Free Love Came Back (a Pyro-Princess Design and Style novel Book 1) by Stephanie Nicole Garza Page A

funny. Usually yoga would balance me, but I just figured today was just one of those “Monday” feeling kind of days. Since it was Monday that made it even more-blah. A kind of day that trouble usually followed in its wake. I could just feel it.
    Being me, trouble is closer than chalk on a sidewalk.
    Walking to my ’05 black, shiny Ford Mustang, I opened my gym bag to seize for my car keys. Growling for not getting them out ahead of time, I started muttering a curse.
    “Always at the bottom, aren’t they?"
    Finally getting into the car, I was seriously relieved when I turned the ignition and the A/C was like a cool breeze wafting across my face. I drove towards the Houston Outlet Mall, to my very own shop, Pyro-Princess Design and Style. Which was approaching its first anniversary in a few short months. So far, to my peace of mind, the shop was making great profit and the sales seemed to be showing a good steady increase. Thinking back, I knew I had accomplished quite a lot for my age of twenty-five. I was eternally grateful from the support of my family and closest friend, Mags, who went in on the store with me as a silent partner, to sell her own design of shoes, purses, and belts. Between Mags and me, it was a perfect set-up.
    The last seven years working towards a Fashion Design degree has kept me more than occupied. Even those two short years of misery with Mikhail, didn’t deter me from plowing straight through those classes. Luckily I had been able to retake those classes and I doubled up on classes during the next few years.
    I took night classes for Fashion Design and late afternoon courses for a small business degree, plus working full-time as the third shift, which was overnight, assistant manager at the nearby twenty-four grocery store. I almost couldn’t believe I had got done what I set out to do.
    Mags insisted I move back in, and she said since she had money, I didn’t need to pay for anything. I tried refusing but then she said, ‘my dad pays for the apartment, so get over it.’ She also bartended her way through college, so she made a killing when I barely scraped by. Suckie for me, but she had no problem with me being a mooch so I could save money. She knew I was determined after everything I’d been through.
    That helped loads for my ability to save the amount I needed to open a retail store in the Outlet mall. Plus, the shipping costs from the warehouse I ended up having to have for my designs to be made and it was almost bank breaking. I did it though, with my conviction and passion for clothing I wanted to prove myself totally independent. I was driven to succeed. I would have loved to have built my own boutique, but I only had enough to rent out a retail space at the mall. Yet, hoping one day, after a few years, I would have enough to achieve that dream. I am thankfully still young enough, to not worry about that just yet.
    Nor did I worry about dating. That was a problem I so did not want to deal with anytime soon. I needed to be myself and that meant freedom and independence. One man ruined me for a future happily ever after. Mikhail Donald Thompson; person personified as disaster, pain, catastrophe, plus a heavy dose of utter total misery. That was all that was associated with that louse. I seriously learned my lesson, the tough, brutal way.
    Owning my own business was a major step in owning my own independence as a woman. Knowing that I was doing exactly what I wanted with so much conviction made me feel happy and free. It’s been eight years saving money, with almost two of those years hiding behind Mikhail’s back, that I was finally able to open my store last year. Now I had by three employees, and a section where my best friend Mags put her own retail of shoes, belts and purses.
    I had no time for a lover or a husband crowding my way. Not that I’m planning on getting married anytime soon or getting close or intimate with anyone. I figured I just wasn’t made for marriage and