Chapter One

Most of the eyes in the room turned towards Christine as she walked into the party. Her long red hair was in an elegant twist and she was wearing a silky purple dress that shimmered slightly under the bright lights.

Her lips curved in a smile as she went over to her group of friend and greeted them with a round of air kisses. As usual they knew all the latest gossip. Who was dating who… who had had an affair… who had broken up. Who had lost it all gambling or made a fortune on Wall Street.

Several of her friends giggled as a handsome stranger drifted over to them. He offered her a glass of champagne and she accepted it with a charming smile.

Another young man soon asked her to dance. She laughed as he whirled her around the dancefloor. The lights, the champagne, the music made her feel giddy in a very pleasant way.

As soon as that dance was over another man asked her to dance… and another… until she finally had to stop for a breather. She politely declined another invitation to dance and went back to her group of friends.

She loved it all. The parties, the glamor, the attention from men. The power of knowing that every man in the room wanted her, and every woman in the room envied her.

A few hours later, the party was starting to wind down. She was looking around the room when her eyes fell on a man in the corner. He was watching her… not openly like the others… but almost furtively. And unlike the others he didn't look like he completely belonged there. He seemed almost uncomfortable in his crisp tailored suit. Definitely what her mother would have called 'new money.'
Though he wasn't particularly handsome, there was something pleasant and honest about his face that she immediately liked. Before she knew it she was putting down her glass and walking towards him. He stared as she slowly made her way over to him.

She flashed him the dazzling smile that made most men melt and grinned as it had the usual effect.

"Hello…" she said sweetly, amused at how flustered he looked. "Hi…" he said, smiling a genuine smile.

"Enjoying the party?" she asked. "Sort of… it's not really my scene…" he admitted. She smiled at his honesty. Most men she knew would have responded with a grin and a comment like "I am now…"

"I take it you aren't here with anyone…" she said coyly, looking at him from under her lashes. A smile spread slowly across his face. "No… no I'm not…" he said.

Her smile widened. "My name is Christine… Christine Slevil" she said, holding out a perfectly manicured hand.
He cleared his throat and took her hand, shaking it slightly. "Tony… Tony Lewis…" he said, his warm brown eyes fixed on her.
"Well Tony Lewis…" she said, "Are you going to ask me to dance?"