Bianca followed Muriel into the empty conference room that had been set aside for her. She sat at the head of the large table and put aside her crutches, taking the opportunity to rest her weary arms.
"There is water and a sandwich on the side." said Muriel, before bustling to her next assignment.
"Thank you." Bianca cried after her. Muriel was already out of sight. Bianca knew that Muriel was part of the grease that kept Pine Valley's Miranda Centre running so smoothly. She would have to remember to thank her for hard work. Bianca pulled a pen from her purse and made a note.
Bianca glanced through her speech notes, she was a little worried Marissa's last statement and that kiss had pushed everything else out of her head. Stuck in the bed this last week she had plenty of time to commit the short introduction to memory. Now her brain had gone blank, all her thoughts now seemed tied to Marissa; her voice, her smile, her lips…
Bianca shook her head to try and clear it. She read the speech through twice, just to make sure the words were still there in her memory.
Looking at the clock Bianca realised she had five minutes before show time. She wasn't nervous about the public speaking; she was a dab hand at that now. In truth her biggest worry was the steps up to the podium. When she began organising the event, she felt the steps were a wonderful symbol of how much she had recovered, thanks in part to all the support and love of her friends and family. A symbol of what this whole exhibition was about. Without the brace securing her leg, it was a much more daunting prospect. Especially in front of so many distinguished donors and the army of press.
Bianca sat in the chair for a few moments longer, before getting up to fetch a glass of water and the sandwich. She had a couple of pills to take before nine o'clock and they had to be taken with food.
She was half way to the side table when the conference room door slammed shut loudly.
Bianca turned around confused, had Muriel forgotten something?
Bianca froze. Standing in the doorway, his mouth in a thin angry line, was JR Chandler.
"Is something wrong?" Bianca asked, surprised to see him.
JR remained silent, but the rage in his eyes sent Bianca spiralling back into a familiar cold fear.
…