Chapter 23

Angelo’s face flushed at the direct insult. “This is Laura Parker and she’s my date tonight,” he said defensively. “Laura, this is Portia. My sister-in-law.”

Sister-in-law? she thought with a giant sigh of relief, mixed with confusion, as her mind replayed that day at lunch and their intimate-seeming interactions. “Hi,” she said, extending a hand, “nice to meet you.”

Portia took her hand in a limp touch, as though she might catch something. “Indeed,” she said, giving a half-smile that barely masked her disapproval. “This is quite a surprise,” she said, as she looked Laura up and down.

Taking note, Laura thought to herself, of her not-stick thin figure.

Compared to Portia, she felt like a different species all together.

“Portia also works at our company,” Angelo interjected. “She’s a finance and economics whiz.”

“Oh?” said Laura. She also took note of the woman’s intensely green eyes, framed by dramatic black false eyelashes.

“So, how do you two know e