Aries Unleashed

"So, you're not looking for any particular type?" Jack asked, closing the manila folder in front of him and looking properly at Izzy for the first time since his expensive fountain pen had begun trailing blue-black flourishes across the page.

"I don't really have a 'type.' I'm afraid I've not had the luxury of being able to pick and choose."

He smiled again. "Until now," he reminded her. "Now it's all about picking and choosing."

"Yes, I was going to ask you about that," said Izzy, her voice slightly hesitant. "How does it work, exactly?"

Jack stood up briskly and moved round to her side of the desk again. He came close—but not too close—to her chair and stood impressively over her, creating the impression of a fond schoolmaster advising a helpless student on her homework.

"Ah, now that's where you've got to put a little time and effort in for the cause," he said. "But you shouldn't look at it as work. More as a chance to explore the options, find out about the opportunities that are open to you. Think of it as a kind of careers day for your love life."

Izzy laughed at the analogy, reinforced by his schoolmasterish position.

"What do I have to do?"