Eugenie

"Come on Syl, get up, I am tired of calling you. I have to leave now, so if you don't get up you'll be late for your important job interview.'
Claire Trenton shook her head at her sister's long red tresses, all matted and twisted from the wild way she had slept.Beautiful,brilliant, engaging-she could melt an igloo with just one of her smiles. Resourceful and chock full of ideas that, if applied could take the twenty year old places. Real places.
But lazy. So lazy it had become a fine art and the family who once held such high hopes for their 'princess' now were silent about university and almost even about Sylvia's getting a job.
"Stop yelling in my ear Claire, you're not on the cheerleading team anymore, you are getting to be a middle aged woman, yuck, I don't envy you. Getting old and soon comes the crow's feet and then the creepy neck.Yuck!
Sylvia turned over and closed her eyes again.
"That's crepey idiot and I am not middle-aged, I am twenty seven.So just, just...oh you are such an repulsive person sometimes. I give up, stay home and jobless until mom and daddy die and leave you buckets of money cause your the 'poor baby' who simply cannot cope with life. Bye.'
Claire grabbed her car keys from the hall table, gave one last glance at her six one slender figure,auburn hair freshly glossed at the hair dresser's and saw her own grey eyes snapping with hurt and anger.'You'll regret your lazy ways one day woman.
'And to think I held that girl in my arms nightly for two years , rocking her to sleep while mom finished her studies in law. Ungrateful little...
The front door closed with a decided bang.

Inside the house all was still and Sylvia had drifted off after shouting back'good riddance,when suddenly her eyes flew open and she sat bolt upright.
'I have to get to The Attitude in ....she glanced at her alarm clock. "In twenty minutes to be exact.
Like a newly fired rocket, the red haired beauty was out of bed and into the bathroom down the richly carpeted hall.Sylvia had her own large and tasteful bathroom but as she did not like to clean it she usually opted to use her mother's.
She was showered, teeth brushed and hair blow dried in five minutes.
It took ten more to dress in her best designer jeans, black with tiny diamonds on the the front pocket, very thin knitted t under a sheer cream colored silk top, almost pirate like in length and style.
Her hair hung loose in glorious red loose ringlets down her back. Taking a few jewelled barrettes she put them in strategic places and then smiled back at her image.
'It's show time.'

The ambience at The Attitude was a combination of New York smart softened with Mediterranean decor and music, and even the waiters had that dark wide eyed look.
Sylvia smiled at the maitre'd and he bowed and purred and was thrilled to talk to her a moment; he was a man who loved the preraphaelite artists and something about this vision , her wide green eyes, her pale face with soft roses in her cheeks, her mass of red hair, inspired him , intoxicated him.
'Ah Miss Trenton, as usual a joy to see you. Did you want your usual place this wonderful morning?
'Yes please Kurt, you are the gentleman's gentleman, as always.'
Though she said the very same thing to the man each time she came to the posh restaurant it never ceased to make his chest swell with importance, and Sylvia always hoped his head would not swell to match, it could be fatal.
The young woman ordered and sat back looking about her.
This was not the greatest time to come, mostly older ladies and gentlemen and students whose parents were rich, taking a break from the college two blocks away came at this hour.
The cool people, the really cool people, the darlings of society usually did not make an appearance until twilight began to steal across the city.
But, it was at this very time two days ago that HE had been sitting just across from her table, deeply engaged in reading The Province.
At first she could only see the impeccable rich suit in the latest Italian style, the long slender hands with two rings in shimmering silver, both on pinky fingers.
When he put the paper down the girl gasped involuntarily. His slender sensitive face was beyond perfect. He was ........HIM.
The man had looked across once only and smiled politely but not without interest.
The next day Sylvia had actually gotten up early by herself though no one noticed, they were gone by eight thirty.
She had hoped, hoped that he would be there .
And he was.
This time Sylvia had boldly offered him the second chair at her table and he had accepted.
At first the talk had been the weather and then the news and finally a little about themselves.
By the time the meal was over the man, Nicolas and the woman , Sylvia, first names only, had agreed to meet again the next morning;the last time before he left for the coast for two weeks.
It was just as Nicolas strode confidently into the dining room now behind a solicitous waiter that Sylvia remembered she has missed the interview for receptionist at an upscale clinic.
"Oh well, who cares, jobs are a dime a dozen. Nicolas is my sole preoccupation now and maybe forever.' She hugged herself in happy anticipation, secure in her beauty and charm and it's already positive effect on her dream man.
'Sorry to be late, but I've had a most annoying morning already and it is only ten.' He sat down heavily, looking a little tired.
"Oh I am so sorry,what happened to upset you?
"Oh nothing of importance, only I wanted to make sure that I had my new receptionist in place before I left this afternoon on my flight.Stupid girl, she didn't even bother to phone and say she was not coming. I sat about for an hour waiting, and now I have to get my manager to advertise again. '
Nicolas smiled and then stopped. 'Why whatever is wrong, are you alright?
Sylvia felt faint and shook her head."Nothing, nothing, er did you know the name of the person,what place is this?
Oh, right you don't know. I am the head of the Palasade Clinic, the one on the edge of town, now where is that slip of paper with the name,it's here in my pocket somewhere.Nicolas felt in the inside of his suit jacket and frowned.
'Actually she has the same first name as you, isn't that amazing? iI'll take a look in my inner pocket in a moment, but first I need a good strong cup of coffee, how about you?
'What , oh sure, say would you order for me, I have to go powder my nose.'
'Certainly.'
Sylvia pressed her lips together then smiled a little too brightly at Nicolas.
She held her breath as she rose shakily and made her way out of the dining room and down the left hall.

Sylvia refused to pull the pillow off her head when her mother called her to dinner that night.
'Look I just want to be alone mom, please' she said in a muffled voice .
'Be alone? child you have been in that bed the whole day. Which means you missed your job interview this morning.'
Mrs. Trenton, old fashioned, plump and no nonsense, shook her head as she moved toward the door.
'That poor employer, I wonder what he must think of you, wasting his time like that.'
'Yah, I wonder too' moaned Sylvia in a whisper. Well,I'll be eating out at a fast food joint from now on' she told herself grimly.' Good by The Attitude.'