Theresa smiled with satisfaction as she finished her final e-mail. Finally! It was Saturday and she had much better things to do then take care of Crane business. Much better things...she smiled as she thought of Jared. He had promised her a picnic in the park, just the two of them, and she was looking forward to it. Just an lazy afternoon without the pressures of being Mrs. Alistair Crane on her shoulders...

A bleep caught her attention and Theresa sighed in annoyance. Another e-mail had just been sent to her. Just great. Sighing, she clicked on her inbox and then her eyes widened as she saw who the sender was. Ethan.

"Theresa,
We need to talk about the other night. Meet me at my office ASAP. We won't be disturbed.
Ethan"

Theresa glared at the computer screen, trying to ignore the fact that her heart had just leapt at the mere sight of his name. "What, does he think he can just snap his fingers and I'll come running? Who does he think he is? I'll tell him where he can stick it..." she fumed to herself as she began to type. She'd tell him she was done with his games, done with second best, done with chasing him...

A minute later Theresa hit the delete button and sat back with a sigh. It was no good. Her brain wanted to tell him no, wanted to tell him she knew he just wanted yet another excuse for them to have an illicit tryst. But her heart, it cried out to say yes, beyond all reason, and her body-well, it was the ultimate traitor.
"Come on, Theresa, be strong." She whispered to herself. "You're tougher than this, you're not meant to be used. I am woman, hear me roar. GRRR!"

"Uh, Mom?"

Theresa whipped around to see her son, EJ, behind her, looking at her in confusion. "Why are you growling at your computer screen?"

"Self empowerment is overrated." Theresa muttered to herself. Then looking back up at EJ she grinned. "No reason, honey. Do you have your overnight bag packed?" Lil Ethan was spending the night at his friend Mark's house.

Before EJ could answer there was a sudden pounding at the door.

"Oh, that must be Jared!" Theresa exclaimed, jumping up. The pounding intensified as she headed towards the door.

"Boy, you're impatient!" Theresa said in a cheery voice as she swung open the door and then her smile faded as she came face to face with an angry Gwen.

"Gwen? What the hell are you doing here?"