Smoke And Mirrors ***completed***

Chapter 1.

A sense of priority is what she needed, Daisy Sherwood thought with a long suffering sigh her eyes on the mirror. Perspective to be precise.
But it wasn't such a big deal.
In terms of disaster the world could be dying and if you thought about it it was really dying or all fashion outlets could be closing( shivers theatrically) now that would be a real disaster. Even the mere thought of it gave her goosebumps. How would be the world like without fashion?she had nightmares about that but having a pimple on her butt come pretty close to a world class catastrophe.
She didn't walk around naked but still.
She made a living off that body. Her body, her pride and joy. After all Vanity was not a sin or a flaw but a woman's sacred duty. Her mom would have a heart attack if she heard her thoughts but a woman's thoughts were her business.
Her eyes on the mirror she accessed her body with clinical detachment.
Her eyes were the color of the ocean before a storm. Grey with hints of blue and green. Wide set in a heart shaped face paired with a Small button nose and rosy bow shaped lips.

She was of elfin size. Small round breasts, long graceful legs and strawberry blonde hair like satin silk. And her smooth skin the color of melted caramel adding to her exotic gypsy looks.
She took in everything with a critical eye. All that could be summarised in one word. Perfection. Well, except for that little pimple.
She needed to calm down. What would Jesus do? No that wasn't right she couldn't perform miracles and with the buzz of alcohol still in her body and a hangover tearing through her brain she couldn't hold to any rational thought.
She was having a quarter life crisis and on top of it her life was a mess. Her roommate had moved out because of a man and angry at the absurdity of it she had gone nuts which had made the poor girl, shocked by her charade refuse to pay last months rent she had promised to pay. The bitch. Five months six tops and she would be crawling back to her Daisy thought with perverse glee. And anyway she didn't need her, a new roommate was due in tonight.
Her mind flashed to her boyfriend  and she shuddered. He was loser if there was ever one and she was sure he was cheating on her.

###

In nothing but  her Agent  provocateur underwear Daisy rounded on Wilson Bufferton. Buff for short the jerk who was her boyfriend. Even the name was laughable.
She spared her sitting room a look. Swiping her eyes over the spartan decor. The polished loblolly pine floor  which felt smooth to her bare feet, the white coaches, the walls painted a cheerful blue with a couple of painting she had painted when the mood took her to the easy overstaffed chair by the window overlooking the busy streets of New York.
Her eyes finally settled on her boyfriend, soon too be ex boyfriend.

"Can we be sensible and mature about everything, please."

Buff said without preamble running his hand through his hair looking anxious and uncomfortable.

"What is there to be sensible about you have just proved you have the fidelity of an alley cat."

She shot back building a head of steam for the rant she knew was to come. The calm before the storm.

"What happened was unfortunate. foolish even but you know I love you honey I wouldn't risk loosing you over some piece of cunt and anyway I hate feeling second fiddle to your career."

"So this is all my fault then?"

She screamed at him, the gall of the pathetic jerk trying to put the blame on her.

"Stop putting words in my mouth all I am saying is if you were available and the little time you were you weren't so frigid we won't be having this argument."

He was pacing the length of the room.
He was the only man she knew who would have said that with a straight face and self righteous indignation.

"Has it ever crossed your mind why I am so frigid in bed is because of you? There is more to sex than just pounding and groaning 'yes baby, you like that?'"

She mimicked his voice so perfectly she nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all. Judging by his beetroot red face with fury she assumed or embarrassment probably she realized she wasn't doing a good job at masking her jest. Damn and here she thought she had a poker face.

"You are only saying that out of spite. Let me make it up to you, show you how sorry I  am."

His voice was now cajoling and soothing like that gonna work on her.

"Yes you are very sorry."

Her subdued voice threw him off stride but he recovered fast.

"Let's go to bed and I will make it up to you big time."

He actually thought that was an option, his eyes hopeful. Boys will always be boys. She thought sadly realizing she only felt pity for him her fury already forgotten.
She would have to be really desperate to consider ever sleeping with him again. After all there was nothing to sneeze at there. How she needed a drink anything that really packed a wallop to wash  away the bitterness in her mouth.

"That ain't happening big chief, " she shook her head, " you are sorry excuse of a man you would know that if you had enough sense."

"Why do you have to make everything so hard? And in the grand scheme of things shouldn't I be more angry?"

"Have you got your wires crossed?"

"Don't play dumb it doesn't become you." He said in disgust, "did you really have to microwave all my priced CDs, fill my expensive suits pockets with rotten eggs and the icing to the cake put my beloved loafers in the washing machine. Do you know how much they cost?"

The memory of it all brought smirk on her lips. His Celine Dion CDs always brought out the destructive side in her. There was something about that lady she didn't like but she had served a good tribute to the little charade.

"You should have known better.".
She said sweetly her British accent becoming more pronounced.

"You are a crazy bitch."

"I never claimed otherwise."

She smiled.

"Truce? It was only a one time thing and I swear on our love it will never happen again."

She bristled. More angered  by the stupid little lie  than the assumption of their love he was swearing on.

"Get out. Out!"

She shrieked pushing him towards the door oblivious to his bewildered questions of what he had done wrong.
Men could be so clueless.

"You will regret this. I was the best you ever had and you will ever have so when you realize that don't even think about  calling me."

"Hell will freeze over first."

"Don't think you can fool me we both know you love me."

"Who is fooling who dear," her voice grated, "whatever we had love was never in the mix."

She flung open the door as Buff changed gears and started begging and groveling.
Honey swan who had been standing outside the door all this time gave the couple an amused look as Buff what's his name stormed off.

"Hey you must be the new roommate? come in."

Daisy shot back into the apartment as Honey pushed her two suitcases past the threshold.

"You have a pimple on your ass."

Honey pointed out helpfully.

"Don't you think I know that."

Daisy let out an unladylike frustrated groan and stomped off after she glared dagger at Honey who was trying her best not to smile.
The smiled broadened. she was definitely going to love her new roommate.