ax

ut then, when I see her step through the door, frazzled, looking anxiously around for her husband, who is standing across the room, leaning against the w

end to listen to the woman standing next to me, one of the presidents of the marketing department who is talking about an account

o him about how she's being treated but is afraid to. I watch as they step outside onto the balcony. I watch--and then I excuse myself and walk closer to where they have disappeared,

times," she says, her

e!" Jeff shoots back, clearly letting his anger g

e her looking down at her gown, inspecting it. She looked gorgeous to me from acr

low cut," he says. "Half of

ment and then offers,

ted you because I was expressly asked to; some of the other wives wanted to meet you or some bullshit. I'

, as if she has been cast off by someone she loves deeply. How did su

l right? My job is hard enough as it is without you looking l

t him, though I am tempted to put my foot out and trip him--then we'll see who is embarrassed. Since my eyes are not on Thompso

ies, I excuse myself from the

ets the figure near the railing who is far enough away from the light filtering through the do

n't want to embarrass her or bother her, but I feel her pain stabbing me in my own heart. I cannot understand Jeff Thompson, how such a shallow

ulders before she even turns her head. I'm not sure if she'll recognize me or even how well she can see me

ht?" I ask her,

sorry. I didn't mean to...." She stops t

her as I step up closer to her

fine. I just wanted t

cars below us doing nothing to make the air f

at the people inside are stuffy--or that the party is stuffy. Only that...." She gro

n, waiting for her to look at me agai

lling at the corner of her mouth. "I

perfectly sculpted eyebrows to ris