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banana leaf or elephant grass. Directly across from the foot of the bed, there is a sitting area that contains a sofa, two chairs, a cocktail table and an entertainment cabinet. A giant flat screen TV is strategically positioned on the wall above the cabinet, making it easy to view the TV from anywhere in the room. The coolest part of the TV is that it looks like framed art when it’s not in use. To the right of the sitting area is a small dining area consisting of a table with four chairs and a long wet bar. The wall above the bar is mirrored and reflects the view from the 39 th floor. Tucked against the wall near the bed is a large desk. Seeing the desk reminds me of why I am here. I gather my sample boards, textiles and computer and begin to prepare my workspace. Heading to the bathroom, I grab my toiletries and begin to unpack. The bathroom is fantastic, large tub, separate shower, quality products and lush towels. Grabbing my toothbrush I turn on the sink and look at the girl in the mirror. That was quite an adventure we had today wasn’t it? What an understatement. Burying the thought, I move to the desk and get started. I have several hours of work to complete before I will feel ready for tomorrow’s meeting.
    The grumbling of my stomach informs me that it’s time to eat. Stepping away from the desk, I pick up my purse and I head out to explore Las Vegas. Grabbing a soda and a bag of chips from the lobby gift shop, I head for the heart of the strip. Twirling around in circles, I take in the sheer over the top quality of Las Vegas. Its excess is what makes it so sexy. Anything goes! The phrase “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas ,” seems like a survival mantra. Trying to get a jump on tomorrow, I head north in hopes of locating Tempo. My journey takes me past some of the hottest casinos on the strip. The Excalibur, New York New York, and the MGM Grand disappear as I walk down the street in search of Tempo. Sitting just south of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel I see it. It’s breathtaking. Not like the other places on the strip, Tempo offers contemporary elegance. The face of the building is Absolute Black and River White Granite. The top third and lower third are horizontal stripes. The center is a diamond pattern resembling an Argyle sweater with interchanging black and white slabs. The moniker is a hand written neon sign that spans the width of the center of the building, softening the hardness of the stone. Its aqua blue light pops off the sleek natural stone. The sides of the building are glass from ground to rooftop. Tempo is going to be different, it’s obvious that the owner is not following anyone’s lead; he is forging his own path. Turning around, I time my walk back to The Four Seasons.  It took twenty-two minutes to make the journey. My first meeting tomorrow begins at nine o’clock in the morning. If I get up at six, I should be able to hit the gym, eat, shower, dress and still have plenty of time to walk to Tempo. Looking at my watch I realize I haven’t called Anna to check in. Racing to my room, I grab my phone and dial her cell.
    “Hello.”
    “Hi Anna, I am so sorry I didn’t call earlier. I got caught up in unpacking and other stuff and I forgot.”
    “I was wondering what happened to you. How was your flight?”
    “Fine.”
    “Just fine, it was your first flight and all you say is fine?”
    “Well, I was so nervous that I had a few glasses of champagne and fell asleep.”
    “Did you meet anyone interesting? I always meet the most interesting people in airports.”
    “No, pretty nondescript people on my flight.” Biting my lip, I think back to Michael.
    Changing the subject, I redirect the conversation to Tempo. “I took a walk to Tempo tonight. Oh Anna, it’s magnificent. I am so nervous and yet so excited to help create this place.”
    “If I know anything about you Karlie, I can guess that you have the trip timed down to the minute. Your samples are packed and your