Alexa stood up and shook her hair out, giving a little twirl.  ‘So how do I look?  Should I change?’ she asked.

She wore a midnight blue cocktail dress which managed to strike that rare balance between sexy and classy. 

‘You look beautiful Lex, I mean it,’ said Jayne sincerely.

‘Thanks’ said Alexa and squeezed her hand.  ‘I’m so sorry I couldn’t bring you too.’

‘Forget about it, just don’t get drunk and show yourselves up for god’s sake.’

Rachel was about to give a retort but the sound of a hooter was heard outside and the girls grabbed their bags and rushed down to the door.

‘Oh my god!’ they said simultaneously.  ‘Louisa come take a look at this’ called Jayne.

Louisa came to the door as Rachel and Alexa got into the shiny limo.  The car pulled off and Rachel took Alexa’s hands.  ‘Thank god you had to pee because this is fucking amazing.’

The girls walked into the restaurant trying not to look as out of place as they felt.

‘Hi’ said Alexa nervously to the waiter at the front desk.  ‘We’re here to meet Helena Peabody.’

‘Ah yes, they arrived just a minute ago, let me show you to the table.’

They were shown through to another room out of the main restaurant, inside was a table raised onto a balcony like structure with a view of the whole city but whilst Rachel admired the opulent surroundings, Alexa admired their hostess. 

Helena stood up immediately.  ‘Alexa I’m so glad you came’ she said and kissed both her cheeks warmly, leaving Alexa slightly dizzy.  ‘This is my cousin Will.’

‘Hey’ he said warmly and reached across the table to shake her hand.

Alexa suddenly remembered Rachel standing at her side.  ‘This is my friend and housemate Rachel Henderson.’

‘Pleased to meet you Rachel,’ said Will.  ‘Ladies take a seat, this really is a welcome break from dining exclusively with my cousin or a load of old fuddy duddies.  Tell me what do you girls do for fun in this place?’

Rachel and Alexa looked at each other, both groping for something they did which would meet the standards of their dinner guests.

‘Well the theatre here is pretty good, we go there sometimes’ said Rachel.