This relationship would not be enough for most people. But it worked for both Bill and Idola Bill, especially, was much too busy for anything else. But he was still human. He had needs. He, of course, was a man. A real man.

Bill worked as an Internet software design engineer. He was very good at his craft. Bill had a creative knack that helped him find the right solutions for a myriad of business problems. He created applications so exact for his business clients that his software packages were referred to a s the ""Armanis" of the software industry. His clients’ Internet businesses, both sales and marketing, were skyrocketing. Bill reaped tremendous profits as a result of his work. Last year, before taxes, Bill earned $500,000. Couple that with the $200,000 he made off his investments, stocks, bonds, and real estate, he wasn’t doing badly at all. He had a brand new Jaguar XLS. His home was valued at one million dollars. He had at least $350,000 in his personal savings account. He never let his checking account get below $50,000. Bill had a good life. But he had worked hard to get there. No one ever gave Bill anything. Free was not in his vocabulary.

Bill answered the phone just 5 minutes after he arrived in the office. He let it ring several times before he answered. Hoping that Jenny, his secretary, would answer. She was late again. Jenny had one downfall. Tardiness. She was never or time for anything. She set all her clocks a half an hour ahead and still she couldn’t make it to work on time. However, she was the most organized and productive secretary any superstar businessman could hope for. There were times when she caught omissions made by bill. Bill hardly ever made omissions. He respected her for that.

The call was from his cousin Bernard. Bernard grew up with Bill. They had done everything together. Bernard taught Bill how to swim, to fish, and to play baseball. Gill still played on an intramural softball team and made most valuable player two years out of the last three. Bernard was one heck of a baseball player. He had one heck of an arm. Could have played pro-ball, but he lost interest. He became interested instead in escapism and freeloading. Bernard was always looking for the angles. He spent more time trying to figure out how to beat someone out of one thing or another, than it would have taken him to earn the thing of interest. Bill couldn’t stand what Bernard had turned in to, but he loved his cousin and would do anything for him.