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room in search of Purple Lady and Stiff Neck Guy, she thought how, in other circumstances, she might enjoy chatting with Ethan Roxburgh. Now she’d not only have to avoid him but check for his whereabouts whenever she left the kitchen and look for cover before exposing herself with an incriminating platter. Should be real easy.
    ‘Where the hell have you been?’ Jo was harried and cross when Dee got back to the kitchen. ‘You’re meant to be working not drinking with the guests.’ She pulled open the oven door with an angry thud, moved trays in and out as she spoke. ‘Shit, Dee, I can’t believe you’ve been drinking. I gave you this job as a favour. The client would have a fit if she knew my staff was drinking her booze.’
    ‘I’m so sorry. It’s not like that. It’s that job I was telling–’
    ‘I don’t want to hear it. Just get this tray out there and don’t fuck around.’

    Dee felt like she had a screw-top neck the way her head swivelled back and forth between the guests she was feeding and the guests she was scanning. She hadn’t spotted Lucy, had no idea what Leonard looked like, but she’d managed to keep an eye on Ethan. He was hard to miss – tall, confident, casual. He’d worked the room with the elegant blonde, chatting, shaking hands, making introductions, moving towards the balcony and the cool breeze that had turned the evening into a mild summer night.
    As long as she could see him outside, Dee felt safe to venture further into the room with her tray, instead of clinging close to the exit points as she had for the past hour. Keeping her platter low, she roamed from group to group offering sushi. Halfway across the large living area, she saw Ethan detach himself from the blonde and step back inside.
    Shit. He was heading in her direction. He spotted her, smiled and made a bee-line for her. Dee pushed the platter into someone’s hands, swapped it for an empty champagne glass. With any luck, Jo would think she was collecting and Ethan would think she was drinking. As he approached, she gave what she hoped was a guest-like smile, as opposed to her wait-staff, it’s-no-trouble smile.
    ‘Hey, Dee. Enjoying the party?’
    ‘Oh, yes and, ah … and it’s such a lovely night for it.’
    He nodded, though he seemed a little amused. ‘Who are you here with?’
    ‘Oh, um …’ She waved her glass around non-committally and tipped it in the direction of the sushi crowd. ‘With, ah, some friends.’
    ‘You know Jonathon Beasley?’
    Shit. ‘Oh, yeah. Loves sushi. Did you find Lucy?’ She worked hard on a smile, ignoring his bemusement.
    ‘She’s not here but I found Leonard Frost and his wife.’
    ‘Who?’
    ‘The client. Leonard’s chairman of Health Life.’
    ‘Oh, right.’
    ‘I’ve told him you’re here and he’d really like to meet you.’
    ‘Oh, right.’
    ‘He’s out on the balcony.’ Ethan nodded in that direction, encouraging her to follow him.
    Dee tightened her grip on the champagne glass. ‘Actually, I was just looking for a refill.’
    ‘Oka-ay.’ He tweaked his brow. ‘But don’t leave without finding me first. I’d like you to meet Leonard.’
    ‘Sure, sure. I’ll see you later.’ She backed away to the bar, made sure Ethan was gone before crossing to the kitchen.
    ‘Dee, start on the dishes,’ Jo said as she walked in.
    ‘Yes please.’ She’d never been so relieved to wash up. This was ridiculous, she thought as she stacked glasses in the drainer. The crowd was starting to thin and there was only so long she could keep serving and hiding.
    Right, she had three options.
    One: she could hide in the kitchen, leave without being introduced to Leonard the Client and risk incurring the wrath of one or both Roxburghs.
    Two: she could continue serving and avoiding Ethan (getting more and more difficult), leave without being introduced and risk incurring the wrath of one or both Roxburghs.
    Three: fail to avoid, get introduced, be coerced into drinking