Page 38 of Defending A Promise
“We’ll see in an hour,” I repeat because he’s tenacious when he wants to be.
Nicholas goes back to his television show as I go back to work returning emails, filling out forms for vendors for the Labor Day event, and trying to choose a theme to use, but an hour later, I take his temperature and it’s back to normal. “Okie dokie. We can go to school. Are you ready to go?”
“Yay!” he pumps his fist into the air and its clear he’s feeling better.
I take that as a yes. “Let me get my stuff and we’ll go. Mommy has a few meetings today.”
After dropping Nicholas off at school and giving the twitchy girl, Crystal, the rundown of this morning’s temperature issue, I go to meet Roxanne, the real estate agent that keeps sending me email advertisements, at an office space not far from Hibiscus Island Country Club. The proximity of this space to the club and Magical Moments will make work a lot easier.
As I pull into the parking lot, I look around to make sure I don’t see anyone that doesn’t look out of place. Although I’ve never seen my stalker, I’m always on alert wherever I go and now that he knows I’m in Hibiscus Harbor… I’m just trying to be cautious.
The office building is a two-story building made of mostly glass and steel. It’s very modern and sleek looking. It’s not really my style, but then again, I’m only going to use it for work, and I’ll be inside. The exterior isn’t really important as long as it has everything I need.
“Miss Ashford?” A woman around my age with bright red, almost orange, hair approaches me.
“Yes. Roxanne?” I ask her as we shake hands outside the building.
“Yes. It’s so nice to finally meet you, Miss Ashford, and you’re going to love this space. I can’t wait to show you. It won’t be on the market for long. It’s rare that an office space in this complex becomes available.”
“I’m excited to see it and please call me Riley.”
She smiles at me. “Follow me, Riley.”
She opens the lobby door with a key and a passcode on a digital panel that I hadn’t seen before. I like the fact that there are two methods needed to gain entry into the building. I’m feeling safer already.
As soon as we enter, we come to a security desk with a guard. As Roxanne signs us in, she turns to me. “Security is very important here at Hibiscus Commons. As you saw, you’ll need akey and a code to enter the building, and all guests will need to sign in and be issued a visitors pass to the business suite. Then security will announce them to the business before letting them go up.”
We climb into the elevator that is also all glass and steel. “Wow. I’m impressed. Why is security so tight here?” Now I’m wondering if there’s a government spy agency in the building or something.
Roxanne smirks. “Not to break confidentiality or anything, but there may be a financial institution or two located in the vicinity,” she says as if we’ve been best friends forever. “Tell me, what will you be using the office space for?” She pushes the button for the second floor.
“Nothing as exciting as that. I have my own event planning company and I’m expanding from my dining room table. Being a single mother, I’m constantly having to either move toys out of the way of my work or having conversations with my clients with cartoons playing in the background. It’s time to have a dedicated workspace for my business.”
“Oh, where’s your son, now?” she asks as we ride the elevator to the second floor.
“I just dropped him off at daycare.”
The doors open to the second floor, and I follow her down the hallway to the last office at the end. “Well, this place will be perfect for you, then. You don’t need foot traffic – just office space.” She unlocks the door and swings it open. “Welcome to your new office.”
The space is perfect for me. Just enough room for a couple of staff, an office for me, and a small conference room where I can meet potential clients. I sign the lease on the spot.
“The landlord will send you all the information for their online portal later today.” Roxanne says as I follow her out of the building. “Say, you’re not interested in seeing a small house that’s available for rent, are you? It just came on the market last week and it’s absolutely adorable. It’s got two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a small backyard which is completely manageable for a single mother, and the neighborhood is full of kids. Oh, and the schools are top notch. What do you say? Can I show it to you?” She looks down at her phone. “I could probably get you inside to see it now.”
I’m just about to tell this lady that I’ve spent enough money for today when a patrol car pulls up and I see Declan behind the wheel.
“Hey, pretty lady,” he says as his hand is hanging outside the driver’s window.
“Hello, Declan. So nice of you to notice,” Roxanne answers as she tosses her hair off her shoulders and saunters up to the window to talk to him.
I try to contain my laughter at the look of horror on Declan’s face when he realizes she thinks he’s talking to her and not me. I also don’t try to help him out of the situation. It’s pretty comical, so instead I play along. “Hi. I’m Riley.”
“Oh. Where are my manners? Riley Ashford, meet one of Hibiscus Harbor’s finest, Declan Hayes.” She waves me over to them. “Declan and I go way back, don’t we Dec?” She places her hand on his arm that’s still hanging outside the window marking her territory… she thinks.
“Nice to meet youDec,” I smirk and I see that he’s just itching to pull his arm away from her touch. Quite frankly, I’m ready forhim to do that, too, but it looks like Roxanne has a firm grip on him.
“So, what are you ladies up to today?” Declan asks.
“Well, Riley here just moved back to our quaint little town and is starting a business. Event planning.”
