Chapter Ten

                                    

                                          
Chapter Ten
                          
By the time Eleanor had been released from hospital and we had gone through the round of stylists and what she should wear, I got home twenty minutes before Griffin was supposed to arrive. I raced into the shower. Lucky for me it wasn't a real date so I was quite happy to let all the regular primping go by the wayside. In my mind, Jake Griffin was only worth the minimum so that is what he got. When the doorbell rang and I hurriedly opened it wearing sweats, I could tell he didn't think much of it.
                          
"Good to see you made the effort," he said.
                          
"I only just got in," I said. "I need five more minutes. Grab yourself a drink if you want."
                          
Hurrying back to my room, I threw on a knee length skirt and a silk top, both conservative, and was out of the room in four minutes and thirty seconds. He looked me over and I could see the word 'boring' flashing through his head.
                          
"I am not going to this thing for fun," I said, grabbing my small clutch. "This is work for me, just like it is for you."
                          
When we got out to the car Griffin opened my door for me. I grudgingly gave him points for effort. I've got to say that it isn't often I get a door opened for me. Once we were headed to the party I wracked my brain for something to say but he started first.
                          
"I heard Eleanor Channing was in hospital for most of the day. I didn't think she got hurt so badly yesterday."
                          
"Oh she didn't. It looks like she had an allergic reaction to one of the products they used at Bliss yesterday before the fireworks started. The products at Bliss are all natural so we needed to get her tested to see if she has developed an allergy to something she is likely to come into contact with on a regular basis."
                          
"Has she?"
                          
"Doesn't look like it. The immunologist went through every product on the list and she didn't have an allergic reaction to any of them."
                          
Silence settled between us again. This felt uncomfortable.
                          
"Should we exchange information about how we met, how we know each other, you know, in case somebody asks?" Griffin said.
                          
"We can but we don't need to go into too much depth. I can pretty much guarantee that no one at this party is going to care about any of that information," I said.
                          
"Why not?" Griffin asked. "Surely you've made friends with this crowd. Don't you go to a lot of these things?"
                          
I sighed. "I go to a lot of these parties, not because I am specifically invited, but because I come with Eleanor Channing. As far as most of the people at these things are concerned, I am part of the furniture and that is the way it should be. I am there to deal with any situation that comes up. I try to stop Eleanor doing anything stupid. I extricate her from difficult situations and I make sure that at the end of the night she is home in bed safe and hasn't done anything to damage the brand," I said.
                          
"Sounds like you don't have much chance for fun," Griffin mused.
                          
"My job is not about fun," I said.
                          
"Then why do it?" Griffin asked. "Are you one of those people who is desperate to have a job in the entertainment industry, willing to do anything until you get your big break?" Griffin's tone was only slightly mocking.
                          
"No," I replied. "I am not interested in becoming an actress. I know I complain about this job but it's what I am good at. I solve problems and I look after people. That is my skill set in life."
                          
The rest of the drive went pretty silently. I really had nothing in common with this man and, to be perfectly honest, I didn't want to have anything in common with him. Once we got to the party, I was surprised to see Jorge at the door and smiled at him as we approached.