183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0012nwyNqF
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with us sooner, Lucia." Mr. Breckinridge smiled, and beside him his wife reached across the table to pat my hand affectionately.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiYrlXuHMb
"Yes, we were a little worried about working with someone so young, but you have truly set our concerns to rest."
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGiHioYd9R
"Of course." I smiled. "Your daughter's wedding day will be perfect. Are we ready to go over the final contract?"
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZpyZiiCXT
"Yes, let's!" Mr. Breckinridge removed his reading glasses from the inside pocket of his suit jacket, and placed them on the tip of his nose, peering down at the papers I had slid in front of him moments earlier.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmLDWW5Rxb
"Yes, yes, everything appears to be in order..."
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyh9xNXB7Y
Mrs. Breckinridge studied the paper from beside her husband, furrowing her brow as she read each line studiously.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw237lWiuF
This part always made me nervous. With every contract, hidden fees manage to sneak out at a client, and despite my best ability to prepare the client, they're often taken off guard.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweIHPo7YO1
"Well, I say this looks just fine!" Mr. Breckinridge scratched his signature across the bottom of the paper and I breathed a sigh of relief.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdWW5hJxIm
"Wonderful." I smiled. "And don't forget, we'll be seeing each other Friday, at 1:30PM for the tasting— Chef Landon has an hour reserved for you in the private dining room of Basilico."
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEV5zjWkYW
"An hour?" Mrs. Breckinridge piped up. "Is that enough time?"
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZM4njdW5y
"To try the food selections it should be. If we go over, that's not a problem. And of course our meeting will continue for another few hours as we go over your decisions for the dinner reception."
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBVF6KNB5J
"Oh, splendid!" Mrs. Breckinridge grinned and sat back.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OzA2MDHOc
"Will your daughter and her fiancé be joining us?"
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno0ySEf4Lv
"Oh, yes. She'll want to take part in the food." Mr. Breckinridge and his wife shared an exasperated stare and I smiled as I scribble a note into their file.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQedBS1GB1
"Perfect, in that ca—"
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr9f4a7DgJ
"Oh my!" Mrs. Breckinridge abruptly stands, clasping a hand over her chest as she looked somewhere behind me. "What a surprise!" She gasped delightedly.Mr. Breckinridge followed suit.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8lk3r4Exn
"Well, I'll be damned. It's good to see you, Tom! it's been a while, hasn't it?"
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkBnm4kdwG
The blood drained from my face. Whirling around, my worst fears come to life as Mr. Tom Banner approached, a pleasantly professional smile gracing his ever-perfect features.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPsasep4CV
"Mr. Breckinridge.” He returned the handshake. “How are we getting along today?"
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqsbpCP6UZ
"Just splendid. Your Lucia is taking marvelous care of us." The men shake hands as I rose to my feet on quaking knees, my heart pounding so fast I could barely breathe.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprFzlsNYFo
"I can't imagine anyone better suited to take of our most important client." Mr. Tom Banner looked at me for the first time since his unexpected arrival, and I flushed bright red.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAhDPp8qSK
This is the man that watched me get my bottom warmed less than two hours ago, and now he was interrupting my work meeting with his charismatic charm and god-like beauty.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg5GYZbfLu
Damn him!
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWwonURERz
"Well, I certainly don't want to interrupt..."
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNAinlfD2X
Too late, buster.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmb45W9N9q
"...I have a lunch meeting myself in just a few minutes. Would you mind if I steal Ms. Lucy for a moment? I promise to bring her right back."
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5SVJ2WDci
"Why, of course! But don't keep her too long!" Mr. Breckinridge winked.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh8Jp9FqDr
Before I could muster a single protest, Mr. Tom Banner was guiding me with a hand to the small of my back towards the entrance of the restaurant.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdu7akRmfl
"Lucy," he stopped and turned me around by my shoulders.
183Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9O5nBJuFQ
(The rest of this story is available on Amazon ebooks/kindle under LITTLE LUCY by Claire Cameron.)
ns3.141.4.8da2
