“Hello Milo…”  I slowly began to step out of the shadows so my face could truly be known. “Excuse me, who are you and how did you get in my office?”  He said with anger growing in his deep blue eyes.  My steps were hesitated as I began to see the tall glass of scotch freshly poured from his crystal container.  I used to love scotch and wine… well pretty much anything that burned the chest. “Milo, be calm… enjoy your drink.”

                “I’m calling security you know…”  He placed his glass back down on his leather desk and began dialing on his fancy phone.  So many things he had collected over his years of life.  I almost felt bad for having to collect from him but that’s what I did.  I was his collector and even if I wanted to quit I couldn’t and boy did I ever.

                “Sherry, call security right away…”  He slammed the receiver down before my eyes could blink and I sat down.  It was a duel concept and I suddenly felt the urge to explain.   A new idea on my part to at least let them know why I was here, have them remember why they knew one day I would come. “You can save yourself some trouble young lady and leave before they arrive but just so you know… they’ll be here in less than two minutes.”  Milo added while pointing to the double cherry doors that closed the exit.

                “No they won’t Milo, let’s not play games.  I’m going to give you something I’ve never given anyone before.”  I tell him.  “Are you insane, there is nothing you could give me that I don’t already own?”  He claims.  “I think we both can disagree on that one, right Milo?”  I began to stand up from my comfortable position in his leather chair left for clients.  Dust and any general site of neglect was absent in my gander around his dark lit office.  One small lamp lit the room as I turned away from his sight to see the book shelf of collectable items.

                Novels of writers I had never even heard of lined the shelves and then there was one I remember from my young days as an innocent.  I picked the novel up which was in pristine state and opened up to the first page.  If I was able to cry I would assume that’s what I would have done just by looking at that novel.  “Excuse me miss, that is a collectable worth more than anything you have ever seen.”

                “Milo, please be quiet…”  I could remember reading this beautiful novel in the meadow behind my lover’s cabin.  The tall grass we didn’t dare cut nor ruin because we knew the value of Mother Nature.  It was the most perfect memory in my bank that I held dear to me.  I hadn’t thought of him in ages, I have forgotten what he smelled like or even smiled like.  There wasn’t a thing I could recall aside from the feeling that buried inside my gut each time I recalled him.

                “That’s enough…” Milo shouted as he grabbed the book out of my grip nearly ripping the leather cover off.  His eyes opened wide as he stared back at my intentional disregard of his orders.  A feeling I rarely get explodes from inside me and my eyes turn blood red as I retort in my demon like tone.

                “SIT DOWN.”  I say while pointing to his desk chair once again.  This was not how I usually did my duty but after so many years being an assistant or servant, if you will, I wanted to mix things up.  Just with my one command, Milo was stepping backwards to his desk.