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spreading across her face as she thought about Bethan .
    ‘ Sounds like you have your work cut out with one that age, ’ Joel said , smiling at Kate.
    ‘ Yes, definitely. Look Joel, the thing is, the reason I have you here, is because of my boss.  She’s evil. Well perhaps evil is too strong a word . S he’s a dragon in high heels, hence the nickname. She loves to make people feel small, well me anyway and she’s expecting me to have a date tonight. And I don’t have a little black book, I don’t have a book of any kind - you know - with men in it. You see, my husband left me, a short while ago and I haven’t really been out since, ’ Kate babbled , wishing her wine glass full with every ounce of energy she had.
    ‘ I see, ’ he replied with a nod.
    ‘ Sorry, you’re probably not interested in me at all, or the fact I don’t have a book of men, ’ Kate said and she stuck her hand in the bowl of nuts on the table, taking a palm full and putting them into her mouth.
    ‘ OK, how about we met at the pool when you were taking your daughter swimming. Does that sound more plausible? ’ Joel suggested.
    ‘ But we haven’t been there yet and I’m not really very good in the water. ’
    ‘ It doesn’t matter, it’s just pretend. I’ll fill in the gaps, don’t worry, ’ Joel told her and he took hold of her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
    She flinched, the shock of the physical contact jarring her. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had touched her.
    ‘ So what did you say the dragon in high heels is called? Her real name, ’ Joel asked .
    ‘ Miranda. Be warned she’ll probably try to sleep with you, ’ Kate answered, grabbing more nuts and tipping them into her mouth.

Five
     
    It was just after 8.00pm when Kate and Joel arrived at the Grand. The banquet was being held in the Regency r oom and when they got to the door Kate could see it was full to capacity and everyone was already seated. Thankfully, within seconds, Miranda let out one of her ear-splitting , over the top laughs and K ate was able to distinguish the Randall’s table from all the others.
    ‘ Right, into the lion’s den I guess, ’ she spoke, more to herself than to Joel.
    As she prepared to head off into the room Joel took hold of her hand again. It was soft and warm but also strong and supportive . Kate looked up at him, meeting the saucer- sized eyes again.
    ‘ I’m afraid, if you want people to think we’re dating , then we’re going to have to get a little bit intimate, ’ Joel told her, giving her hand an encouraging squeeze.
    ‘ OK and we met at the swimming pool, about six weeks ago. Was it six weeks? ’ Kate asked, looking at him nervously.
    ‘ Six weeks is fine. ’
    There were approximately two hundred people in the huge hall, all sat at round tables with white and gold crockery set out before them. At the bottom of the room was a large stage with spotlights erected at both sides and men with television cameras. At the previous year’s banquet the president of the company, Frank Peterson, had bored everyone stupid with slides on their work in Africa , followed by a quiz about the slides and he had ended with a lecture about using less water. The cameras and lights probably meant a jazzed up version of the same. Perhaps he had finally mastered PowerPoint. The good news was there was no sign of a disco.
    Kate saw the two empty seats at the Randall’s table and with her head down she made a beeline for them in the hope she could sit down before Miranda noticed she had arrived.
    It wasn’t to be.
    As she went to swing herself into her seat she got her foot caught on the chair next to Frank Peterson. She fell forward and ended up having to grab at Miranda’s seat for support, narrowly avoiding whipping the tablecloth off like an amateur conjuror.
    ‘ Are you OK? ’ Joel asked her, steadying her and helping her remain upright.
    ‘ Hello Kate, we were beginning to wonder whether you were going to