…Ronald kicked his chair against the wall. "That Companionship, Inc. is legitimate and enforces the no-sex rule. Somehow."

"And how would I go about proving that?" Claire asked, leaning in closer.

Ronald looked at her for a long time, then propped up his chair and leaned into the table, nose-to-nose with Claire. "How about…I bet five-hundred dollars that you can't seduce your first client into having sex with you?"

"I can't do that." She flung herself in the seat and threw her hands in the air as if warding off the very idea.

"Sure you can. Why not?"

Claire looked around the table at her co-workers and saw them all nodding approval. "Wouldn't that be like prostitution?"

Jim spoke up. "Now, Claire, we all know that as reporters, the very nature of our profession requires we use certain…err…unconventional methods to get the story-for the greater good of mankind. Bottom line is the story."

Ron spoke up, egging her on. "We'll even throw in a matching season ticket for the Stars games as a bonus."

Claire sat silently, contemplating her choices.

"Claire, I'll even double-dare you. Five-hundred dollars to the coffer," Sandy interjected.

That did it. She could never turn down a double-dare bet. She slammed her hand on the table. "All right, I'll do it. You know I don't like going to a game by myself."