Competition

Four

I stood at the bar in my borrowed taupe Preen minx pleated mesh dress, beige red-sole Christian Louboutin pumps, and my silver-tone Judith Leiber slender curve fine crystal-embellished clutch; waiting for Ava to return from the ladies toilets.

'A woman should never be left standing alone at a bar,' a man's voice said from behind me. I turned round and looked up at the tall dark-haired man. 'Especially not one so beautiful,' he took my hand and kissed it. 'Howard.'

'Priscilla,' I replied watching him. 'I was waiting for my friend.'

Howard nodded. 'And what do you do, Priscilla?'

'I'm a writer,' I replied. 'I write books.'

'I would never have guessed,' he smiled. 'Where's your friend?'

'She's in the toilets,' I replied looking briefly in the direction of the bathroom. 'She should be back soon.'

'That leaves enough time for us to get completely lost in each other?'

'I don't even know who you are.'

'Howard.'

I grinned. 'Right,' I nodded. 'Howard.'

He laughed and nodded. 'Howard.'

I turned back to the bar and ordered another glass of wine.

Howard turned to face the bar as well. 'Will I have read anything you've written?' he asked. 'I'm an avid reader.'

I looked at Howard's profile for a few moments before turning back to the bar. 'I don't know. Did you ever hear of "Barclay"?'

'He was written terribly,' Howard replied. 'Was that yours?'

I nodded.

'Well then, you wrote him terribly,' Howard corrected. 'He seemed so typical of a man who has no morals, but then falls for the only woman he can't have. Did you write that book during a spell of writer's block?'

'Are you a book critic?'

'Oh no,' Howard laughed. 'I'm a web designer.'

'A nerd.'

'It's a well paid job.'

'As is writing.'

'You're paid to make things up.'

'So are many people.'

Howard laughed.

'Thank heaven,' I said getting up as I noticed Ava. 'I'm sorry to leave you.'

'Sorry enough to meet me for a drink some time?' he asked. 'Can I have your number?'

I smiled as I got up fully and collected my clutch. 'It was nice talking to you Howard.'

I left the bar and met Ava as she came to meet me.

'What took you so long?' I asked.

'Why?' she asked adjusting her clutch under her arm. 'What happened?'

'You were gone for so long, I was left talking to Mr. Obnoxious.'

'Are you sure you're not just jealous?'

'Jealous? Of what?' I scoffed.

Ava looked towards the bar and spotted Howard as he shot back his drink and sighed. 'He's kind of sexy. What did you say his name was?'

'Howard,' I replied. 'Go after him if you're so desperate.'

Ava looked at me with pursed lips. 'You need to start being nicer to me,' she said taking my hand. 'Come on, this party is dead. Let's go home.'