The girl in the yellow dress - part 5

Sebastian wondered just how he had got here. The past two weeks were catching up on him. His head was beginning to throb.

“Champagne sir?” Said a waiter.

“Sparkling wine! It’s English. Sparkling. Wine. How many times do we have to remind you of that fact?” Melanie’s shrill voice echoed in his ear.

“Have you got anything stronger behind the bar?” He enquired.

The waiter nodded and disappeared.

“Well apart from the hired help this seems to be going well.” Melanie said smuggly. “Where did you pick her up from by the way?”  She added nodding at Alice, dancing with Edgar. It would have been her worse nightmare dancing with the ruddy faced farmer, she was glad to have been spared the ordeal. 

“Coffee shop, the Italian one on the High Street actually.”

“Bit down market for you Seb but each to his own. And where did she get that dress? Shabby Chic I suppose you’d call it. Fits well though. You always did go for the more voluptuous woman. Anyway duty calls must mingle. And you might like to rescue her shortly; poor girl will have no toes left soon.” And she trotted off.

The waiter appeared with a generous measure of whisky.

Sebastian downed it in one.

“Very pretty girl.” The waiter commented gazing across at Alice, “Lovely smile.” 

Sebastian banged his glass down on the tray. “Keep your eyes off the guests and your mind on the job. If I catch you leering at my date again this evening you won’t be getting paid!”

Surveying the room Sebastian couldn’t help noticing that Alice was getting attention from every corner, everyone seemed mesmerised by the golden girl. It was time to take control; he strode onto the dance floor a man on a mission.