Free Breaking the Rules by Barbara Taylor Bradford

now murmured, ‘Guess who called me earlier?’
    ‘Dax.’
    Geo looked startled. ‘How do you know? Oh, he probably called you too, didn’t he?’
    ‘No, I haven’t heard from him today, but he’s the only person we have in common.’
    ‘Yes, that’s true. Anyway, he’s back in New York.’
    ‘Already!’ M sounded surprised, and she began to shake her head in disbelief. ‘Sooner than even I thought.’
    ‘Yes, me too. But he’s back because he’s got a job in the theatre at last. Can you imagine, he went to LA to look for work in the movies, then ends with a part in a play on Broadway.’
    ‘But that’s wonderful! How did it happen?’
    ‘He was introduced to Iris Ingersoll in Beverly Hills, at some party. Through an actor he met there—someone who befriended him, I think. Iris is a Broadway producer.’
    M was about to say she knew that, but swallowed the words. She realized she had been saying too much to Geo lately, revealing things, and so she merely nodded.
    ‘He’s starting rehearsals next week. He’s got the second lead, and the thing is this, M, he’s invited us to a party to sort of…well, celebrate, I guess. I hope you don’t mind, but I said yes. For both of us.’
    M gaped at her, frowning, but remained silent, continuing to frown.
    Geo exclaimed, ‘Oh, don’t look so upset, M! It’ll do you good to get out of this house. All you seem to do these days is wait on tables serving cheese cake and help women to try on expensive dresses. And visit the modelling agencies. Come on, say yes. Go with me. It will be a treat for both of us.’
    ‘When is it?’
    ‘Tonight.’
    ‘Short notice, wouldn’t you say?’ M raised a dark brow, eloquently so.
    ‘Yes, it is, and Dax said that himself. But he just decided to do it today. He called it an impromptu party, and he does want us to come so much. And I’ve nothing better to do. Do you?’
    ‘Where’s he having it?’ M asked, ignoring Geo’s question.
    ‘At Iris Ingersoll’s apartment. On Park Avenue. Drinks at nine,and a buffet supper around ten thirty. To cater to the theatre folk, you know, who’ll get there late.’
    ‘What’s the dress form? What are we supposed to wear?’
    ‘Something festive, Dax said.’
    ‘I guess I’d better go upstairs and ransack my wardrobe,’ M murmured, finally smiling at Geo.
    ‘Oh, M, this is great! You’re going to come?’
    ‘Why not? I’d like to see Dax, congratulate him. He’s wanted this for so long. It’s nice to know one of us finally got a break.’
    ‘And you never know who you’ll meet there,’ Geo announced, grinning at M.
    Although her room was only fairly modest in size, M had liked it from the first moment she had seen it. Painted a creamy-buttery colour, it had a large window looking out onto West Twenty-Second Street; it was airy and light-filled, and very sunny this afternoon. The dark red and gold Oriental carpet covered the entire floor, and added a warm, cosy feeling, as did the dark red curtains at the window. There was a day bed along one wall with a dark red damask cover, and piles of gold and red pillows, so that it served as a sofa; nearby, a large armchair upholstered in the same dark red fabric as the curtains faced the television set on a stand. A coffee table, a large chest of drawers and several lamps completed the room, which M kept as neat as a pin.
    Her golden rule was no clutter, and there was a paucity of personal things here, especially photographs of her family; only a few books stacked up on the chest revealed something about her, and that wasn’t very much.
    M walked across the room and picked up her mobile phone, which had been charging while she was out. She saw a missed call, and knew at once that it must be from Dax. It was, and she called him back; his phone was turned off and so she left amessage congratulating him, and saying she would see him that evening.
    Wondering what to wear for the party, she headed towards the wardrobe and opened the