Silver Fox Returns

She cursed under her breath, wanting nothing more than just find some excuse to leave, or even better, to let the earth swallow her whole so that she would never have to face this situation at all.

When Richard had first mentioned his name, there had been an alarm going off in the back of her mind, but she didn't know why. Usually, Emily never forgot a name or a face and it made her crazy not to know what her subconscious was trying to tell her. She had brushed it off, thinking that she'd figure out the solution sooner or later. Now she only wished it had been sooner rather than later.

The name might have been buried along with the rest of her rather unpleasant memories, but it all came back to her the moment she saw his face. And again she felt sick to her stomach. She felt as guilty as the night she had danced with him. First, she had prayed it was just bad luck that she saw him at the annual holiday party thrown by Richard's company, but her prayers hadn't been heard.

He was now walking towards them to shake hands with her husband. "Richard! I was hoping to meet you here."

"Chad, lovely to see you."

Emily held her breath, trying to smile politely as Richard spoke. "This is my wife, Emily."
The moment his hand touched the small of her back, she went rigid. "Emily, this is Chad Clarkson, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales of Padega Industries."

Her facade didn't crack for even a second while she shook his hand. "How do you do?" she replied politely. On the inside, however, she hoped that her face hadn't turned as red as her Chanel suit. Chad, of course, the 'Silver Fox' from the singles bar that Lorelai had kept referring to as a '60/40 bar'. The sparkle in his eyes sent a cold shiver running down her spine.

"A pleasure to finally meet you, Emily," he said, nodding his head, his eyes never leaving hers.

She was afraid he would say more, but for the moment she was saved when a blonde bombshell appeared at his side.

"Chaddy, darling, you were gone so fast that I almost lost you." She snuck both her skinny arms around one of his, pressing her silicone-formed twenty-year-old body against him and making her already inappropriately low cut red dress show more than it was supposed to while the white fur trimming slid half an inch lower, revealing part of her expensive black lace bra.

Emily looked at Richard, embarrassed to even witness the scene in front of them. The pin-up giggled girlishly, raising one milky-white hand up to 'Chaddy's' cheek, her blood red fingernails grazing his skin while she whispered something in his ear. 'At least her lipstick matches her nail polish,' Emily thought while she tried to remain calm. Studying Richard's face for a moment, she was glad to find him completely uninterested in Malibu Barbie. He seemed to feel as embarrassed as she. It made her smile. She made a mental note to kiss him later for his polite behavior. If she'd survive this night.

Chad.
Her gaze traveled back to him. If she was lucky, he wouldn't say a word. But what if not? Looking back at Richard, she flashed him a smile when she found him looking at her. What would happen when he found out? And would she be able to tell him everything in detail before he'd do anything?

Emily knew it took a lot to get her husband to react. Early in their relationship, she had sometimes instigated situations to make him jealous just to check how far she could go. She had learned her lesson the hard way. Jealous Richard was nothing she'd ever want to witness again. He was good at swallowing his emotions to a certain point, but she didn't want to ever cross that border again.
Rear-ending her car and getting at Simon McLaine was one thing, but there had been a time when he had really lost control and it was only because of their good connections and a large sum of money that the matter hadn't been settled in court. Emily had sworn to herself that she'd never let it get out of hand like that again.

Now she was afraid that not telling him right away might take them to a point she couldn't foresee. And it frightened her a little. Richard sensed his wife's uneasiness and gave her an apologetic smile as the unlikely couple opposite them continued their conversation.

"You must excuse my little Crystal," Chad patted her hand while he snuck his arm around her. Turning to his playmate he continued, "Crystal, I want you to meet Emily and Richard Gilmore."

Her blank expression turned into a plastic smile as she offered her hand to Richard. "Hi."

Emily could tell that if it wouldn't have been for Chad's hand gesture, her answer would have been 'Sure, where are they?' Her face didn't show any of her thoughts, of course, as unlike Crystal, Emily Gilmore was a lady through and through.

Crystal's eyes lingered on Richard while he shook her hand. Did she really flirt with her husband? Emily dug her fingernails into the back of the woman's hand slightly, making sure that her opposite knew she shouldn't dare try anything. The blonde's eyes widened a bit, her head suddenly snapping in Emily's direction as she glared at her for a second before covering it with a sugar-sweet smile.
Crystal's voice dropped a notch when she forced out a polite greeting, trying to sound happier than she surely was.

Emily's thoughts quickly returned to the problem at hand when she sensed Chad's eyes on her. Forcing herself to meet his gaze she instinctively moved closer to her husband as she noticed a slick smile appearing on Chad's face as their eyes met.

"Emily, would you grant me the honor of dancing with you again?" he asked.

The way he pronounced his words made her want to slap his face. 'Again'... how could he? She smiled politely before looking questioningly at her husband, still a little unsure.

He brushed his hand over her back, smiling at her. "Go ahead, dear." He seemed to have not been effected by Chad's choice of words.

Her smile didn't waver even though she felt her heart contracting painfully in her chest.
Nodding her head, she turned back to Chad. "Lead the way."

He bowed his head, his hand gesturing towards the dance floor.

Emily walked past him, trying to think of a way to get out of this mess as an uncomfortable throbbing began to build behind her temples.

Author's Note: This was supposed to be a way to keep myself from getting bored on my way home, so don't expect it to be too great.
Thanks to my very own 'Sweetie' Elizabeth for betaing and thanks to oldfashionedgrl for finding the time to give me some input. Both your help is highly appreciated. If it wasn't for you who knows if I'd have ever bothered getting rid of that continuity mistake or ever put this online.

You want chapter two? I want feedback... so we have something in common ... in a way.