NEVER BROKEN

The Chance

Raye was standing in front of Darien and waiting for him to look up. Finally, he did.

"You may go home, now," he told his secretary of four years. He and Serena were separated for almost two years now. And counting...

Damn.

"Would you like to go out on a concert tonight?" she dared.

Darien's expression did not alter. He and Raye dated once. That was before she became his secretary, a few months before he met his wife. Blast! His sense of time need not concern pre and post Serena meetings.

"Not particularly." He continued reading the document in his hand.

"It's my birthday," she said. At that moment, Raye almost hated herself. It sounded as if she was begging.

Darien shifted his eyes to the calendar on his desk.

"So it is. What time is the concert?" he asked.

"Eight-thirty." She managed a smile, trying hard to contain the excitement in her voice. "Shall I wait for you in my office?"

"No. Let's meet there."

She successfully hid her disappointment. It's been so long since she last saw him smile—in the real sense. He would do that sardonic lift of his lips, show his perfect dentures at times, but his smiles—could they be called that, would never reach his eyes.

She gracefully left his private office.

She knew right from the start that the woman he chose for his wife was no good for him.

She was much more beautiful, more capable, better suited than that slip of a girl could ever be. And Raye was right. His wife left him. Raye would never do that.