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of the day gossiping while waiting outside changing rooms and by cash registers for Fran to continue her sartorial reinvention.
    While Fran was trying on a jumpsuit in Armani Exchange, Anna brought up the subject of Thursday evening’s conversation. “So, things seem better between you and Charlie? The sex? The ring?”
    “Yeah, he said things had been intense at work and he apologized. Perhaps it was just the tension around the engagement that was getting to us both. He seems to want to make things better.”
    “But do you?”
    Anna found the heart of the matter, as usual. I didn’t know what to say.
    Anna prompted me. “Sorry, I’m not trying to interfere.”
    “No, I know you’re not. I just don’t know how to answer you. All I can say is that I’m not ready to walk away. But I’m not ready to marry him, either.”
    I didn’t tell her about dinner with Daniel. I didn’t know if I could go through with it after this morning. It seemed like Charlie really wanted things to work between us , and I owed him that, didn’t I? I loved him didn’t I?
    Charlie initiated sex again on Sunday. Maybe things between us were really turning a corner. I guess maybe we both were affected by taking such a big step in our relationship after so long and now things would level out. After my gym session on Sunday morning and Charlie’s extended nap, we spent the day doing chores and getting ready for the week ahead. Well, I did. Charlie spent most of the day in the office. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but we were together under one roof and we snuggled up on the sofa to watch TV together on Sunday night.
    First thing on Monday, I grabbed Brendan and dragged him into a meeting room so I could practice my part of the Phoenix presentation that was scheduled with David and another partner on Tuesday. Brendan was doing impressions of David the whole way through and I could barely keep a straight face. My cheeks were aching from trying not to laugh, so much that by the time we’d finished I thought I might be in a state of permanent cramp. I was still nervous, but at least I felt prepared. If I could get through it while Brendan was making me giggle, I felt confident that I could deliver my part as required in front of a normal audience. I really wanted to make a good impression—it was such great experience and I didn’t want it to be a one-off.
    Luckily, the presentation kept me distracted from my personal life. I didn’t hear from Daniel over the weekend , but when I got home on Monday evening it suddenly hit me that we were due to meet the next day. Was it too late to cancel? Did I want to cancel? I really didn’t. I wanted to see him, to see if the man in my head matched the man in the flesh. I wanted to know if he was married. Was I just meeting up with an old school friend, or was I meeting up with someone I was completely attracted to?
    On Tuesday morning, Charlie had already left for work when I got out of the shower. I was relieved. I had enough to think about without analyzing my interactions with my fiancé this morning. I dressed carefully. A black fitted shift dress that finished at the knee with a matching jacket, which would be great for the presentation but could be ditched for dinner tonight. I paired them with my favorite nude killer heels. I decided I would scrape my hair back into a ponytail just before the presentation and then let it down again for dinner. I wanted to look great for dinner without looking like I had made too much of an effort.
    I made sure I packed up all my makeup and a change of stockings into my favorite Mulberry handbag and headed to work.
    “Wow, you look amazing, babe.” Brendan let out a whistle. I guess I’d failed at not looking like I’d made an effort, but at least people would think it was for the presentation and not for a clandestine after-work dinner.
    “Thanks B, wish me luck for this afternoon ,” I replied, trying to reinforce the reason for any change in my