Page 1 of Power Plays & Proposals

Chapter 1

Chocolate is the best way to start any day, and I needed the really good stuff today. I didn't hesitate to select the chocolate pastry from the fresh tray in the back of La Petite. I picked up the chocolate croissant and didn't even yelp at how hot it was.

"Don't burn your tongue," Maria warned me. Just like she did every time I picked up my freebie treat from a hot tray.

The best part of working at the little corner pastry shop was that Maria fully supported taste-testing her creations on me. I had to limit myself to one item at the beginning of my shift, and an extra at the end of the day if anything was left over. Maria refused to sell day-old stuff, but I didn't mind it one bit. I was pretty sure that the treats were the only reason I had hips.

Where Maria had the beautiful curvy features that made a man look twice, I had earned the nickname Lanky Lia in college, where a gourmet meal involved instant ramen. Not much had changed since with the amount of student loans I had to pay off.

Today's creation was my absolute favorite. The flakey buttery layers, with the dark chocolate center and a little extra drizzled over the top.

"You got it, boss lady." I nodded to Maria and licked the chocolate off my thumb. "This is your best batch yet."

She smiled, even as she said, "And wash your hands before you touch anything."

I bit into my breakfast with delight and savored every morsel. "I really needed this today."

That piqued Maria's curiosity. "The sun isn't even up yet, what could have possibly happened?"

"Late payment notice," I mumbled around another bite, and wiped away some of the flakey crumbs that had fallen on my jeans.

"What?" She asked and stopped mid-dusting of the top of her strawberry almond pound cake with powdered sugar. "But it's only the second."

"It was on my door this morning. Nearly locked my favorite scarf in the door jam I was so busy looking at the yellow paper."

Benny took it upon himself every month to post late payment notices by the second, no matter what. The banks were closed yesterday due to New Years, but holiday or not my landlord posted notices to fifty percent of the apartments in the building, according to my home-bound elderly neighbor Mrs. Jex.

She'd lived in the building for twenty years and took great pleasure in spilling the tea to me on the other folks in the building. She also enjoyed handing over her rent the moment Benny came to her door to put up a late notice. I think she watched through the peephole to see the moment he’d pull out his tape dispenser to post it. Then she’d whip open the door and hand him a check. Saved her the steps she’d told me with a wink the first time I saw the exchange.

This was my first time receiving the late notice, but if I couldn't pay I'd be out before I could say croissant ten times fast.

She stared at me, "Do you need a loan?"

I shook my head, and had to tuck a strand of my red hair back under my hat. "You're the best, Maria, but I'll figure it out. Benny said he'd give me till the end of the week to scrape the money together. Besides I have more shifts at the salon this week, and I picked up another one at the flower shop."

"Girl, you are the hardest working broke person I know. For how many jobs you have you shouldn’t have a problem with bills."

"Don’t I know it."

"How about you take an extra treat today."

I smiled at the offer. Working for Maria didn't pay much, but the regular pastries she gave me made up the amount of groceries I didn’t need to buy. Maria was also the first friend I’d made when I moved to Glacier Bay and I did not want to bring my troubles to her doorstep. She had enough to worry about with business being slow. She didn't need my money problems on top of it.

"I hope they give you more to do than shampooing and sweeping."

"You and me both. I'm on walk-ins today."

"That's good right?"

"Definitely." I hoped that I sounded more confident than I felt. Being January second, I doubted anyone needed their hair done. Most people prefer to get their hair done before the holiday season, not after it.

Maria gave me a sympathetic look. "I have a couch if you need it."

"There's motivation if I ever needed it." I teased.

"My couch is not that bad."

"If I lived in the Stone Age. That thing is hard as a rock, even if it is pretty to look at."

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