THE CEO'S GAMBLE FOR LOVE

she says, expressing her gratitude."Don't. I would have come anyway."The Senator's house is Victorian. One of the men who still think that

"One never stops thinking, Palmer. Not when it's politics.""Not even when it's self destructive?""How about you spend some time with me here, at the mansion? I can show you some things you need to see."I sake my head, not in refusal, but in uncertainty. "I don't know about that, sir. I think Claudia wouldn't approve. She'll shoo me off to go look for a wife or something."He smiles. "How's that part of your life coming, anyway?""It's not," I say. "It broke down. Unmoving.""Why is that?""I don't know," I say, with a shrug."Youre just like me, Palmer. Want nothing else in your life except your charts and positions. If it doesn't buy or sell, it's not for Terry Palmer. Same as I. If it's not the ballots, I don't give an ass."We both laugh at this, then I say. "She wants me to change your mind.""Claudia wants you to save my life, Palmer. And she thinks that getting me out as soon as possible is the only way.""Well, she's seen what it's done to you. Think it would give her ample joy to witness it a second time, Senator?"He says nothing."And yes, you're right. We're not so different when you really consider the downsides of our avocation. You lose an election, and it feels like you've lost it all. I lose a trade and I feel like I've failed the bank and lost them a huge sum. But which one of us do you reckon has less certainty than the other, sir? Which one of us has something worth living for? I know I don't, but you do, sir. You have Claudia, and two great girls." I sigh. "I didn't save your life back in the Army only to hav