[center][color=teal][h2]Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey[/h2][/color][/center]

Shadowing Roxy, Jess fell silent for a few seconds. Of course her words hadn't helped. Right now, nothing truly would. Still, she had to comment on something. [color=teal]"You haven't given up hope."[/color] Maybe, just maybe, her barely audible whisper would resonate with Roxy. [color=teal]"Not completely. Part of you is still trying. Or at least, wants to try."[/color] That fleeting glimmer seemed out of reach much of the time, but was all they had to hold on to.

And both of them would have to hold on even tighter over dinner with Mr Black.

With an inward squirm, Jess drew in her breath as the scolding showed the man's true colours. [color=teal]"It's ok, Roxy was just showing me as much of the place as possible,"[/color] she said, again making a point of using the name the anchor preferred. Putting on a little smile, she added, [color=teal]"And the food smells good."[/color]

It did, but as she followed Roxy into the kitchen, she knew the meal would be far from enjoyable.