“What kind of game is it?”
“First-person shooter. There isn’t one on the iPhone or in the Android market like this. It’s getting a lot of buzz.”
“That’s great,” she said. “What’s a first-person shooter?”
He laughed. “A shooting game where you play as one of the commandos. This one is a mercenary game called ‘The Savage Seven.’ You rescue hostages from Somali pirates.”
“Oh, sounds dangerous.”
“It isn’t,” he said. “It’s just a game. I’m having a launch party for it. Would you like to come?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m having a launch party as well for a new midseason line . . . do you want to come?”
“It’s tomorrow night, right?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Why didn’t you invite me earlier?” he asked. “Don’t you think I’m fashionable enough for you?”
She rubbed Bella’s back and leaned down to sniff her daughter’s sweet baby smell. She didn’t know how to answer Alex’s question.
“Well?”
“You walked away on Saturday,” she said. “I didn’t know what was happening between us.”
“Is that really the reason?”
“Yes,” she said. “Mostly. My world is different . . . I have to be different when I’m there. I haven’t gone to a launch since I gave birth to Bella Ann. That’s part of the reason I’m doing this midseason. I don’t know what it’s going to be like.”
“I want to know the real you,” he said, stepping closer and putting his arm around her. “It’s important to me that we bothshow each other who we really are; otherwise we’re never going to make this relationship successful.”
“I can see your point,” she said. “My friends are different.”
“I think it’s safe to say you’d think my friends were odd, too. We’re just going to have to play this by ear and do what we can to make it work.”
“Okay,” she said. “Will you wear what I pick out for you?”
“Why?”
“It’s fashion. Blue oxford shirts and khaki pants won’t cut it,” she said.
He gave her a narrow look. “I won’t embarrass you, Fiona. But I’m a grown man and I can dress myself. Is it formal?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. What time will I see you tomorrow night?” he asked.
"Seven," she said giving him the address at the same time.
"See you then," he said and walked away.
She was mad at herself as she watched him leave. She hadn’t meant to insult him, and she knew she had. It was just that all eyes were going to be on her tomorrow night. And her critics were going to be looking at every detail of her and her entourage to see if she’d lost her edge since having Bella Ann.
She shook her head as she realized that no matter how her critics thought she had changed, there was no going back to the woman she used to be. She didn’t want to be that old Fiona any more because that woman didn’t have Bella Ann and Alex in her life.
She knew she had to apologize, but had no idea what she was going to say to make it up to him. She needed him by her side, she thought. With him next to her, she felt stronger and more confident. It was almost as if for the first time in her life she was comfortable in her own skin and didn't have to put on her runway face.
The next evening,Alex showed up at the Big Apple Kiwi Klub, the hottest new hotel in Manhattan. It was owned by Russell Holloway the New Zealand billionaire hotelier. He had a string of hotels and clubs around the world. It was where the launch party for Fiona’s collection was being held. This date wasn't being taped for the show and frankly, Alex was glad because he was out of his comfort zone attending a fashion show to begin with, he didn't need cameras there. He didn’t have an invitation, but the man at the door had his name on a list and let him in. Nervously, Alex straightened his bow tie as he entered the crowded ballroom. There was a bar at the back and he headed straight for it to get himself a whiskey before he walked around looking for . . . what?
