Free Love Redesigned by Jo Iles

Then a look of appreciation settled on his face as he checked out Holly’s appearance. He looked at her with the undisguised look of a hunter eyeing up its next dinner. His eyes seemed to keep returning to her bustline for some reason. Holly cleared her throat when his staring began to make her feel even more self-conscious than she did already.
    ‘How rude of me,’ Daniel said, shaking his head and returning to his circle, still holding Harry in his arms and making room for Holly. ‘Let me introduce you. Everyone, this is Holly and Harry. And Holly and Harry, this is Steve, Jake, Michael, Olivia, and Miranda.’ Everyone gave polite nods and the men shook Holly’s hand. ‘I think you and Miranda have met before,’ Daniel added, to complete the introductions.
    ‘Oh yes,’ began Miranda. ‘How are you, Holly?’ she said, narrowing her eyes at Holly and swooping in for some air kisses.
    ‘Fine, thanks,’ Holly replied with a fake smile. ‘You?’
    ‘I couldn’t be better,’ she said, looking over at Daniel and Harry.
    ‘How nice to meet you finally, Harry,’ Miranda said, stepping across Holly and grabbing his hand. ‘I’ve heard so much about you.’
    Miranda hadn’t changed a bit. She had always been desperate to bask in Daniel’s glory and had always followed him around like a little lost lamb. The rational part of Holly’s brain knew that she was Daniel’s personal assistant and that it was her job to follow him around like a little lost lamb—but it didn’t mean she had to like the woman. Now, it seemed to be no different. Daniel was holding Harry, so Miranda had to impress her boss and ingratiate herself with Harry. That was just how she worked.
    To Holly’s delight, Harry seemed none too impressed with the strange lady who was clasping his hand, and he wriggled it expertly free and began whispering things in his daddy’s ear, taking up all of Daniel’s attention.
    ‘Excuse us,’ Daniel said to his circle of party guests. ‘We’ll be right back,’ he added as he turned on his heel, pulling a surprised Holly with him. Holly just managed to catch a glance at Miranda’s put-out-of-joint face. It was priceless.
    Daniel took them off to a concealed curtain area where the waiters were loading up their trays with canapés and champagne.
    ‘Harry said he had a present for me, but wanted to give it to me in private,’ Daniel explained to Holly as he set the little boy down.
    ‘That’s right,’ Harry said confidently as he went over to the gift bag his mum was holding.
    ‘First, here’s your birthday card. Only it’s not really a birthday card. It’s actually a picture,’ Harry babbled as he dug in the bag and pulled out his somewhat crumpled artwork and shoved it under Daniel’s nose.
    ‘Thank you,’ Daniel laughed as he inspected the picture, trying to figure out what it was.
    ‘And here’s your present,’ Harry said, handing the bag to his daddy. ‘You’ve got to be very careful with it and promise not to lose it or break it. It’s very expensive, and only boys are allowed to touch it.’ Daniel stifled the urge to laugh, and gave Harry a solemn look, signifying his understanding of the immense responsibility that had been bestowed upon him.
    ‘Oh, wow! A ball!’ Daniel said as he reached into the gift bag and pulled out a bright blue ball. ‘Maybe we can play tomorrow—if you’re free?’
    ‘Cool, Daddy,’ Harry said, and launched into a huge yawn.
    ‘I think we have a tired little man,’ Holly said as she stepped in and picked up Harry, who automatically wrapped his arms and legs around her. ‘I’d better take him to bed.’ She gave Daniel an apologetic smile.
    ‘But you’re coming back?’ Daniel said quickly. Holly couldn’t avoid a slight grimace. Part of her wanted to take Harry to bed and stay upstairs with him. Limited as it may have been, she wasn’t all that keen on the company she had endured so far at the party. But a small part of her wanted to