Jewel

By Julia Graziano

The story is fiction but based on real people and events. A young woman tries to remain an optimist despite the emotional scars she carries-a victim of sexual abuse as a child and as a teenager, the betrayal of a close friend, and the sudden death of her fiancé. She knows she will never trust again. At present, she has a wonderful career, good friends, and a stalker. Enter two men, one she will trust with her life, the other with her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781647014957

Julia Graziano

After a pretty severe car accident and spending thirty days in a rehab hospital, she learns from one of her doctors that the brain can not think of two things at the same time. He told her to try something like writing. She did but found training her standard poodle to become a therapy dog was working fine. She could take her to hospitals and nursing homes and forget the pain. Then after ten years, her dog died so she gave writing another try. It worked. She graduated high school in upstate New York and then went to FIT in Manhattan. She lives with her husband of fifty-four years and has two sons and four granddaughters. Writing is for her as she goes through more procedures and tests. it still takes the pain away. So she writes and writes and is training another dog.

Book preview

cover.jpg

Jewel

Julia Graziano

Copyright © 2021 Julia Graziano

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-64701-494-0 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-64701-495-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 1

Celia, Celia, Celia, okay, okay, you win. I give in!

Good. It isn’t as though I am asking for the moon. It’s just an hour of your time. The cocktail party is set for seven thirty, and their dinner reservations are set for nine o’clock. So by the time they arrive—and of course will be fashionably late—and have one cocktail, it will be time for them to leave to make it to the Four Seasons. It’s time, Jewel. You can’t keep living like this. It’s time to let go. It’s been well over two months. Kenneth, darling, please say something. I am right, aren’t I?

Yes, my darling, you are right. Jewel, it’s time. You can mourn for just so long. You know how much we care for you. Celia’s right this time, Jewel. She wouldn’t ask you if she didn’t think it would be good for you to talk to someone other than us or the people at work. Come on, it’s just an hour.

Okay, you guys, I give in. So what exactly am I supposed to do at this party? asked Jewel.

Well, as I tried to explain, the dinner is to present an award to the partner who made the largest contribution, and that translates into the most money brought into the firm, and this year, as last year, it just happens to be Justin Angelis. That’s why it is so important, and because he just happens to be the partner who has been acting as my mentor. He is unbelievably eccentric, but the most brilliant corporate attorney in New York. He can meet with a client and just write the entire prospective for the corporation in his head. It’s amazing! He makes things happen that would take others weeks to formulate. I have learned more in six months from him than I have in the last four years with three other partners.

All right, Celia, I get it. This guy is important to you, and you want to earn some brownie points with this party. I get that much, but what am I supposed to be doing with a room full of lawyers? I don’t know anything about the world of corporate law. I’m not even sure I know what you all do. How am I expected to talk to all these stuffed shirts?

They are not all stuffed shirts. Some of them are really quite nice. Most of them will be with their wives, but Mr. Wilson’s wife died last year, and Mr. Sawyer has never been married. It’s no wonder, with his foul breath from the cigar that’s always in his mouth, lit or not—ugh. Mr. Underwood’s wife is in Europe with her sister, who just got divorced. She’s pretending to drown her sorrows spending some of the twenty million she got in the settlement along with the house in the Hamptons and the apartment in New York. No kids, so it’s all hers. Kenneth, if we divorced, would, I expect, get twenty million in a settlement?

My darling, if we divorced, you would have to support me. Kenneth laughed.

Just as I thought. Celia laughed. It’s a good thing I love you so much.

Okay, back to you, Jewel. You’ll be fine, darling. You can talk to anyone—and don’t deny it. I’ve seen you talk to people who can’t even speak English, and somehow you communicate, so you will be fine. Where were we? I think you should wear that adorable little black number you designed, you know, the one my very clever husband let slip by him. The one I could be wearing from his exclusive line.

Let it go, Celia, snapped Kenneth. It isn’t funny anymore.

I’m sorry, darling, you’re absolutely right. And I think you’ll be safe in your black pumps. We don’t want you towering over all our guests now, do we? I think the only men over six feet are Mr. Underwood and Justin Angelis, man of the hour. Mr. Underwood is just a real sweetie when he isn’t with his witch of a wife. You won’t have to worry about him, though, and he makes any room come to life just by walking in. What I need you to do is to make sure the rest of the poor souls aren’t holding up the walls or hiding behind a potted plant. They may be wonderful at the office, but when it comes to small talk, they can’t put two words together. That’s why most of their wives do all the talking. So in the event they get separated from their wives or for the men who will be here alone, I just need you to make sure they are being taken care of. You know, see if they need a drink or would like theirs refreshed, chitchat.

Chitchat, said Jewel, about what? Oh, wait, don’t tell me. ‘Gee, Mr. So and So, what’s doing around the old corporate watering hole? Heard any good stock jokes lately?’

Jewel, snapped Celia, now you’re acting like a complete jackass. You know exactly what I want you to do, so stop acting like a child. I’m counting on you for an hour, and I would think you could at least do that much for me. Really, Jewel, sometimes you can be exasperating.

Exasperating, yes, Jewel knew what that felt like; that was the word she would choose to describe her entire life. From the time she was small enough to remember, it seemed her life was a contradiction. Exasperating, yes—being told you were smart but couldn’t act too smart at times, being empathic but not showing it too often people might think you were strange, only kindness and service to others. Those were the parts she was allowed to show at all times. As a child, she found it so frustrating keeping it all in order. Living in a house or, really, over a restaurant and bar with your mother; aunt (mother’s older sister) and uncle; two male cousins, one five years older, the other a year younger; and your mother’s youngest sister just ten years older than yourself, plus the housekeeper, a simple black woman who possessed more wisdom than she was given credit for, nor did she ever covet it. Her advice to you was always the same: keep your mouth shut and just listen; you will learn much more that way. But that was what she wanted, to learn. To learn everything she could and excel at what she learned. She never planned to enter a cooking contest, but she wanted to learn how to make the best biscuits. She never planned to become a world-renowned botanist, but she wanted to learn how to grow the finest flowers. Everything went into the learning; the end product was not as important as the learning of how to create the best.

Thinking back on her early years, when she was two or three, she knew she had no say in being born bright. Words came to her easily; whole sentences came easily. Her natural curiosity made everything fun, and learning was fun. Then they moved to Upstate New York, where her mother was needed to help out in her brother-in-law’s restaurant business. Jewel’s uncle—that was when her education started to become confusing, exasperating, to say the least. At times, when she found herself alone with her uncle, who was also her godfather and whom she loved wholeheartedly, he would tell her that she was so special, she was smart, and she liked to learn and there was no reason she couldn’t do whatever she set her mind on. He would tell her that it was sad to admit that she was smarter than either of his boys but that shouldn’t stop her from learning all she could, but when the boys were around, especially the older one, she was expected to act dumb, not so much dumb as just not more clever than he was, not more clever then either of them, actually. Was she supposed to act this way in front of all men or just her male cousins? Was she supposed to not like competition because her cousins never won? It was all right to compete against herself and be better each time; just don’t be better than them. Being smarter meant she had to act the role of a servant when they were around, or anyone else, for that matter. Little girls who grew up in an Italian household were trained early on in the role of the servant.

Her uncle told her she was special, that she had empathy for everyone, even the animals, but when she felt another’s pain or loneliness and tried to comfort them or aid them in some way even before they knew they needed it, she was told not to use her gift, that people would not understand and think her strange. Was it better to sit idly by and watch the suffering? What did they expect of her? Be smart, not be smart. See how you could help, but don’t help. Feel others pain, but offer no comfort. These conflicting thoughts banged around in her head, making her role in life seem utterly useless. Aunt Grace, their housekeeper, saw what these conflicting orders were doing to her, and her advice to this little child was to always be kind and do what was asked of her. So that was what she was doing now. Celia asked, and she would accommodate.

I’m sorry, Celia, you’re right. I swear I will make sure your guests are taken care of. No one will be leaning or hiding. All will have a drink in their hand and an hors d’oeuvre in their mouth, or vice versa. They will be engaged in titillating conversation, and by the time they are ready to leave, they will think they have just been to the finest cocktail party ever. How’s that?

Celia shook her head. Jewel, sometimes I think you spend too much time with Michael and Jonathan. I expect conduct like this from them—they’re only eight—but you, honestly?

I love you too, Celia, and I promise to do you proud.

All right, if we can be serious just for a moment, I need to give you some background on Angelis, just in case you see him leaning or hiding. As I mentioned, he is brilliant and a little eccentric. Tall…I’m guessing around six four. You’ll definitely notice him when he arrives. He is quite wealthy, I’m told. Family is from Connecticut, father is deceased, mother still lives in Connecticut, and he is an only child and socially awkward. What else do you need to know?

Bank account number would be nice, quipped Jewel.

Really, Jewel, take this seriously or don’t bother coming.

I’m sorry, Celia. I’m just trying to get you to lighten up a bit. The night will take care of itself. You have it all covered—the best caterers, splendid ambience, no kids, and it’s only an hour. Kenneth, have I missed anything?

Nope, I think you got it. Relax, Celia. Jewel and I will make sure it’s a great evening.

I know you will, it’s just that I need it to go really well. This could open new pathways for me, especially with the senior partners. Very few associates get to rub elbows with the partners, especially in a social setting, and having Angelis as my mentor gives me an extra advantage. He said he would be here, and I know the partners will have to show up if they know he is coming. Oh, Kenneth, you know how hard I’ve worked these last three years. Sometimes I feel so guilty not spending more time with you and the boys, but with them in school and all their extra activities, I don’t see them anyway, so this is the best time to try to make senior associate, and with Angelis’s continuing support, junior partner could be a dream come true for me. You had your dream, and we made it come true. Now I’d like mine. I love you, Kenneth, and I’d do it all again for you, but now I need this for me, for all of us.

Jewel usually had dinner with Celia and Kenneth and the boys on Monday night, and now, after listening to Celia go on and on about the cocktail party on Friday night, she decided it was time to go. Her head was aching, and she still had to read the boys the next chapter in Moby-Dick. Having read to the boys, Jewel said good night and called Rocky. The little dog bounded down the stairs even though the boys begged him to stay with them. Nothing could keep Rocky from being with Jewel. Since the day they found each other, they had never spent the night apart. Jewel clipped on his leash and said good night.

She was lucky tonight and quickly found a cab. She gave the driver the address and was surprised when the driver asked if she was sure of the address. Did she know that that was a very deserted area this time of night? She assured him she knew where she was going and agreed it was not where she would like to go but that the apartment she was staying in was in the same building where she worked. She doubted if the cabbie had ever heard of Kenneth Dolan or of the fact that he was a rising star in the fashion industry, but she mentioned it anyway. She was right; he hadn’t heard of him. He asked what she did. I am one of the lucky few who get to design clothes for Kenneth. She didn’t mention that she probably made patterns and sewed more than she got to design, but she had been doing more and more designs and Kenneth was very generous when he liked something and bought it. He had even hinted that with next year’s line, he might have her name mentioned as an associate designer.

As the cab pulled up to the curb at the address given, Jewel asked the driver if he could wait until she got the door open. Sorry, lady, said the driver. I don’t get paid to wait. And off he went. Most of the drivers had been good enough to wait until she opened the door, knowing that the neighborhood was not the safest. Jewel always had her keys out so she could open the massive door as quickly as possible. She put the key in the lock and turned it. It clicked open. Jewel rushed Rocky inside. She looked up at the corner, where there was always a half-dozen people hanging out. Most looked homeless. She assumed it was a good spot for drug dealers. What she was looking for was a person in a blue hooded sweatshirt that seemed to be there every time she was coming in or going out. She felt as though he was stalking her. She took one more quick look and then quickly closed the door, making sure to set the three rods that made the door virtually impenetrable. She also set the alarm. She took the huge elevator up to the third floor, where the apartment was. She never felt quite safe until she was in the apartment with the door locked; even then, the sounds of the old building creaking and groaning made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

She was grateful to Kenneth for letting her use the apartment when she came back from upstate after Chris’s death. Kenneth had the apartment put in a few years back so that he could stay overnight if he worked well into the night, which he did whenever he was getting ready for a show. He also stayed in the winter, when the streets were icy or there was too much snow and all the streets hadn’t been cleaned. Jewel knew it was a big imposition for him, but he was gracious as always. She knew she needed to find something soon, but finding something she could afford that was in a decent neighborhood was proving to be difficult. Her friend Shelby wanted her to stay at her place, but her boyfriend had just moved in, and Jewel felt it would be too awkward. She would find something soon; she had to. She let Rocky out the door that led to the roof. Kenneth had made a small sitting area complete with potted plants, table and chairs, and a chaise lounge to relax on. Rocky did his business on a small patch of artificial grass she put down for him. It took him a while to learn to go there since he was so used to going in real grass. But Rocky was a very smart little dog and soon caught on, especially since he got a small reward when he did it right. Rocky only had to pee, and Jewel quickly washed it off with the hose Kenneth used for his plants. She locked the door, and she and Rocky went to bed. It was already eleven o’clock, and she usually was up at six thirty to get ready for the day.

The week flew by, and before she knew it, it was Friday. Dreaded Friday. Jewel was not looking forward to Celia’s cocktail party. She even thought about calling and telling Celia she wasn’t feeling well but knew she would go. Just keep telling yourself, she said, it’s only an hour, only an hour. Kenneth had planned to leave early, so Jewel made sure her things were packed and ready to go when Kenneth said the word. Celia told her to come home early with Kenneth so she could play with the boys and keep them out of the way.

Kenneth called her at three and said he was ready to leave. Jewel put her things away, got her bag, and met him at the elevator. Rocky was coming to because she had planned to stay overnight, and Rocky would keep the boys company while the party was going on. They were going to have a pizza and had strict rules to stay down in the family room until someone told them otherwise, which was fine; the boys had just about every new electronic game you could want. Plus the TV was there, as well as a computer, so they were set for the night. That was where Jewel found them. Michael and Jonathan were great kids. Jewel found it hard to believe that with all their advantages, they never acted spoiled. They were really a pleasure to be with. The boys ran to Jewel and gave her a hug, then one for Rocky. She kept them entertained for a few hours, then told them she had to dress for the party. Sighs all round, but she said if things went right and everyone left early, she would play with them again.

Jewel readied herself for the party, wearing the outfit Celia told her to wear, which was fine, because the dress was comfortable, and so were her pumps. She went downstairs to find Celia and Kenneth. The catering crew had almost everything set up. The bar and bartender were on the right side of the long living room so that after the guests arrived and coats were taken, Celia and Kenneth would greet them and suggest they have a cocktail. The bar was set up for a few popular mixed drinks as well as some fine wine or something on the rocks. After everyone had their drinks, the trays of hors d’oeuvres were paraded around by two of the servers. Celia had selected a lovely variety of finger foods, and the bar she left to Kenneth. All systems were a go. Now all they needed were the guests.

Celia began pacing. Celia, relax, said Kenneth. They’ll be here. Just relax.

I can’t, said Celia. It’s ten to eight already.

I know, replied Kenneth, but before he could finish his sentence, the doorbell rang.

Several of the partners with their wives walked in. Their coats were taken, and Celia and Kenneth began to greet everyone. Celia introduced them to Kenneth and politely made some small talk and directed them to the bar. Another ring of the doorbell, and a flood of people walked in. Again, coats and wraps were taken, and the same process began again. Jewel had positioned herself a few feet behind Celia and Kenneth in hopes of catching some of the names, but by the time the first group had walked by, she had already forgotten most of them. No matter; Jewel was not the hostess of this party, so it didn’t matter much to her. She knew she could bluff it. Celia was right about Jewel; she had an unexplainable knack for talking to just about anyone and putting them at ease in any situation. Jewel always possessed great empathy for people, and when she spoke to you, you could feel her focusing directly on you and not gazing about the room while she was speaking to you. This ability was always a big help to Kenneth when he was dealing with new buyers or sales reps. Now she would use it to help Celia pull off the best cocktail party. Jewel made her way around the room, introducing herself as she went and making sure everyone had a cocktail and everyone was chatting with someone. Most of the women were grouped together, talking about their recent trips to Europe or of their recent vacations to their homes on some island or another. Jewel wasn’t needed there.

Jewel spotted someone in the front corner of the room, looking out the window. Time to put on that happy face, she said to herself. She made her way quietly toward the elderly gentleman. Good evening, said Jewel. Rather gloomy night, isn’t it?

Yes, yes, it is, replied the man, who Jewel recognized as Mr. Wilson, the man who lost his wife last year.

Jewel introduced herself and explained her connection to Celia. Mr. Wilson smiled. Do you also design some of the garments? asked Mr. Wilson.

I do, and anything else that needs to be done, from patternmaking to sewing or just making a new pot of coffee, answered Jewel.

I guess we could call you Jewel-of-all-trades. And having said that, Mr. Wilson laughed.

That’s very good, said Jewel. I guess you’re right. Jewel felt relieved; she first thought she would have a difficult time trying to have a conversation with this man. Most men who had had a long and loving relationship with their wives were more often than not suffering from depression. She felt that with Mr. Wilson but was pleased to see he didn’t seem terribly depressed, only very saddened. Jewel knew that most people, if given an ear, would immediately start talking about their deceased partner.

Celia told me you lost your wife last year. I’m so sorry for your loss, she said, giving him an opening to start pouring out his heart.

Yes, my Marjorie passed last November, bless her soul. We were married fifty-two years, you know. The only woman I ever loved. Met in high school, we did, and married while I was still in college, much to our parents’ objections, but we did it anyway. She was the best, at most things, anyway. Had an awful fear of doctors, you see. So by the time she started feeling the pain and went to the doctors, it was too late. The cancer had already spread throughout her body. She went quickly, though. She didn’t suffer a long time like some. A real trooper, she was. Right to the end, all she worried about was me. Mr. Wilson hung his head and shook it back and forth. You could feel his sadness.

I know you are feeling a terrible sadness, said Jewel, but my mother always told me that when the people we love pass on, they never leave us. They are always by our side. And I’m sure your Marjorie is right here with you, sharing this and every moment with you.

That’s a great thought. I hope you’re right, replied Mr. Wilson.

I know I am, Mr. Wilson. Just believe it, and you will make it through the hardest times.

Thank you, Jewel. I would like to believe that.

Now, Mr. Wilson, please come and talk to some of your colleagues while I fulfill my duties and make sure everyone is having a good time.

If they are talking to you, Jewel, then they are.

Thank you, said Jewel as she led him back into the room toward several of his colleagues. He quickly became engaged in whatever they all happened to be talking about. As Jewel began to walk away, she saw Mr. Wilson give her a wink and a smile. Jewel thought all was going well, until she saw someone leaning against the wall leading to the dining room. Oh no, that looks like Mr. Angelis. Celia will kill me if she sees that. Jewel quickly crossed the room to where he was standing.

Good evening. Mr. Angelis, isn’t it?

Yes.

My name is Jewel, and I work with Kenneth Celia’s husband, and I have been given strict orders by Celia to make sure no one is leaning against the walls, hiding in corners or behind potted plants.

Seems like quite a job, but technically, I think this is a doorjamb, replied Angelis.

Yes, you’re right, but I’m sure doorjambs were also covered. Is your drink not to your satisfaction?

I’m afraid I’m not much for martinis or any of the usual cocktails.

Jewel thought quickly. Then your drink of choice would be…?

Beer. Surprisingly enough, the men in our family come from a long line of beer drinkers, except for my great-grandfather, who preferred wine, replied Angelis.

Then please let me take that. Jewel gently lifted the glass from his hand and said, Follow me. Jewel led Angelis through the dining room and into the kitchen. She could hear Celia now. You took the man of the hour into the kitchen! But she just pushed the thought away and continued leading him to the kitchen. She stopped at the sink and emptied the glass and put it into the sink. She reached a rather-large refrigerator and opened the left-side door. We have Budweiser, Coors, some kind of Chinese beer, and Heineken. What would you like?

I’ll take a Heineken, thank you, answered Angelis.

Jewel handed him his beer and motioned for him to follow her. Welcome to the inside-out room, she said.

Odd name for a glass room, replied Angelis.

That’s the name Celia’s boys gave it when it was put up a few years ago. I think the boys were only five at that time, and they just loved it, and one day they said they wanted to go outside so they could be inside. It was just so cute, and since then it has been called the inside-out room. The boys would come out here when it was raining or snowing and pretend they could catch raindrops or snowflakes on their tongues. Celia tried to make them stop, but Kenneth said he would rather have them believe they could do the impossible than to believe they couldn’t. Celia, of course, was not amused. She is hopelessly grounded in reality. Poor soul.

Good for Kenneth. Angelis laughed.

So, Mr. Angelis, started Jewel.

Please call me Justin, he said.

Very well, Justin. Suddenly, she was feeling rather bold. What sort of name is Angelis, anyway? Sounds just a little made-up.

In a way, it is, said Justin. My grandfather worked for the Italian government in the finance department when he decided to come to America. He had some background in the law and wanted to become a lawyer in this country. On his way over by ship, he met a few men traveling with their wives. Grandfather was a very charismatic gentleman and soon began to join them for dinners and the like. They discussed the businesses they were in, and Grandfather told them of his plans. Trying not to offend him, they politely told him that he should consider changing his name because a very ethnic-sounding name would make it hard for him to get into law school or the banking business. Grandfather said thank you for the advice and gave it a great deal of thought. He agreed it could be a barrier to his plans. You see, his name was Vincenzo Angelisaro. So when he arrived in the United States, he had it changed to Vincent Angelis. Grandfather did all he planned. He went to law school, passed the bar, and had a very lucrative career in banking. My father had a very bad experience growing up in Connecticut. The children would call him Vinny, which he hated, so when I came along, he wanted an American-sounding name for me and chose Justin. And there you have it. So I guess you could say it was really made-up.

What a great story. I hope I didn’t offend you by being so bold, said Jewel.

Not at all, said Justin, and now turnabout is fair play, I think.

Nothing as exciting for me. Mother was Italian, but a very simple name, Sabia. Father was English, hence the name Lansby, and when the nurse brought me to my mother for the first time, she handed me over and said, ‘She’s a prefect jewel,’ and so I was named.

Well, I think it fits, said Justin with a small laugh.

Thank you, replied Jewel.

So tell me what you do when you are not patrolling the walls and corners, said Justin.

I work for Kenneth. I design some, sew some, make patterns, and try to make myself an absolute nuisance to everyone in the shop. But they love me, at least I think they do. I hope they do. It’s a fun place to work. It can be very stressful at times, but Kenneth is great in making sure we laugh at least once a day, especially when we all make mistakes.

And what do you do when you’re not at work? asked Justin.

Sadly, not a great deal. I spend time with Celia, Kenneth, and the boys. Take long walks with Rocky and spend the rest of my time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Is Rocky your husband?

No, Rocky’s my dog. No husband, no boyfriend, just work, said Jewel.

What is at the museum that compels you to spend all your free time there? asked Justin.

I go there to see the world’s best artwork. I go to the costume department, hoping to be inspired and get some ideas for designing new apparel. But mainly I go because it’s quiet. I don’t get a lot of quiet where I work, and when I’m at Celia’s, the boys make me crazy with all the different games they want me to play. Rocky can be a wholly terror because he doesn’t like the city. So the museum is my sanctuary.

I see, said Justin. I have often thought of a visit to the museum to see the artwork you described, but I am ashamedly not very good when it comes to seeing the best in the paintings. I’m afraid I would need the help of a guide to walk me through them and point out the intrinsic beauty to be found in the works.

Are you making fun of me? said Jewel.

Not in the slightest, replied Justin quickly. I’m really serious about the museum. I seem to find myself in the same position you find yourself in. I work and work some more. A quiet afternoon is exactly what I need. Do you have plans to visit again in the near future? asked Justin.

Well, actually, I had planned to go tomorrow, said Jewel.

I know we have just met, but I’m sure Celia would give me an honorable reference, and I would really like to spend a quiet afternoon with someone who could show me the best the museum has to offer, said Justin. This may be just what I need to get myself ready for my business trip to Washington next week. I already know that these meetings are going to be long and tedious. So please say yes to this poor soul who so desperately needs a bit of peace and tranquility.

Now I think you are really making fun of me, but I do recognize a soul in need of help, so yes, it would be my pleasure to guide you around the great works and show you all you have been missing by working so hard. And I know you do, because Celia is always saying that you live and breathe nothing but corporate law. It’s a good thing Celia has us to make sure she remembers there are other things in her life than work. All right, if you’re really serious, you can meet me outside the museum on the steps at three o’clock. I’m sure, after tonight’s affair, you would like to sleep very late tomorrow morning, and then there is the matter of the newspapers. Celia said you read just about every paper printed, so that should take up most of the day. So would you say that three o’clock is a good time for you?

It’s a perfect time. Thank you for being so considerate, said Justin.

Excuse me, but I think people are beginning to leave now, said one of the people in the catering crew who was cleaning up in the kitchen.

Thank you, said Jewel. She quickly wrote her number down and handed it to him and told him it was just in case he needed to cancel.

Justin followed and wrote down his number, handed it to her, and said, Just in case you need to cancel.

Before you go, Justin, may I ask a small favor?

Of course.

Celia really wanted this night to be special for you, and she’s worked hard to make sure everyone had a good time, and since you didn’t bring a date with you, I would like to ask you to take Celia to the dinner with you. I know it’s a lot to ask, but it would be a really nice thing to do, said Jewel.

And you like people who do nice things.

Yes, I do, said Jewel.

Consider it done, with Kenneth’s permission, of course, he said.

Kenneth will gladly give his permission, just to get her out of our hair. She’s been wound so tight she’s been making us crazy all day.

Justin laughed and held the door open for her. He was given his coat, and as he was saying good night, he turned to Kenneth and asked if he would allow him to escort Celia to the dinner as his guest. Kenneth smiled and said nothing would give him more pleasure than for Celia to go to the dinner with Justin. Celia just stood there, not knowing what to say.

Celia, said Jewel, get your wrap. It’s chilly outside.

Celia, in an obvious daze, continued to stand in place. Kenneth grabbed Celia’s cloak from the closet and put it around her shoulders, kissed