Karen managed a smile. She raised her martini to her lips. He said: "You know, you're ravishing with hair upswept that way, Karen… may I call you Karen?"

She nodded. "If you like." There was a little sheen of oiliness that had oozed from the pores of his pug nose, causing it to glisten in the flickering light. Subconsciously, it made Karen wonder about her own. "About the book, Mr. Fletcher…"

He started to speak just as the tall brunette in flowing white silk appeared, the immaculate white collie dog she led moving slowly into the plush, wine-carpeted room. Karen had witnessed spectaculars of sorts before, but this entrance had whipped her breath away. The girl… woman was absolutely stunning. She held her head high, almost regally, and her skin was the hue of ivory. Her breasts, in fact, her entire body, were suggestively visible beneath the gown she wore, and Karen was certain she could detect the black pubic hair of her mons veneris. She was stunning… absolutely stunning…

"Claudia! Darling… so nice to see you," Fletcher said, leaping to his feet and going to her.

She smiled and it was something of a celestial event itself, Karen thought.

"How are you, Fletcher? I see you sold another dull book into movie trivia," she said, speaking in a husky but soft and controlled voice that inspired an envious tremor to move through Karen.

"I want you to meet someone," Karl Fletcher said, his little mouth wide in a smile. He caught her hand and led her the several feet. "This is Karen Wilson who has just completed a magnificent book, Claudia… undoubtedly a best seller."

"Undoubtedly," the woman remarked, sweeping her onyx eyes away from him and onto Karen in a rapid softening warmth. "I'm Claudia Gray, my dear. This is Splender." She drew the animal back and it actually bowed, touching its long nose to the floor. "If this beast tries to exploit you, I'll be glad to read your work," she said coolly.