Mutiny on the Open Heart: Claudia

It feels abit thrilling to be starting a new novel. I have no idea how it will evolve or turn out, but there'll be at least four main characters in this new book, probably six. Claudia and her sister are two. I don't know about Mr. Bigshot yet. He and Claudia met in a laundrymat. The clandestine part is because Mr. Bigshot is married.
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Chapter 3
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Claudia and Mr. Bigshot were quite proficient in clandestine costume design. When she met him in Cleveland, he attending a software seminar aimed at school principals and administrators, she dressed the part by wearing a knee length Liz Clayborne sky blue dress with black flats and a purple paisley wrap around scarf. “I’m a third grade teacher,” she teased at the hotel buffet line, “I know how to fit in with school principals-- I used to date one: I even kept our sex notes in a special grade book, if you know what I mean.”

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Convinced that she fit in precisely well, she and Mr. Bigshot were sufficiently comfortable that they attended the seminar banquet together the first night, followed by side by side seating at the on-the-town dinner at Roxie’s by the Bay the following night. They parted ways each evening only in the hotel lobby and only for five minutes: he first on to the elevator with the New York Times folded under his arm and she, moments later, aptly moving as an exhausted, boring teacher ready to hit the bed, fluff her pillow and read a book.

Mr Bigshot had occasion to attend several conferences a year, each coordinated with Claudia’s vacation time and each elaborate in its design and execution. Mr. Bigshot was first to volunteer for new business accounts, the theory being he would not be recognized and could thus integrate Claudia somehow without obvious risk. On the occasions when this was not possible—the Apple Convention in San Diego every year, for example, Claudia had the benefit of three distinctive wigs: blonde, auburn, and jet black. One year she appeared as a advant garde journalist, black pattern leather boots that reached her knees and a tight black sweater and tight back skirt, black rimmed glasses, hair pulled back, large hoop earrings.
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“I’ve been propositioned in this outfit seven times so far,” she chuckled to Mr. Bigshot over coffee, “and the day’s not half over. Maybe I should change professions—I could never wear this to my office.”
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“No,” Mr. Bigshot chuckled back, “But you could wear it for a very short time to my office, which I might add is private and secluded.”
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“Oh no,” Claudia said, “I've already have my wardrobe planned for that appointment. Let me just say it’s a good thing your office has window shades.”