Page 2 of That Time in Venice
Chapter1
“Good morning,”Anika Taylor sang at the receptionist as she walked into Davenport Design Studio. She dropped her umbrella in the container at thefrontdoor.
Jasmine, her shoulder length dark hair flipped up at the ends, turned away from the printer behind her desk and shoved a pair of horn-rimmed glasses higher on her broad nose. “What are you so happy about on a rainy Mondaymorning?”
“I’m happy to be alive. Do I need any otherreason?”
“Hmmm…you must have had a great date thisweekend.”
“Sadly, I didn’t.” Anika rolled her eyes, and her coworkerlaughed.
Online dating had been a bust so far. She tended to date older men, often twice her age. They were mature and well-established, and most of them didn’t play games. That wasn’t the case with this weekend’s bachelor. Men were men whatever their age, itturnedout.
Friday, her second date with an investment banker went downhill fast, starting with him complaining about how he believed his children—both in college—were taking advantage of his generosity. The night ended on a sour note when he tried to guilt her into bed because he’d taken her out for an expensive meal. She couldn’t believe a man his age believed a prix-fixe meal that totaled in the low three-digits warranted her taking her clothes off. Whatever happened to companionship? Getting to knowsomeone?
Before sliding behind the wheel of her own vehicle, Anika had handed him a hundred-dollar bill to cover her dinner and instructed him to lose hernumber.
A sly smile slid across her lips. “You’ll never guess what I got.” With exaggerated slowness, she pulled a Starbucks sack from her large purse and placed it gently onthedesk.
Jasmine’s eyes widened and she breathed the next words. “You.Did.Not.”
“It was thelastone.”
Jasmine groaned. “You’re such a bad influence. You know I can’t eat whatever I want likeyoudo.”
Anika eyed her coworker’s frame. Jasmine was solid and curvy, but not overweight. “Please, you can afford to cheat every now andagain.”
With that little encouragement, Jasmine snatched up the sack containing the chocolate croissant and opened it. She sniffed the contents, taking a prolonged drag. “You had them warm it for me.” Her grateful eyes metAnika’s.
“Of course. Had them do the same for me.” She patted the leather bag on her shoulder, indicating one of the tasty pastries was in there for her, too. “Break room in fiveminutes?”
Jasmine’s brow wrinkled. “We won’t beableto.”
“Whynot?”
They always enjoyed their chocolate croissants together over cups of steaming black coffee while they gossiped in the break room. On a rainy Monday morning, the phones wouldn’t be ringing much, and anyway, Jasmine could have calls rolled to the answering service while they took the shortbreak.
“Laura has a new client coming in today and she wants you in on the meeting. He’ll be here at eight thirty, so you betterhurry.”
“Why did she schedule a meeting so early?” Anikagrumbled.
“He’s a referral from Judge Evers, and you know Laura wants to keep her happy because it means more prestigiousreferrals.”
“Oh, thatexplainsit.”
Every referral from the judge had turned into more referrals as the firm’s name was shared among a growing list of high-end clients. They couldn’t buy that type of publicity. And, Laura had talked to Anika about buying a minority stake in the company so she could take more time off in the future. This would be an opportunity for Anika to shineagain.
“Oh well, I guess I’ll have my croissant later. Muchlater.”
Jasmine clutched the papers to her chest and bit the corner of her bottom lip. “Don’t be too upset. Judge Evers’s secretary says the new client isn’t bad ontheeyes.”
Anika arched a brow in interest. “Ohyeah?”
“Mhmm.”
“I’ll see for myself and we can discuss himlater.”
The two women giggled and Anikawalkedaway.
