Betrayed Chapter 9

"I knew I would see you in that dress sooner or later," Angie gushed. "My God, Girlfriend; if you take a deep breath, you're gonna bust right out of it, you shameless hussy, you!"

"And this," I retorted with mock cattiness, "from someone whose body makes a Donatella Versace original look like Frederick's of Hollywood?"

Actually, Angie was stunning in the fuscia satin bustier-style sheath. We had fled the office immediately after the Thursday morning meeting and found it in the couturier salon at 'Needless Markup'. Her eyes glazed over when she saw herself in it in the three-way mirror. Those eyes filled with tears when she read the price tag. She wept openly when I put it on my platinum card.

"Listen, puta," I had teased, "you got me into this mess three months ago. I'll be damned if I'm going it alone."

I had kissed her softly on the cheek to soften the faux blow.

"Besides," I had cooed, "you deserve it."

There was more champagne and canapés when we arrived, plus an honest-to-God string quartet in the main salon and a harpist in the smaller 'Conservatory' – what, once upon a time, had been the Reference Room. This was rare air, even for someone who has been in the corporate culture for a while. There is something intimidating about rubbing elbows with people whose last names appear on public buildings and corporate logos, not to mention packages of hot dogs or bacon. Angie was already on Cloud Nine and I was working on getting a leg up.

Apparently, we were perceived as some kind of visiting royalty, on loan to the two investment wunderkind of the hour. Boy, did we get the double- and triple-takes! Rob and Jim were basking in the glow of attention they were receiving, both for their achievements and their choice of companions. Astute politician that he is, even the Mayor had compliments to pay, citing us as "a shining example of what makes The Great City of Chicago great." Considering the direction of his gaze, I wasn't sure if he was referring to our investment successes or our bustlines.