About Past Perfect

by Alessia Brio
11 pages / 3700 words
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, Sony-optimized pdf

Jacqueline Manceaux is the shining star that makes Denise feel like she's sitting in the gutter.  Every time Denise looks up, Jacqui is there, like a reminder of all Denise's imperfections.  When Jacqui invites Denise to a party, it takes all Denise's courage to show up and walk in.  But, once Denise is in the door, everything changes.  The evening with Jacqui takes Denise down a road she never expected to travel, until Denise has to bring everything to a halt.  Part One of Two.

Sample

The ease with which Jacqueline Manceaux breezed through life provided a perpetual source of annoyance for Denise. She shone like the sun, even in her darkest hours, and she had more than her fair share of those.

Denise felt like an ogre in Jacquí's company. On those rare days when Denise felt well above average on the attractiveness scale, Jacquí would arrive at the office in a sleek designer suit and steal what little attention Denise had hoped to garner. The leggy blonde epitomized "sexy," but had enough smarts not to even need good looks. To add insult to injury, she had the nerve to be one of the nicest people Denise had ever met. No one deserved to be that close to perfection.

Jacquí strolled past Denise's office carrying coffee and a bagel. She lifted the foam cup in a g'morning salutation, with a megawatt smile that might as well have been nails on a chalkboard for its impact on Denise's mood.

Denise hated the fact that she spent so much time trying to find fault with Mademoiselle Manceaux, to find some chink in her "charmor" that would let her legitimately despise the bitch. Maybe she abused small animals or kicked homeless people as they slept on the street. One could only hope. Shaking herself, Denise returned her attention to the day's schedule.

Few people wanted to look at real estate in the morning on weekdays, so Denise used the time to return phone calls, schedule inspections, challenge tax assessments, and scour the newspapers online for For Sale By Owner ads. Her commissions didn't suck, but they could have been better. She longed to have the finesse other agents used to reel in reluctant do-it-yourselfers. Jacquí, unsurprisingly, led the firm in signing FSBOs.

The morning passed quickly, and Denise's stomach reminded her that she'd skipped breakfast. She signed off her computer and retrieved her purse, intending to grab a soup-and-salad special in the building's basement cafeteria.

"You look nice today," a dulcet voice called from the doorway. Even Jacquí's vocal cords evoked envy. Denise looked up. "Well, you always look nice, but I especially like you in green. Brings out your eyes. Um, sorry to interrupt, but can I talk to you for a minute?"

In spite of herself, Denise beamed. To be first complimented, then wanted -- for whatever reason -- by this ultra-smooth, ultra-savvy woman made her ego swell. It didn't take long, however, for her inner cynic to squelch that elation. "I'm on my way to lunch."