someone answered.

"This is Ms. Cotton. The matter's been dealt with. Confirmation'll make the evening news I'm sure and you can pay me at your convenience after that."

She hung up and tucked her phone away in her bag before dropping it into another rubbish bin as she left the building.

Anna stirred her drink, clicking down her bank statement on her phone until someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned and smiled to see John there. "I thought you might've stood me up."

"Never crossed my mind." He pointed to a table, "Unless you want to lean over the bar all evening."

"You plan on keeping my company all evening?" Anna put a hand to her chest, "How scandalous."

"I'd assume you wouldn't have asked if you had other plans for the rest of the night."

"The only people I know here are either excited to see the back of me or never wanted to meet me in the first place." Anna set her drink on the table, settling across from John. "How was your day?"

"Fixed a few systems to complete an acquisition and made more than a few people very happy." John raised his glass, "To the lovely Christmas bonus I'll be collecting shortly."

"I thought one collected Christmas bonuses at Christmas." Anna teased before knocking her glass on his. "But I'll drink to the bonuses that make the work we do away from our children worth it."

"You've got kids too?"

"Just one." Anna finished her sip, setting her glass to the side. "Henry."

"How wonderful. How old?"

"No," Anna wagged a finger, "You first since you led with it in the lift earlier."

"Don't tell me you've been dying all day to hear about my daughter."

"Having been someone's daughter once the idea that my father would've talked someone's ear off about me on a business trip is both exhilarating and terrifying." Anna waved him, "Go on, tell me about the girl who's mostly sunshine and rainbows."

"Her name's Catherine and she's just stepping off the platform of childhood into her teenage years." John shuddered, "Pray for mercy on my soul."

"Why?"

"It's like some days she's completely fine and other days I'm reining in a hurricane."

Anna laughed, "You obviously never had sisters."

"I was an only child."

"Lucky you." She sipped her drink, holding it carefully in her hand. "I've a younger sister and we were nightmares for my poor mother."

"How so?"

"Stealing each other's clothes, threats with hairbrushes… nightmares."

"Then I guess I should be glad it's only Catherine and I'm not trying to herd cats or anything."

"Doesn't your wife help? Being the experienced one and all?"

"She's been my ex-wife for years now so thankfully no."

"I'm sorry," Anna bit at her lip, "There's me with my foot in my mouth."

"No," He waved her off, "You weren't to know."

"Does she help though, with your daughter?"

"She walked out on us, papers all signed and ready, when Catherine was six. It's been just me since then." He pulled at his beer before placing it to the side. "But we manage."

"I'm sure you spoil her rotten."

"I've done my share with it." John grinned, "She was a real Daddy's girl."

"I can imagine." Anna shrugged, "Must've made it harder when she grew a personality with her hormones."

"That's the nightmare of it." John flailed, "There's no warning. You'd think there'd be a tell or something but no. One minute she's the little princess I pushed on a swing set or taught to ride a bike and the next she's screaming like a banshee that I'm ruining her life."

Anna put her hand over his, "Welcome to parenting a teenager."

"It's even harder when she thinks I take these trips to avoid her."

"Do you?"

John shook his head, "I'd brave Hell for her and that includes her personal Hell or the Hell she makes for me. I'm here because I'm the only one left to take care of her."

"And no one helps you out at all?"

"My mother lives with us so she keeps an eye on Catherine while I'm away."

"Do they get on?"

John nodded, "Like a house on fire. To the point where it's almost always two against one."

Anna nodded sympathetically. "At least you're not trying to explain the anatomical differences between boys and girls anymore."

"That's right, you've got one too."

"I do." Anna sighed, "My little one's got me over a barrel with his energy and his questions and his enthusiasm for all things loud or migraine inducing."

"Boys and their toys."

"True, and that part I've got alright, it's the questions I'm still trying to get around."

"Like?"

"For instance," Anna finished her drink, a side thought questioning if she needed a bit of liquid courage for the conversation topic she would now attempt. "Henry can't understand why I don't pee standing up and why sometimes I eat more ice cream than he does. Or why he has apparatus that I don't have."

"Did you show him an anatomy book?"

"I'm not sure my five-year-old's going to understand the implications of differing sexual organs quite yet."

"When's that conversation going to happen?"

"Probably about the time I realize he's taking matters, quite literally, into his own hands and hiding some kind of illicit porn stash under his bed."

"I'd check the closet too."

"Thought of that and there will be routine checks." Anna scrunched her nose, "I do admit, I'm dreading the thought of braving his room when he's got it covered in that disgusting body odor boys carry around and never notice."

"It's a defense mechanism, to protect aforementioned porn stashes."

"The ones hidden under beds and in closets?"

"Exactly." John finished his drink as well. "Boys always think they're so clever and original but we all use the same locations I think we've been using since the dawn of time."

Anna raised her glass, "In gratitude to whatever gods made it so boys aren't all that bright at that age."

"At any age." John clinked his glass with hers. "If only they'd been as kind when it came to helping us understand girls as compensation for our stupidity."

"Oh no," Anna shook her head, "We're a different species and therefore supposed to be far superior. Leaving you confused is the only thing that keeps you all coming back to even take an interest in us. If you realized how outmatched you are you'd never try."

John leaned over the table, "I think I'd still like to try."

She grinned back at him, "And I'd like you to."

"But," John stopped himself, "I won't tread where there's another player."

"Another player?"

"Henry's father."

"Oh," Anna shook her head, playing at turning the glass in her hands on the table top. "Henry's father's not an issue."

"Why not, if I can ask."

"He's since passed on."

"Oh I am sorry." John reached out a hand, "I didn't realize."

"You weren't to know." Anna smiled, "And he didn't really have a role in Henry's life so it's not a sore subject."

"How'd you meet Henry's father?"

"Jeff and I served together in the Royal Marines." Anna let her voice get a little nostalgic. "We met, fell in love, married, and got pregnant almost immediately. Six months into the pregnancy Jeff's working and just faints and we get the diagnosis that he's got brain cancer."

"The way life sucker punches you in the back of the head eh?"

"It's a bit of a bastard yeah."

John waited a beat before speaking again, "What'd you do?"

"I resigned my commission to take a job that paid a lot better to support us through Jeff's treatment and the next nine months as I juggled an invalid and my six-month-old." Anna snorted, "I thought it'd give me more time with my son."

"Did it?"

"I'm here in Shanghai having this conversation."

"No, then?"

Anna took a breath, "The funny thing was that part of the reasons I left the Marines was because I thought it'd give me a chance to be home more. See my son grow up. And instead I leave my baby for days on end and he's always wondering why Mummy's so far away all the time."

"I'm sure it's not a comfort to you that while they get used to it they never like it any better."

"Not much of one, no." Anna ran her finger around the rim of her glass. "There I was, trying to keep it all together when Jeff passed before Henry was a year old. A breastfeeding mother trying to climb the corporate ladder isn't advisable."

"Couldn't have been easy at all."

"The hardest part is knowing that Henry doesn't understand why and I'm afraid that he never will." With a cough to hold back any potential tears, she spoke, "It makes it even harder when I look at him and I see Jeff in his face. It makes me miss my boy more because I'm all he has and he'll never get to meet the man who always wanted to meet him."

They were quiet for a few minutes. Anna snatched a napkin and dabbed at her eyes, "I'm sorry I've made a mess of our drinks."

"No, I think you actually just gave me the deepest adult conversation I've had in some time that didn't revolve around how I can't wrap my daughter in cotton wool and wait until she's thirty-five to let her date."

Anna laughed, "We'll always be our parents' children won't we."

"I wonder if that's a boon or a bane."

"Some days it's both." Anna stood, "Would you mind walking me back to my room?"

"Not at all."

They took the lift, standing close to one another but not touching, and John walked Anna to her door. She slid the key from her pocket, turning it over in her fingers before turning to John. "Thank you, for saving me this morning, and for the drink. Despite the tears I'll assure you I had a wonderful time."

"I did too." He paused, tongue peeking out to lick over his bottom lip. "I wonder if I could ask you something you might find exceedingly forward."

"What?"

"You mentioned, over drinks, that you'd like me to try and I was wondering if now might be a good time to try."

"What'd you have in mind?"

"A kiss, to start."

Anna grinned, "And something else besides?"

"If the situation asked for it."

"I'll try the kiss first and then see if the situation asks for it." Anna held up her keycard, "But perhaps inside? I don't want to cause too much of a problem for the staff. It's a bit more reserved in this culture."

"Right."

They slipped into Anna's room and she flipped on a set of lights to leave a dim glow offset by the Shanghai skyline visible in her windows. John stepped closer to her and Anna forced herself to breathe normally as one of his hands settled on her cheek a moment. They synchronized their breathing and his lips touched hers.

There were no fireworks, no obnoxious displays of emotion at the feeling. It was just the pleasant sensation of someone exchanging emotion by touch. A touch Anna wanted more of as soon as she could have it.

John broke the kiss and waited. Anna's eyes fluttered and her own hand came to the back of his neck to pull him to her lips again. This time the pleasant sensation gave way to intense expression. They separated, both breathing a bit harder and Anna swallowed to clear her throat.

"Sorry, it's been awhile since someone kissed me."

"Me too." John admitted, "But I'd like to kiss you again."

"You did mention there'd be something else besides." Anna teased, her fingers moving over his tie. "I do hope that something else in mind involves that bed over there with the two of us on it."

"It does if you're game."

"I think I am." Anna paused, "It's probably not a surprise that it's been a bit long for me in that area too."

"I think we're in the same position." John smiled, "But I can promise I'm clean and safe."

"Me too." Anna laughed, "Not the kind of romantic conversation I think most people have before they want to have sex with a veritable stranger."

"Most people aren't worried about children back at home who'd think it odd when their single parents suddenly have VDs."

"Yes," Anna agreed, "Let me wait a few years to have to explain those to my son."

"I don't have a-"

"I'm on the pill," Anna bit her lip, "If that's enough for you."

"If it is for you." John snorted back a laugh, "I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I just had this image of us with this one-night stand where I leave my number in the morning and you call me in three months to surprise me with the news or something."

"In that case my first call is to a clinic to complain about the defective pills and then to you." Anna shook her head, "But I don't think they'll fail."

"Well then," John stroked a finger through her hair, "If we've got all the adulting out of the way I say we act our best versions of our randier, teenage selves."

"With more experience."

"Of course." John smiled, lowering his lips to just brush hers, "I'd like to think I'm much better at this now."

"Me too."

Anna's lips met his again and there was no hesitancy. No rushed passion. No tempered emotions. Just mutual goals in the seeking of giving and getting pleasure.

Everything turned into a measured rawness as they worked buttons free and kicked offending clothing to the side. The lowness of the bed made it a bit difficult to maneuver but even that only brought a moment of giggles and chuckles before they used it to their advantage. Anna's feet could touch the floor as John lowered her back to cover her body in kisses.

With the weak light of the lamps and the neon echo of the city outside the window it was as if John sought to learn her via tactile sensation, the muscle memory of his lips the only means of accentuating the worshipful caresses of his fingers against her skin. Anna dug her fingers into the blanker under her as he kissed and nipped his way from her breasts to her hips.

They locked eyes a moment before John spread her legs wide with his hips and set to pressing his fingers and mouth over her. The slipping sensation of his fingers stretching and reaching inside her had Anna crying out while the sucking of his tongue and teeth at her nerves led to shrieks she was sure the neighbors on either side of her would complain about later. But the noises only spurred John onward until she shattered her climax.

Her eager hands reached for him, scratching over his hips, clawing at his ass, and finally grasping his pulsing erection. John's head hung down as she dragged them both more fully onto the bed, spreading her legs wider as she went, and settled to stroke and coax him to fullness. He set his hands to her hips and lips to Anna's neck, sucking a line of kisses to her breasts until neither of them could take it any longer.

Anna's leg nocked over his hip and John thrust forward. They stopped, neither able to speak or breathe while they adjusted, and their eyes met again. She pulled his mouth to hers, running her tongue over his lips before sucking on each in turn with the gentle roll he started with his hips.

When John rocked into her, dragging to the very edge before thrusting determinedly as deeply as he could go, Anna broke the kiss to haul air to her lungs. Her hands sailed over his back, memorizing the shift of his muscles under her fingers to match his movements. And soon the slap of skin against skin echoed in the gentle creak of the bed.

John broke first, groaning as he struggled to hold himself over her, but Anna merely pressed him back to the bed and readjusted. He hissed and she winced, carefully moving to better rock and press until she came over the edge again as well. They slipped free of one another and lay back, side-by-side on the bed, allowing the thunder in their ears to settle until all they could hear was their syncopated breathing.

"If I'd known that was the something else besides," Anna dragged her fingers through her hair to get the strands stuck to her forehead pried loose, "I would've skipped the small talk."

"Me too." John huffed out a laugh, "But I think all I did was replace 'experience' with age."

"I thought you performed admirably."

"You said you hadn't had sex in awhile."

"Neither had you," Anna turned to him, "I thought you'd have some problems but it was just fine by me."

"Then please don't be angry if I say I might need a breather before you attempt any kind of round two." John closed his eyes. "And maybe real sleep."

"If you're sleeping here I don't mind." They looked at one another, "stay?"

"Of course." John opened his arms so she could crawl into them. "Long as you want."