As she exited the lobby of her building, Claire had a funny feeling that she was being
watched – the eerie, nagging sensation one gets when being stared at. She looked around, but
seeing that the street was empty, she attributed her discomfort to the dress she was wearing.
It was new and to her mind, way too revealing – she had bought it at her friend’s Amber’s
suggestion and now, she wished she had opted for a different outfit. Claire pulled on the hem
of her dress that barely covered her mid-thigh – usually she never wore skirts above the knee,
but Amber had insisted that she look super-hot for the party. There would be fashion models
and movie starlets, and if Claire were not careful, David’s eyes just might wonder, Amber had
cautioned her. Claire had laughed Amber off – it took more than flashy looks to impress David,
but she had bought the dress nonetheless, along with a set of Spanx, which was now pinching her
behind mercilessly.
Claire could hardly believe her eyes when she spotted an empty cab heading her way –
she flailed her hand, instantly checking for possible competition – the simple act of hailing a cab
could easily turn into a battle on the Upper East Side.
“Mercer and Houston,” Claire gave the cab driver the directions and leaned back against
the car seat. She opened her purse and checked her reflection in the mirror for the umpteenth
time. Normally, she was not one to fuss about her looks, but when it came to David, she wanted
to look perfect.