Welcome to Steve's collection of short stories. The subjects span several genres, and each story has a unique twist. Enjoy!

Guy Devereux parties are so tiresome. Fortunately for Sophie, she has something else to occupy herself: sharing martinis with the dashing Edmund James. Edmund tries to charm her, and she lets him believe he's as debonair as he thinks he is. Unfortunately, for him, their exodus from the party is fueled by an ulterior motive.

Mark Andersen and his two daughters return to find their house burned down after a wildfire ravages the community. It's a devastating loss. So much so that Mark is angry at his wife, Karen, who wasn't with them the night his family ended up at a Red Cross shelter. Now Karen is back. Will she and Mark start over, or will their marital problems ruin their family like the fires did to their home?

Jacques' only task from his employer was to retrieve the "box." But after killing the man who possessed it, he begins to wonder if he went too far. His mentor, Philippe, always reminded him that God is watching. Now, Jacques is troubled. In the pouring rain, he searches desperately for the box he was instructed to recover. Will he find it? And if so, what will he discover inside?

Mark Schuler's about to get on the elevator when his ex, Kelly Morgan, steps off. It's an awkward moment, and Mark's left feeling terrible about the situation. It's only through the help of Malcolm, the elevator's sole occupant, that Mark begins to understand his love-stricken predicament. The ride to the lobby is short. Before Mark steps off, he has a decision to make. Will he try to salvage his relationship with Kelly, or will he fold?

Jennifer Parker is enjoying quality time with her mom when her five-year-old son interrupts her. Jennifer scolds him after he's thrown a ball and knocked Grandma's picture sideways. But when she tries to adjust the frame, her mother stops her. There is more to the painting than meets the eye, and Jennifer's about to discover its secret. What will she find, and will she be able to cope with the truth? 

The newspapers call him "Bulldog" for the way he looks when he's mad. That's because Douglas Percy isn't your ordinary senator. He's a tenacious SOB among political giants. Now, in the middle of his reelection campaign, something's happened that could derail everything. A call from an anonymous caller threatens to take the Bulldog down and reveal a terrible secret from the past. Will the senator be able to make it out of this one, or will he be finished when the smoke clears?

Chris considers himself a big-time "gangsta." But he's not even eighteen yet. Down in San Fernando Valley, he's planning something huge--the biggest deal of his life. He and his friend, Reza, meet with the buyers to plan the transaction, yet something doesn't feel right. The stakes are high and there's a lot of money to be made. Will Chris let greed cloud his judgment and blow the deal, or will he come out on top?