He started his own company and quickly released Avengement Two and Avengement Three, and as the money rolled in, his interests began to change. He discovered fast cars and even faster women, and after being stuck in a borough south of London for most of his life, he began to travel. He saw the sights and tasted the foods and fell in love with both, but it was the delectable cuisines of foreign lands that caught his interest and held it. Never one who had ever been labeled lithe, by the night of his Christmas party, Bradley had already begun to work on his third chin.

Like Bradley, Addison had also been around the globe, so when the young entrepreneur strutted down the stairs in his polished black wingtips, silk-lapelled tuxedo, and bright red glittery waistcoat, the image of a male Frigate Bird popped into Addison’s head. Inwardly smiling at the resemblance, before Bradley had reached them, Addison already knew Fran was spot-on. When throwing a small party, it’s appropriate to meet each guest at the door, but when an event includes invitees numbering over one hundred, those in attendance are greeted inside, far away from the prying eyes of photographers.

Well out of her element, Joanna remained silent while Bradley and Addison exchanged greetings, but when Addison once again took her hand, Joanna knew it was her turn.

“Bradley, I’d like to introduce my wife, Joanna,” Addison said, giving Joanna’s hand a tug to pull her a step closer.

Like a helium balloon filled to its limit, Bradley took Joanna’s small hand in his pudgy one. “It’s a great pleasure to meet you, Joanna. I could have bitten off my arm when I was told you were coming.”

“Oh how...how sweet of you to say,” Joanna said, pulling her hand from his sweaty grasp.

“Bloody hell, I’m totally chuffed,” Bradley said, and unable to contain his excitement, he stepped far outside the formal line between guest and host and pulled Joanna into a great, big bear hug.

Addison heard Joanna’s squeal of surprise and seeing her wrapped in the rotund arms of their boorish host, the thought of actually having the man eat his own arm came to mind instantly. True, the night was about attracting attention and stroking Bradley’s ego until he signed on the dotted line, but it wasn’t about whoring her wife, and Addison’s anger flared. Reaching over, she placed her hand on Bradley’s shoulder and squeezed like she had never squeezed before.

Feeling as if his clavicle was about to be crushed, Bradley released Joanna in an instant. Splotches of crimson mottled his face, and it took all he had to look Addison in the eye. “Um...yes. Well, perhaps...perhaps we should go inside so you can meet the other guests,” he said, waving the arm that still worked. “Shall we?”

***