Chapter Five

Part One

In a luxuriously appointed room of her spa, Ms Killaine leaned back whilst tapping her foot for effect. She gave Kate a determined smile and said, ‘Catherine, I need you to understand something. Right here, right now, you are the most important person we know. Tonight, you are attending a much-anticipated red-carpet premiere on the arm of Dominique Savagewood. In all of the social circles that count, that makes you a princess. Our job is to make you feel and look like that princess. So how about you relax, stop trying to help, and just accept it like a princess, okay?’

Laughing, Kate held her hands up in surrender…   >> MORE <<

Part Two

Still six long blocks away, the theatre came into view in the distance. Kate’s eyes went wide, seeing its entrance already awash with lights, reporters and camera flashes. With a vulnerability that nearly broke Dom’s heart, she said to herself but aloud, ‘I so don’t want to make a fool of myself.’

‘Kate, I will not put you in a position of ridicule, just be yourself. When we are inside, keep your hand on my arm and just follow my lead.’ Seeing the look of hope in Kate’s eyes, he added, ‘It will be a fun and memorable evening. You’ll be fine and we’ll all make sure of it, okay?’

Controlling her breathing, she nodded…   >> MORE <<

Part Three

The long intermission commenced with another whirlwind of introductions and compliments from strangers, all automatically catalogued by the part of Kate’s brain that did that. Dom’s smile and pressure through his elbow guided Kate through the experience as if she’d been born to it. He regarded her with pride as she began to take the initiative, confidently greeting by name those she’d met only once before.

The show concluded with an enthusiastic standing ovation, and after a third curtain call, the house lights came up and stayed bright. A lot of the men were taking deep breaths and many of the ladies were dabbing carefully at their eyes. A few moments later, they were heading towards the excitement of the after-performance gala…   >> MORE <<