Come on, hurry up, Alice thought to herself while she made her way out, but wasn’t able to as others were leaving as well, making Alice stuck near the door. Then she heard someone calling her name.

"Miss Pieszecki, wait up." Alice turned around and saw Tonya waving at her. She smiled at Tonya but her smile dies off as soon as she saw the person behind Tonya.

"Hey…" Alice managed to say lovingly despite feeling annoyed.

"Hey…" Tonya grinned at her as she stopped a few steps away from Alice. Dana tried to look anywhere but the beauty in front of her. Smooth Dana, smooth, she reminded herself.

"Nice to see you here. Where’s your collegue?" Tonya shook Alice’s hand and looked around for the other person.

"Nice to see you too. Oh, Jess is having a rest at the hotel room so I come here myself."

"I see. Has she recovered from diarrhea?"

"Yeah, she has been taking the prescription the doctor gave for almost five days and she is feeling better now. But the doctor insisted that she rests for another two days." Alice smiled as she answered. But in her mind she was cursing the other person who was now checking her out silently.

"Great. But I am sorry that you have to cancel your holiday for a few days in order to back up her." Tonya expressed her sympathy.

"Nah, no big deal, she’s works under me anyway." Alice tried to answer lightly although she was sad that she had to cancel one week of her one month holiday she planned a year ago. However it’s not Jess’s fault, she said to herself.

"Oohh, by the way, Alice this is Dana Fairbanks. And Dana this is Alice Pieszecki from New York Times."

"Just call me Dane." Dana extended her hand out to shook Alice’s hand.

Both felt a jolt of electricity at the touch. Alice was the first one to withdraw. Hell, what happened to me, calm down Alice, calm down, Alice tried to compose herself. On the other hand, Dana felt as if she had died and was in heaven now. The touch of her hand is so warm, she thought, already feeling great about this. Tonya noticed the exchange between the two women and smiled.

"Well, Alice, remember that we talked about the interview when you met me to tell about Jess’ condition and you replacing her?" Alice nodded.

"Great, now that Dana had recovered from her headache, I think we can proceed with the interview, right Dana?" Tonya looked at Dana innocently.

Dana was puzzled but decided to follow Tonya’s pace, making a mental note to ask about it later.

"Ya, since the final is four days later so I think I can slip in one interview." Dana kicked herself mentally for the bitchy answer.

Alice frowned at the answer. The nerve of this women, she thought.

"So, is it ok with you, Alice?" Tonya asked.

"Hmm, let me see. If Jess gets better by then I think she should be able take up the assignment herself. When is it convinient for you to do the interview?" Alice asked.

"Tonight." The two women were taken aback by Dana’s answer. When Tonya looked at her, Dana just nodded and gave her the "Now, talk her to the interview!" look.

"Yeah, I thought so. Tonight is great. Cause I’m have another schedule for Dana tomorrow. Hope you don’t mind." Tonya smiled nervously as she think of a decent excuse for her boss.

Alice thought for a while. Hell, it isn’t like she could eat me up tonight.

"Ok. So 8pm at the hotel’s lobby coffee house?"

"Yeah, that would be great." Dana answered, smiling at Alice. Alice just smiled lightly and looked away.

"Ok, I need to go now. See you tonight Miss Fairbanks." Alice said as she turned and walk away.

Dana looked at Tonya.

"Did she just call me Miss Fairbanks?" Dana asked, Tonya just shrugged her shoulders.