Free Love in the City, an erotic romance novel by Heather Hall

the file.
    “Yes, everything I could find over the last three years.” Anabelle noticed that Raquel had reapplied her Chanel perfume and touched up her makeup for a more dramatic evening look. Her lips were now painted a deep red. Her hair brushed to a smooth, silky shine. She had put an expensive tennis bracelet on and changed her earrings from studs to sparkly drop earrings. Anabelle noticed a slight shimmer of bronzing powder across her chest as well. She was really pulling out all the stops to make an impression. And she knew for what. Her stomach was tied in a knot.
    Raquel did a quick scan through the file. “This should do, thanks.” She looked up and gave her a big, fake smile. “I may be a little late coming in tomorrow, but I’ll be here. We can follow up on next steps when I get in.”
    Anabelle felt sick. The reference to coming in late was a definite dig. She wanted to cry. “Ok ay,” she managed to say, her voice going hoarse.
    Raquel grabbed her purse and keys and headed for the door, hair and hips swaying. “ I’m leaving early. I have some things I need to do before my meeting. Have a good night,” she called out breezily as she walked away, waving her hand without looking back.
    Anabelle stood there. She listened as she heard the powerful engine of Raquel’s candy apple red Porsche Carrera fire up. The engine growled as the car pulled away and she heard it rev as Raquel sped off.
    Those with power and means, and those without, she thought. Sullen, Anabelle didn’t want to stay at the office any longer either. She grabbed her purse and coat to head to the subway. To go home alone to have dinner with her cat. Her phone hadn’t rung.
     

Chapter 9
     
    Anabelle slept fitfully that night. Her phone never rang. She had waited so long, hoping it would ring, that it was too late to call Sarah by the time she finally realized that Giorgio wasn’t going to call. How did he think it was okay not to call her under the circumstances? With her boss brazenly hitting on him? she wondered. She was tied in knots. He obviously didn’t care.
    On one hand, she dreaded going into work that morning, and yet on the other, she was anxious to get there to get a sense of where things were at. She walked past Coffee Haven. She hesitated, considering going in, but decided to keep walking out of spite. He probably wasn’t in there anyway, she told herself. Just keep walking and don’t let them make a bigger fool out of you.
    She reached the office and went around back to see if Raquel’s car was there. It wasn’t. She set her shoulders and tried to quell the upset feelings that were gripping her. She’d definitely be calling Sarah tonight. She’d give her heck for encouraging her to consider a date with him in the first place because of how much misery this was already causing her. She’d chide her about how it was the worst idea in the world to entertain such a fantasy.
    Jennifer said hello to Anabelle as she came in. Anabelle did her best to muster a smile and a cheerful hello, but she could tell by Jennifer’s expression that she hadn’t been all that successful. Sensing her gloomy mood, Jennifer didn’t try saying anything else to her.
    Anabelle sat down at her desk. A stack of work waited for her, but her focus was shot. She mostly stared at walls, her desk, her monitor, and her phone, which wasn’t ringing.
    Around 10:30 a.m., she heard the rumble of a sports car engine. Raquel. She swallowed hard.
    Raquel came sauntering in, sunglasses still on. She didn’t say anything to Anabelle, only nodded in her general direction.
    Anabelle’s imagination ran away with her. This day was going to be torture.
    The day passed by slowly. Raquel barely spoke to her. She said nothing of how her night went and Anabelle didn’t have the courage to ask. Her pride wouldn’t allow it either. At this point she didn’t want to know. It couldn’t be anything good. Giorgio still hadn’t called.
     
    Finally, it came time