C7 Chapter 7

“Okay, thank you. I hope to hear back from you soon,” Marcia says as she hangs up her desk phone.

Things have not been going as smoothly as she expected. Despite her meticulous planning, setbacks were piling up.

Consignments were getting canceled and customers were “needing time to think”. It was already late July and she needed to have the store opening by October.

She leans back in her swivel chair, turning to stare out the window, her thoughts clouded with worry, that’s the third order cancelation this week, all major clients.

Kyle walks into her office and sits across her desk, concern splayed across his face. “What’s going on ma’am? I know we’re not officially open yet, but even our casual walk-ins have been drying up.” He is sitting forward, his hands pressed on his knees.

“Even the label designer just canceled. Something feels off, doesn’t it? Ma’am?” Kyle presses, his tone gentle yet with a sense of urgency.

Marcia has her chin resting on her fist, elbow on the arm of her chair, her eyes are distant, having a faraway look to them.

“Hm? What? Sorry, Kyle, who did what?” Marcia asks, her voice distracted.

Kyle could see her eyes refocusing on him as if she is coming back to the present.

He sighs and sits back in his chair, shoulders slumped, and crosses his feet, at the ankles, beneath him, feet facing backward. Then he sits up, feet still crossed.

“I said, walk-in customers are getting fewer, and the designer for the logo on the wine barrels and the wine racks in the basement, just canceled on us.”

“Oh, okay,” Marcia responds, her gaze dropping back to her desk. Was I wrong? Is this move a mistake? she muses, her heart sinking.

Then her eyes flicker to the gold bracelet on her wrist and she touches it lightly, a soft smile crossing her lips. She raises the fingers that touched the bracelet up to her lips, caressing her lips tenderly.

“Umm…Ma’am?” Kyle says, concern in his voice.

“I thought we agreed that you could call me Marcia when we are alone?” she replies, fingers still on her lips eyes still fixed on the bracelet. “Well, umm, yeah, Marcia…” Kyle responds, his voice trailing off where he says her name.

Marcia looks up, staring at Kyle’s face for a few seconds, “What? Something on my face?” Kyle asks nervously, touching his cheek.

Marcia smiles at him I guess, I am a bit older than him, but still, he is twenty-two, why is he so uncomfortable with saying my name? she wonders.

Kyle watching Marcia, ponders, how can I call her by her name? She’s at most five, maybe six years, older than me, but her eyes are so deep…world-weary, it always seems like I’m talking with someone far older, an old soul…is that what they call it?

Marcia’s phone rings and she glances at it. Her eyes light up and she presses her fingers to her lips, breaking into a smile so warm and sudden that Kyle instinctively leans forward to check her caller ID.

Before he can, Marcia picks it up, accepts the call, and speaks cheerily “Mon cher!” she waves her hand pleasantly and dismissively at Kyle, who smiles, despite himself, and walks out of her office.

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Half an hour later, Marcia walks briskly to Kyle’s desk downstairs.

Placing both hands on his desk and leaning forward, she says “About that label designer, I have a number for you to call. The gentleman you speak to will need to come over this evening, not tomorrow, to take a look around; make sure to call him right away so you don’t have to stay in the office too late.”

She hands him a slip of paper with a name and phone number on it, winking at him.

Kyle took the slip of paper from Marcia, surprised. “Where...” he starts, but before he can finish, Marcia spins around and, heads toward the door, saying over her shoulder, “I’m heading out to see a new customer; won’t be back today, so see you on Monday!”

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Marcia arrives at her destination, after handing the note to Kyle, and walks up the restaurant steps, her eyes searching for a familiar face. She arrives at the balcony overlooking the street and spots her 3 p.m. appointment.

“Stephen!” Marcia calls out, waving her hand high, as she sights her ‘date’ for the afternoon.

“Marcia!” The tall blond man responds, rising from his seat and waving high, back at her. As she comes up to him, he opens his arms wide to her and they hug each other fondly.

“Wow! It’s been seven years, Madam past President!” Steve exclaimed, his grin wide.

“Yes indeed, Mr. past President!” Marcia says, her voice light and happy.

They both laugh as they sit down at their table, the years between them falling away.

“So…what are you drinking?” Marcia asks Steve, the past wine-tasting club president from her college days.

“You called me Stephen just now, so…I’m drinking something you’re not allowed to have!” Steve teases, flashing a mischievous smile as they both laugh again.

Steve signals a waiter, “She’ll have the same thing please,” he says, and turning back to Marcia, continues “How have you been Marcia, it’s been so long ehy?”

“So long!” Marcia says sitting forward,

“You look great Steve, I can see New York has been good to you!” She continues, smiling broadly.

“Yes, it has. I just got into Miami a few days ago, visiting a few friends and such, taking an overdue vacation. I was so thrilled to get your call this morning! Talk about serendipity ehy?” Steve remarks excitedly.

Marcia’s drink arrives and they chat for a few minutes more, catching up on where they had both been and how after-school life had been. After all, Steve had graduated two years earlier than she had, and this was the first time they had met since then.

As it turned out, Steve went on to do an MBA as soon as he graduated and joined a stockbroking firm in New York. He had left there a year ago to start a venture capital firm with three of his former colleagues, one of whom had been a former partner at the stockbroking firm.

They had many connections across the country and many wealthy friends around the globe.

“Here’s the thing Steve, I really need your help with –” Marcia begins.

“Done!” Steven interrupts with a grin.

“What? I haven’t said anything yet!” Marcia says, eyes wide with surprise.

Steve smiles intently at her, leaning forward with his arm on the table, “Whatever you need, Marcia, I’m here for you.” He says, his voice low and laced with meaning.

Marcia blushes lightly, “Steve I…”