"You know the price you pay is a new dress. One day it might cost you more. I'll be sure to dress extra sexy this time". I said with a laugh.
"Thanks Alice, I really appreciate it". As he walked into his office. I thought he seemed relieved. Usually he would have rolled his eyes at the sexy comment.
I'm Alice Dunbar, Secretary and Ms Right Hand Girl to Frank White of White Investigation and Security. I was his first hire almost 25 years ago. Right after he and Tom Pohl solved the Martin case and got him off for murdering his wife. I'm 52 years old. 5 foot 3 inches tall. Don't worry about my weight.
Frank is a great investigator but a rotten business man. That's were I come in. He thought he was just hiring a receptionist. I soon learned he had no clue what to do with the business that was coming his way. I kept the books. Scheduled meetings and took over hiring people when he didn't realize he needed help.
Eventually I became his defacto Plus One. I've never seen him with another woman or hear him talk about one. I don't think he's ever had a date in all the time I've known him. He's an attractive man. Tall at 6 foot 1, carries his weight well. With a full head of hair and white teeth. He could have any woman he wanted. My friends talk about him all the time. Some have even asked for me to hook them up. That's not happening.
After the trial and as business grew he started to get invited to social functions. At first he declined. I had to force him to go because it would be good for business. But than rumors about his sexuality started when he would always appear by himself. Its not that being gay is bad. Its just that he's not gay. We talked about. He was upset that people had the wrong opinion of him. I told him he needed to find someone to take to these parties. For the first time I saw fear in his eyes. It might have been easier to ask him to kill someone. I didn't know of his past. We never talked about. From that minute I knew he had been hurt terribly by someone he loved deeply.
I said he could hire an escort. He was against it. He knew some of the girls and they knew people who would be at the same social functions. It would be awkward.
To ease his mind I told him I would go with him when he needed a date. I had been divorced for some years by then. He gave me a questioning look. I explained. "All I do now is work and go home to my cat. And my cat is asking why I don't have a social life. So I have no problem being your date for these events. I don't have a lot of party clothes so it might cost you a dress once in a while. And some shoes and a purse. A girl as to look good".
"Let me think about it Alice, I'm afraid it might cause some issues here at work".