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Chapter One

Carrie Slayton’s feet were killing her She’d spent the last ninetyin two-inch heels at a charity art auction in a swanky studio in don Chicago She couldn’t understand how shoes that matched her black dress so beautifully could be this painful Vanity, thy name is fashion

"My na in diamonds, reminded her "That’s Michelle, with two l’s"

"Got it" Carrie underlined the correct spelling Michelle, spelled with two l’s, had just spent thirty thousand dollars for the most ridiculous piece of art Carrie had ever seen True, it was for a good cause, but now she seemed to feel her name needed to be mentioned in the news article Carrie would write for the next edition of the Chicago Herald

"It would be wonderful to havewith your article," Michelle added "Perhaps you should take it in front of the painting"

Carrie looked over her shoulder at Harry, the photographer who’d accompanied her from the newspaper

"Of course, Lloyd and I would want approval of any photograph you choose to publish"

"Of course," Carrie said, doing her best to keep a set out of these shoes soon, her feet would be per for relief Instead they ached even worse

Harry, bless his heart, dutifully stepped forward, camera in hand, and flashed two or three photos of the couple posing in front of whatof a squished tomato or possibly the aftermath of a murder scene Carrie had yet to decide which The title of the work didn’t offer a clue Red Yes, the painting was in that color, but exactly what it depicted remained a mystery

"Isn’t it stunning?" Michelle asked when she noticed Carrie staring at the canvas

Carrie tilted her head one way and then another, looking for so that Michelle, spelled with two l’s, aiting for her response, she said, "Oh, yes, it’s a that all Carrie really wanted was to get out of those ridiculous shoes And to think she’d gotten her journalisree for this!

Carrie knew she was fortunate to have a job with such a prestigious newspaper A professor had pulled a favor and gotten her the interview Carrie had been stunned when she’d been hired Surprised and overjoyed

Two years later, she was less so Her assigne When she was hired, she’d been told that eventually she’d be able to write meatier pieces, do interviews and human-interest stories To this point, it hadn’t happened Carrie felt trapped, frustrated, and underappreciated She felt her talent was being wasted

To make matters worse, her entire family lived in the Pacific Northwest Carrie had left everything she knew and loved behind, including Steve, her college sweetheart He’d married less than six o It hadn’t taken hi, she noted The worst part was that Carrie was far too busy reporting on social events to have time for much of a social life herself She dated occasionally, but she hadn’t found anyone whomost recently, was more of a friend than a love interest She supposed after Steve she was a bit hesitant to get involved again Maybe once she left the Herald and moved home to write for a newspaper in the Seattle area, like she planned, things would be different

----

Back inside her condo, Carrie gingerly rehed with relief

This was it She was done First thing in theshe would hand in her teek notice, sublet her condo, and take her chances in the job en, refused to give her the opportunity to prove she had what it took, then why stay? She refused to be pigeonholed

That decided, Carrie limped into her bedroom and fell into bed, tired, frustrated, and deterued Sophie Peterson, her closest friend at the newspaper, when Carrie told her of her decision

"I’m totally serious," she said as she hobbled to her desk

"What’s wrong with your foot?" Sophie asked, tagging behind her

"Stupidity This gorgeous pair of shoes was only available in a half-size smaller than what I normally wear They were so perfect, and they were buy one pair, get the second half off I couldn’t resist, but now I’ for it"

"Carrie, don’t do it"

"Don’t worry, I have no intention of wearing those heels again I tossed theued "Don’t hand in your notice! You’re needed here"

"Not as a reporter," Carrie assured her, du off her thick winter coat "Sorry, ive nainst the wall that separated their two cubicles and crossed her ar, you’re the perfect fit for the society page You’re drop-dead gorgeous, tall, and thin It doesn’t hurt that you look fabulous in a slinky black dress and a pair of spike heels Even if I could getthe living daylights out of it, Nash would never consider someone like uy a little credit, will you? He knohat he’s doing"

"If looks are the only criterion--"

"There’s reat with people All you need to do is bat those baby blues at theift, I tell you, a real gift"