Hold your man

“You do?” Racheal asked, looking up at Steffan.

How did they know each other?

“Yes.” Steffan said, returning his hand to his pocket.

He and Alvaro stared at each other, doing what men often did, sizing themselves up.

“You look lovely.” Jade said, ignoring the men to hug her.

“As do you.” Racheal smiled, hugging her friend.

She did not miss the fact that Jade carefully avoided her injured arm.

She was impressed that the woman remembered what arm had been injured even with the concealing makeup.

“Not nearly as good as you.” Jade said gently, pulling away. “Everyone is talking about you.”

“Who is everyone?”

“Those women at the back are just one of many.” Jade said, gesturing behind.

Racheal glanced behind her, but could not see more than a few metres off.

The room was hazy with false smoke.

She turned her attention back to Jade, not without noticing Alvaro and Steffan were whispering quietly between themselves.

“Your friend is here, I saw him out back with your assistant and some o