Page 155 of Strictly Business : A Lesbian Romance

business was ready, and things were rolling. The whole process was a

whirlwind, and even though they were ready for it and had been working so

hard, it still seemed like it basically came out of nowhere.

Opening day was a huge deal. It wasn’t just a product of all the hard

work that had gone into the building, it was Taylor’s dream coming true. It

was all their hopes and ideas, their planning, their sweat and tireless hours

made reality.

The lineup to visit extended down the block. There were journalists

there vying to cover the story. They were booked for a month solid.

Christina had done an amazing job with her marketing. Taylor had no idea

how opening day would have turned out without Christina’s brilliance.

As expected, Christina’s boss, Michelle, had come to see the building.

Taylor found that she didn’t really like the woman. She had a poor

impression of her, though Christina had never said a negative thing about

her boss. Taylor knew that Michelle saw the business as a way to avoid

scandal. That was her top priority. It was all about public image. It wasn’t

about what the business could do for people and animals. It wasn’t about

the difference it could make in the world.

Michelle gave off the same ultra-professional vibes that Taylor once

thought was the only thing that made up Christina as a person. Michelle’s

black skirt and blazer, her expensive cut and color, her designer handbag—

all of it annoyed Taylor, but not as much as Michelle’s attitude.

“The place looks great,” Michelle gushed as she glanced around at the

back area.

There wasn’t much to see at all back there, except Taylor’s office.

She and Christina had gone to hide out back there for a few minutes until all

the chaos died down. A few minutes being optimal. Taylor’s new staff were

probably as overwhelmed as she was, and she knew she had to get back out

front. Michelle’s entrance had signaled that Taylor and Christina should

take a short break.

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