Tim kissed her on the cheek when he met her at the restaurant. The décor was cutting-edge modern, but given the season, they passed a Christmas tree (decorated only in white lights and white angels) and a silver menorah on the way to the bar to wait for their table. Modern polished chrome chandeliers provided a soft, glowing light. As Tim went to the bar to order drinks, she covertly checked out the scene. Well-dressed men and women mingled over crisply starched tablecloths. Diamond rings flashed in the candlelight. She breathed in the soothing clean smell of orchids. Next to her, a group of men were analyzing a stock deal. On her other side, two women were commiserating over the renovation of their summer houses in the Hamptons. One wore a perfume that reminded her of visiting the first floor of Saks Fifth Avenue.

It was the opposite of the places that she and Jake frequented. And it was seductive. This was the life she’d imagined before Jake. A large minimalist modern apartment on Park Avenue or Central Park West, white couches, modern art, she and her husband heading off to work on Wall Street in the morning with their briefcases, kissing goodbye at the door. She’d not thought much further than that in her daydreaming. But now she wanted the more informal, laid-back fun life envisaged by Jake.

She felt someone next to her look at her and look again. She turned around. Penny. With auburn hair.

“Audrey,” Penny said. Her eyes narrowed. “You broke Jake’s heart. He looks like shit. How could you do that?”

“I—I didn’t want to break up,” Audrey said.

Tim reappeared. “Here’s your drink,” he said.

Penny stared at Tim, her eyebrows raised.

This looks bad. This looks like a date.

“Penny, this is my work colleague Tim,” Audrey said quickly.

“I hope I’m your friend as well,” Tim said, smiling at Penny. “Delighted to meet you.” He held out his hand.

“Nice to meet you as well,” Penny shook it reluctantly, but said in an aside to Audrey, “I’m still not talking to you.”

“Why aren’t you talking to Audrey?” Tim asked.

“Penny is one of Jake’s best friends,” Audrey said.

“Then I’m not talking to you,” Tim said. He folded his arms and frowned at Penny. “Jake broke up with Audrey. She just made partner. She should be glowing. Instead, she’s like a pale shell of her former self.”

Penny crossed her arms. “That’s what happens if work is your life.”

Audrey’s shoulders slumped.

The maître d’ tapped Tim on the shoulder. “Your table is ready.”

“This was just one time, and it was necessary to make partner,” Tim said.

“Was it just one time? I’d be willing to bet I’ve seen Jake more in the past month than Audrey has,” Penny said.