Dennis paused in the expansive lobby of the building trying to catch his breath as he raced to the elevator doors. Not an easy thing to do while holding a bouquet of

brightly colored flowers in one hand and a large blue envelope in the other. He could feel his heart beat rapidly as the elevator whisked him to the 17th

floor. As soon as the doors were opened, he ran into the hallway.

"Mr. Reed!"

"Hello, Stacy. I'm sorry to barge in like this, but I need to see Betsy right away."

Dennis said.

"Oh, well she's in a meeting but if you'd like to wait-."

Before Stacy could finish, Dennis pushed his way past her and headed for the board room.

"Mr. Reed! You can't just-."

He pushed the door open, causing two rows of faces at the long wooden table to turn toward him in appalled stares.

Betsy rose in one fluid motion from the head of the table.

"Dennis! What are you doing here?"

He rushed inside, ignoring the murmurs and glares of her coworkers and clients.

"Betsy, I've got to talk to you." He said putting his hands on her shoulders as he tried to catch his breath.

"What, now? Dennis, in case you haven't noticed, I'm in the middle of a meeting here!"

"The meeting can wait. This can't." Dennis said.

She looked around the room uncomfortably and then back at her husband.

"Dennis... What's going on?"

"That's what I'd like to know!" A voice boomed from the front of the meeting room. "Betsy, what's the meaning of this?"

"I-I'm not sure, Mr. Helms, but I promise you this will only take a second."

Betsy said nervously.

"Dennis, will you please leave? Look, I love you and I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I really can't be interrupted right now."

He reached behind his back and produced the large bouquet of flowers, causing her to gasp in surprise.

"Will these change your mind?"

A series of sighs could be heard from the women in the room, along with some disgruntled comments from the men.

Betsy's eyes filled with tears as she took the bouquet from his hand.

"Dennis..."

"Mr. Reed, I believe you have been asked to vacate the premises!" Mr. Helms said. "Now if you won't comply, I'll have no choice but to call security and-."

"I promise I'll be out of here in two minutes." Dennis said as he faced Mr. Helms. There's something I have to do first, though."

He smiled and returned his attention to Betsy. "I know I haven't been the most attentive husband; and you know that more than anyone. But I've been doing a lot of

thinking the past few hours and... There's nothing more important to me than us. Not my work, my music... none of it. Now, our anniversary is coming up and this isn't

exactly the way I had planned to do this, but..."

The entire room stared at him as he handed her the large blue envelope.

"What's this?"

"Just something that will hopefully tell you how much I love you and... How sorry I am."

Betsy looked up at him, smiling as he brushed a tear from her cheek. "Sorry? What could you possibly be sorry for?"

"For not being a good husband. You deserve so much better and I just..."

"You're a wonderful husband." She said, wrapping her arms around him.

He blushed and smiled.

"Aren't you going to open that?" He asked pointing to the envelope.

"Oh... Yes, of course." She said. Her hand trembled as she tore open the

envelope and slid out a thin navy blue envelope.

"Plane tickets? Dennis...What..."

He smiled and motioned for her to open the flap.

Slowly she pulled the tickets out of the envelope, and her hand flew to her mouth.

"Oh my God... Are you serious?"

"Well, it's not Rome or Paris like you'd wanted but-."

As though forgetting that they weren't alone, she pulled him toward her and kissed him passionately, oblivious to the applause that filled the room.

"So where are you headed?" A woman asked when the applause died down.

Betsy turned and touched her husband's face.

"Seattle." She said with a smile.

"Seattle?" the woman asked, obviously appalled by the idea. "Why that's hardly a romantic place! Why in the world would you want to go there?"

Betsy took Dennis' hand and led him out of the room.

"If you'll excuse me, it seems that I have a prior commitment. We can finish this up next week. Meeting adjourned." She said from the doorway

They walked down the hallway and headed for the elevator, oblivious to the commotion going on behind them.