Lena smiled at some familiar faces and perused the growing crowd, approaching the bar as she did so. As she reached the bar, she saw no sign of Shane, and ordered herself a cocktail. A young courteous barman whisked her up a fruity concoction and poured it into a cocktail glass setting it delicately on the counter. Thanking him, Lena picked up the glass and turned to the crowd again, surprised to find an old friend and collegue had sidled up beside her.

“Richard” she exclaimed, with small delight. They had known each other for some time, and it had been a while since they’d last met up.

“Lena, this is a delightful surprise” said Richard, drink already in hand “I didn’t expect to see you at such a prestigious event, this isn’t usually your type of place to be seen”

“I’m sort of under order” she explained “Charlie had the tickets sent to the office and insited I came along”

“It’s about time you did Lena, you’ll find a few important faces milling about tonight. Ones that could certainly lend a hand career wise” said Richard, taking a sip of his drink “You spend too much time writing for these small time firms Lena. You waste your talents on them”

Lena couldn’t help but smile at the usual banter, it was the same conversation they had when they met up. Richard was very career driven, which accounted for their lack of seeing each other as of late. He was always jetting off some place or other and a hot story, having landed himself a prime job for a tabloid magazine. He revelled in tabloid media, and his outgoing bubbly personality made it easy for him to wean himself into a juicy story without too much work. He was also determined to see her career boosted the same as his, whereas she was quite happy to let it find its own path.

“Richard, we’ve seen each other exactly a minute in how many months and your already singing the same old tune?”

It was Richard’s time to smile this time and he shook his head, flashing her an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry Lena, how have you been? Are you here with anyone in particular?” he gave her a familiar curious grin with a glint in his eye

“I’ve been great Richard, if you kept your promise of calling every now and then you’d know that” Lena replied, with a similar cheeky glint “And I’m waiting for a friend. Are you here with anyone?”

“As a matter of fact I am” replied Richard “She’s powdering her nose”

“Well I’d be delighted to meet her” said Lena, taking a sip of her cocktail and scanning the crowd, as more people entered through the revolving doors. A few friends of them both said hellos and Richard found himself being pulled away by a few men he knew.

“We’ll speak later?” he asked as he made to follow them. Lena smiled and nodded.

“Of course”

She watched him wander into the crowd, and glanced back over the foyer, spying a small group of women who had just entered and were perusing the crowd themselves. With a smile, Lena left the bar and weaved through the bodies standing about, spying Shane amongst them. She noticed Shane had seen her and was directing her friends towards her. One of them looked familiar, and Lena wracked her brain as to where she’d seen her.