Free Better Than Chocolate by Pat Amsden Page B

advantage.”
          “I suppose. Have you worked with her much in the past?”
          “Enough,” he said as they reached West Shore Investments. “After you,” he said holding the door open.
          The elevator opened on the fifteenth floor and they were ushered into a corner office overlooking Vancouver’s harbour. Business was apparently very, very good for Karen.
          She stood up to greet them now. A petite, pretty woman, she was dressed conservatively in a grey business suit with green silk blouse that brought out the red in her short, copper coloured hair and the green of her eyes. She was a good foot shorter than Elena which made Elena wish she hadn’t worn heels as she shook hands with her.
    But if there was one thing Elena’s father had taught her it was not to let appearances deceive her. Karen might be short and pretty but she hadn’t rated a corner office on the top floor because she was Suzy Home-maker. Elena was not surprised when she sat down in her office chair, turned it around and focused in on her. “So a gallery/coffee shop. Brad tells me it’s a good investment? Why?”
    “It’s in a good location and it’s a perfect mix. Starbucks does well. So will Elena’s. And while they’re drinking coffee they’ll have a chance to look at the gallery.”
    “So why doesn’t Starbucks have a gallery?”
    “If it had been opened by an artist it probably would.”
    “Maybe,” she said frowning. “But are you as good at selling coffee as they are?”
    “I can be. The money I’m asking for gives me operating capital to get it up and running. If it does as well as I think it will just on the coffee shop, I can pay you back in a year – maybe less.”
    “With these terms you’d better be able to. I’m not Santa Claus. If this does as well as you hope it will – what then – have you thought about franchising?”
    Her heart thumped in her chest. “Not at this point.”
    “Mm. Well, keep it in mind Elena. Consider this a starting investment. What I really want is a chance at the franchise if it works out.”
    “It’s something to think about,” Elena said with a good deal more calm than she felt. This woman really thought her gallery/coffee shop could be the next big thing? “I’ll let you know tonight whether or not I’ve chosen to go with your package.”
    It was all she could do to keep a straight face. Once out on the street she didn’t even try. “She thinks I could be the next Starbucks! Can you believe it?”
    Brad just hugged her. “I told you – you can be anything you want.”
    “I can’t believe it. Elena’s is really going to be a success. REALLY!”
    He wanted to kiss her. Hard. The kind of kiss that made the world stop spinning. He wanted to make mad, passionate love to her right there. “Come on. I’ll buy you lunch and we’ll celebrate.”
    He took her to the Waterfront Café and they drank expensive champagne while toasting Elena’s, toasting life.
    “Oh my God, can you believe it! They both want to lend me money. And Karen thinks I should franchise! Franchise? How do you franchise art? I’m not ready for this. I just want Elena’s to be a success. I want people to come in and drink coffee and talk about art and talk about their day and their life.”
    She looked at Brad. He was so gorgeous. And wonderful. She wanted to kiss him.
    The phone rang. He cursed softly under his breath and thought about not answering it.
    “Aren’t you going to get that?”
    He flipped open the phone. “Brad Phillips. Oh Greg … Yeah, we were almost on our way up. Half an hour, forty-five minutes tops.”
    The euphoric high between them evaporated like champagne bubbles gone flat. “It’ll be short and sweet, I promise.” But already he could see her shutting down, drawing a veil between them.
    Inside herself she was having a war. She knew he worked for her dad. They’d gone over that. It wasn’t fair to hold it against him. But she couldn’t help