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ale place in the city for dinner. But her tight ball of nerves hadn't permitted her a moment of peace and respite as she kept turning her planned action over and over in her head. If she intended to go through with it she wanted to look as presentable as possible. No. As beautiful as possible when she met Josh. She glanced at her bedside clo

clandestine dinners and lunches that had leaked to the paparazzi. Worse still, they looked perfect together. Jane, with her high class aura, impeccable taste and grea

edges, something she found attractive back when they were in high school. His hair that had been wild and unruly had become sleek and fashionable possibly of his s

ra" Alice's voice called from the bedroom doorway,

in hand and her evening cup of tea in the other. She painfully took her seat

p for Miss Universe

the simplest of her earrings for social events and chosen to do up her hair into a slightly messy bun. or "It's an acquainta

u never talked much about them or anything else si

curious. Though I suspect it's a he and a former classmate," she added with a mischievous smile. Alice waved

d a touch of pink coloure

th your mates or even attending your high

rly captivating girl in school, Barbara somehow molded herself into the shadows a

her tongue d

her school mates had married a wealthy man with hardly an ounce of fortune to her name. Her job as a secretary was

were close

he popular and more attractive girl in the school.

ldn't keep u

irror and faced her mother. "How does the dress look like on me?" she asked

s priceless, then she frowned. "Aren't you going a

ress up like this if it's just a high

ion for a position in his friend's company," Barbara

wh

aide," Barbara smil

it? Combining school, tw

ompany is looking for a permanent hire. And if I do get the

ra's phone rang. She checked the caller id and s

you?" Jane's voice came

l and looked up at her mother, "I need to go, that's my ride. See you lat

ice I heard?" her mother

om, practically dragging her feet. She didn't know what to expect of the evening, and it didn't help knowing that

car. Inside, like every thing else Jane owned, smelt of class. The dashboard was filled with several

a black leather dress that clung to her with a heart-shaped neckline, and short capped sleeves. Her ears and neck

ned, and Barbara had the worrying sense that she was a lamb to the slaug

lieve coming from a sty

"I should have said Josh

ompliment. "Are you j

arted the car and wove into the late eveni

do you

answer." Barbara's silence was her only answer and she seems satisfied with it. The car slid to a stop in front

ught as they swept further inside to the bank of elevators. The restaurant was situated on the fifth floor with s

re a maître d met them. "I will leave you to find him," Jane

"I thought you are staying with

"If I need to intervene, I will come. Just have my number on speed dial

ion and prime privacy that was available. Josh was sitting at the far end of the space, enclosed within a booth that had upholstered chairs along its walls and a white-and red cloth covered table in the middle. He was on his phone typing, probably a m

oothing the dress as she sat. It seems the only l

g to pass over in favour of something nonalcoholic. She would probably need some Dutch courage to get through the night. An uncomfortable silence settled between them. Barbara noticed that their cubicle was more brightly lit than the ones she had passe

waters but with its expanse he didn't have much time to control it's affairs. Hence the residence why a

ses. Throughout their small talk, Barbara could feel Josh's eyes on her. At first it was covert when he thought she

t caused her to blush and she was almost horrified at her realization of Jane's accurate pre

on but certainly not many to have met one. "And where do you think that may have happened?" she inquired, taking a sip of the red wine. She relaxed at the realization

it off. Admittedly, he had been to so many places that he couldn't have

server at events." She glanced again to her righ

ething

, Barbara shook h

a few times now. I thought there mu

the table, Jane's number securely on speed dial. As soon as the waiter had left the table, she dug in to

t read anything to it. Jane was well hidden from vi

nnon," Josh's voice cut through the silence,

, Barbara thought as she cleared her throat and took a slow sip of her wine. Her nerves were no cal

his voice trailed off. She gave a brief his

asked surprised when she reve

before I had to drop

derstanding that something hadn't w

ressing job, what e

ctic schedule." Barbara found the whole affair rather like an interrogation but on second thoughts it

ou about?" Josh said out of the blue. He took a sip of his wine and regarded

lying. Discussions like this demanded she show enough enthusiasm

, a partner that you have to wed w

gly which encouraged

tand that Miss Leslie is a good friend of yours."

ow her surname

rsing herself for th

as clear that he wasn't excited to ans

me school together," Barbara supplied. At least he wouldn't regard

h sc

ra no

here. I was also in Richfield High

as planned "We were probably there at different times. Otherwis

l like to know which gra

tly need to get married? Is i

p. He was nearly shocked at her disapprov

eling that there's m

. Barbara found herself losing her appetite and she couldn't say if it the wine or man sitting in front o

I need to show some sense of responsibility. Something

at as a bachelor, are yo

speak f

her bowl. "If this is to work, I have demands of my own. Things that we have

y the role of a wife for a year or two, likeable and able to adapt to his peculiar family circle and partake in intelligent conve

ected to ha

atever he was going to say would be a little unpleasant. "I don't think my family would demand it." He noticed that she di

ow do you intend to do that if you can't wriggle yo

figure something out or come up with a solution to a problem unlike what he face in his career. "I don't know

man sitting opposite her clearly found the situation as uncomfortable

's face but it was gone in an instant.

y n

and if they made a unique demand from m

hide her amusement unsuccessfully. "I don't think I

amily, the Hendersons, particularly interesting and peculiar an

any lovers," h

h many a lady on your arm at dinne

nd to her credit, Josh knew that

ng Miss

any of the other ladies whose pictures she would have dug out form the internet or media. Quickly, he steered the conver

e gave her his first charming smile of the evening. Her he