第23部分(第3/7 頁)

　black；　vaguely　Western　button…down　shirt　she’d　found　at　Beacon’s　Closet；　and　a　pair　of　Chloé　flats　that　Blair　had　left　behind　in　high　school。

Hollis　squeezed　her　hand　reassuringly　and　pulled　her　into　the　elevator。　It　whooshed　up　to　the　nineteenth　floor。　“We’ll　have　fun；”　Hollis　promised；　readjusting　his　fedora；　which　had　now　bee　his　trademark。

Hollis　pushed　open　the　glass　door　that　led　to　the　reception　area。　A　petite　blond　girl　in　a　black　dress　glanced　up。　She　looked　like　a　banker。　Vanessa　smiled；　reminding　herself　not　to　be　so　judgmental。

“Andra；　great　to　see　you！”　Hollis　said　warmly。　The　banker　got　up　from　behind　the　desk　and　hugged　him。

“It’s　been　too　long！”　She　smiled；　her　eyes　flicking　up　his　tall；　lean　form。　“You　look　good。”

“Hi。”　Vanessa　said　pointedly　to　the　girl。　Was　she　flirting　with　her　boyfriend？　While　Vanessa　was　right　there？

Aw；　can’t　we　all　just　get　along？

“Oh；　hi！　You　must　be　Vanessa；”　Andra　said　warmly。　“Hollis　told　me　so　much　about　you；　I　feel　like　I　know　you！”　she　cooed。　Vanessa　smiled　despite　herself。　It　was　nice　that　Hollis　was　talking　about　her　when　she　wasn’t　around。

“Anyway；　I’ll　let　everyone　know　you’re　here；”　Andra　said；　sitting　back　down　at　the　desk　and　picking　up　a　receiver。　“Stacy；　they’re　here！”　she　yelled　into　the　phone。　When　no　one　answered　she　padded　down　the　carpeted　hallway　to　tell　them。

“You’ll　be　great；　champ；”　Hollis　said；　squeezing　Vanessa’s　shoulder　as　he　led　her　to　one　of　the　low…slung　couches　set　up　along　one　cream　wall。

“Thanks；”　she　whispered。　She　usually　prided　herself　on　being　ultraindependent；　but　right　now；　she　was　glad　Hollis　was　right　by　her　side。　He　did　this　kind　of　thing　all　the　time；　but　of　course　Vanessa　was　nervous。　This　was　her　chance。　And　so　wh