"Pilar! Pilar!"

Ivy Crane called for her maid. She needed assistance getting ready for the dinner party that she and Julian had to attend.

"Where is she? She's got to help me zip this dress. Pilar!" Ivy called again.

"Oh, that's right. She had to go home early," Ivy remembered.

Flashback

"Mrs. Crane, I'm very sorry to ask this on such short notice, but would it be all right if I took the rest of the day off? My son, Luis, has gotten sick."

"Of course, Pilar. You go home and take care of your son."

"Thank you, Mrs. Crane."

End of Flahsback

"Well now, how am I going to get this thing zipped?" Heading to the door, Ivy opened it and stuck her head out.

"Julian! Could you please come here for a moment?"

Under normal circumstances, Ivy never would have enlisted Julian's help. But she was desperate.

He arrived in her room a moment later.

"Yes, darling?"

"Be a doll, would you, and zip me up?"

"Of course dear," he said, walking up behind her and zipping the dress.

"Thank you, Julian."

"It was my pleasure." Looking the dress over, Julian pulled his wife into his arms.

"You look breath-taking, my darling. Absolutely amazing."

Blushing, Ivy replied shyly, "Thank you."

Pulling her closer, Julian lowered his lips to her ear.

"You know," he said in a soft whisper, "if we weren't going to this blasted dinner party, we could have all sorts of fun at home," he finished with a small, seductive growl.

"Julian!" Ivy scolded, spinning quickly in his arms and smacking him playfully on the chest. "Now, I know that you'd rather not go tonight, but, if you suffer through it, I promise, you'll be rewarded when we get home. If you're really good, we may even leave the party early."

Smiling at his wife, Julian said, "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's get out of here!"