Page 31 of The Edge of Falling

"My firm had an event today and I thought it would be fun for you to meet some of my work friends." His voice faded as he saw the anger in mine.

"You led me to believe that this was a date."

"I never actually said it was a date, Rosalie. You just—”

"So you knew I thought it was a date, yet—”

"I was going to tell you. I—”

"Look at me." I stared down at my two-inch heels, my short black dress, my heaving bosoms. "I'm not dressed appropriately to me."

"It's fine," he said. "No one will notice."

"Hey, there you are." James, a tall, older man, walked out with a booming voice. "I was wondering if you were going to make it." He held his hand out. "Good to see you, son."

"Hello, Mr. Kramer. I'd like you to meet Rosalie. Rosalie, this is my boss. He's a partner at the firm."

"Hello, dear." I could see Kramer's eyes looking me up and down. "Well, now, I didn't know you were seeing anyone, Oliver."

"He's not," I said quickly. "I'm Foster's sister. Foster, his best friend and roommate."

"Foster, Foster. Does he work at the firm?"

Kramer blinked. "No, he's in finance. You met him at the golf event last year."

"Oh. Vaguely remember him," Kramer said and smiled at me. "So what brings you to New York City?” he asked in a deep voice.

"I've come to find a job and—”

"Oh, okay then. And you thought coming to this event would help you?"

"I mean, I don't know. I just graduated."

"Oh, you just graduated. Have you passed the bar yet?"

"The bar? No. I—”

"What law school did you go to?" he interrupted me.

"I didn't go to law school."

"Oh." He looked over at Oliver. "She didn't go to law school. How's she going to take the bar if she didn't go to law school?"

"I'm not taking the bar," I said loudly. I was feeling frustrated and infuriated that he wasn't paying attention to what I was saying, and I was still pissed off at Oliver, who seemed to be very amused by the conversation I was having with his boss.

"She was thinking maybe she could get a job as a legal secretary or a paralegal, maybe even a receptionist."

All of a sudden, I glared at him. "Actually, no, I wasn't. I—”

"Well, you can check with HR tomorrow. I don't know what positions we have open."

Kramer shook his head. "Now, come on. Let's go inside." They're about to start the awards, and I've heard that you might be receiving one, Oliver."

"Thank you, sir," he said with a smile. "We'll be right on the way. Would you like a drink, Rosalie, before we sit?"

"A drink?" I hissed at him after Kramer walked away from us. "What the hell is going on here? I thought I was coming out for oysters, and steak, and champagne and a night in a penthouse suite, not to your work event."

"Sorry," he said, his lips twitching. "Would you still have come if I told you it was a work event?"

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