“Kyla, I don’t know what’s going on between you two. I know what I think is going on, but you don’t owe me an explanation.”
“Excuse me?” She turned to face her.
“Chris and I care about Sean and since he started seeing you…he’s changed.”
Kyla walked around taking pictures. “Sean’s a nice guy, but we’re just friends.”
“Friends?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. If you need anything else, call me and I’ll be glad to help you.” She walked back to her desk. Kyla finished her measurements, gathered her things and walked out to Trina’s desk. “Leaving?”
“Yes. It was good seeing you again Trina.”
Trina hugged her. “It was good seeing you too. I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t care about Sean. It’s just…”
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“I know.”
“He’s very special to us and…”
“I understand, but like I said, we’re just friends.”
“Maybe we can get together some time for coffee?”
Kyla hesitated to answer, but remembered the power of the gatekeeper. Although she came highly recommended, she knew she needed to have Trina on her side. “Sure, I’d like that. Call me and we’ll set something up.”
Maybe it was being in a church, but for Kyla this appointment felt like she’d just been to counseling against her will. Prior to this meeting she had decided not to see so much of Sean. Now, thanks to her new client, that wasn’t going to be possible.
Kyla walked into the showroom doing her regular greeting. She walked around the showroom and Simon came out and stood at her feet barking. She picked him up.
“Hey there, Simon. Where’s your daddy?” she asked as he licked her cheek. “That’s a lot further than your daddy’s gotten.”
“And not because you haven’t tried.”
She turned around and smiled. “Hey Sean.” She put Simon down.
“What a surprise.” She kissed him on the cheek and her parfum traveled up his nose. “You changed your parfum.”
She thought for a moment before answering. Opium was Eric’s favorite. “Yeah, I thought it was time for a change.” She smelled her wrist. “Do I smell bad?”
He hesitated to answer, “No. It’s similar but nicer.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want to get a coffee?” Sean asked.
“Maybe later. I’m here on business.” They started walking around the showroom. “I have a new client. The budget isn’t that large, but he’s nice and it was a referral.”
“You can do it. What’s the budget?”
“It’s a two part job. His office and his apartment. He gave me $12,000 for the office.”
“Whoa, that’s tight, but it depends on the space.”
“Yeah.”