Emily could not believe her ears. She thought she knew them, it was all too much to take in.
Daniel or Dan as he saw himself looked at Lucy and smiled. He moved away from her and helped himself to a drink. Lucy stared at Emily and felt a little sorry for her but could not bring herself to say this, or indeed anything. Dan was on a role so why interrupt him. She had not known him long but well enough to know that once he got started on an idea it was best to let him finish.
Having fixed his drink Dan stared at his girlfriend musing 'Lucy is not the only one in for a surprise. Emily is not going to like it too'.
Emily looked at Dan in wonder as he spoke.
'It could take two months' Dan continued.
'Two months' exclaimed Lucy.
Dan smiled. 'Two months' pausing 'at the most'.
Lucy looked at him highly skeptically but did not say a word.
Dan was amused at Lucy's doubtfulness and at the shared glance between her and Emily. Emily though seemed more bemused than skeptical.
Dan continued. 'And then I can retire.' He said this not so much as a boast as a statement to lure Lucy closer into him. Not just another passing fling, for either of them, but something longer term. Dan believed in the power of wealth, the power of wealth to make him irresistible to women, irresistible to Lucy.