Both her expression and her body language changed as if someone had flipped a switch. “Hello, Nicholas.”

Nicholas handed me my drink. “One eggnog.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Candace is one of our more successful litigators,” Nicholas said.

“What he really means is that I have more billable hours than most.”

“That too,” he said, smiling.

She took a step toward him. “I heard about the Bellagio case. That should be interesting.”

“I might have to make a few research trips to Las Vegas.”

“Oh, that sounds painful. If you need any backup, I’d be happy to help.”

“Thanks for the offer,” he said.

“Think about it,” she said. “Have a good night.” She glanced at me once more, then said rather stiffly, “It was nice to meet you, Alicia.” She turned and walked off.

I stood there, a little stunned.

“Sorry about that, Alicia,” Nicholas said.

“Was that intentional?”

“Probably.” He took my arm. “Come on, let me introduce you to some of the others.”

I followed Nicholas from one side of the restaurant to the other as he shook hands and introduced me to what seemed like a hundred strangers. Near the center of the room I was glad to see Scott and Sharon Hitesman. While Nicholas and Scott talked, Sharon sidled up to me.

“Elise, you look stunning.”

“Thank you. And thank you again for letting me crash your Thanksgiving dinner.”

“You have no idea how glad I was to finally see Nicholas with someone. He deserves someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” I said.

She smiled at me. “Someone who makes him happy.”

A minute later Nicholas returned to my side to resume our tour of the floor. He was definitely well liked. And, with the exception of Candace’s snub, everyone was friendly.

“Hungry?” Nicholas asked.

“I’m starving.”

“Me too. Enough of this obligatory socializing, let’s eat.”

Like the surroundings, the fare was extravagant—the opposite of my office party. Actually, everything was the opposite of my office party. Instead of a plastic Tupperware bowl filled with ice and beer, there were silver ice buckets with expensive wines and a large ice sculpture of a swan.

“It’s not Cafe Rio,” Nicholas said, “but it’s edible.”

“It may surprise you, but I actually eat more than Cafe Rio.”

“Yes, I’ve seen you eat turkey,” he said. “And steak. And Chinese food.”

“And Thai,” I added.

“I think I’m getting through to you,” he said, setting some shrimp on his plate. “I love shrimp.”

“I love shrimp, too,” I said.

“I’ll get enough for both of us.” He loaded up his own plate, then pointed at some other things for me to get. Salmon on rice, roast chicken, crab-stuffed mushrooms, quiche, Brie and pâté de foie gras with crackers, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and puff pastries shaped like swans.