Better Than Chocolate by Pat Amsden Read Free Book Online

Creek area and thought by labelling them environmentally friendly they could get approval they wouldn’t normally. They were about as Eco conscious a group as McDonalds and Greg loved it. Not one of them would voluntarily spend a dime extra on green anything if they didn’t think it would pay off with a dollar somehow.
    How Elena had turned out the way she was remained a mystery to Brad. One he wanted to explore more. He headed off in the direction of Mary’s house stopping first at the desk to arrange for a new cell phone.
    “Don’t think you can do that here,” the clerk said. “You’re going to have to go to Nanaimo.”
    Unreal. He headed over to Mary’s.
    Mary was in full swing and Elena was nowhere in sight.
    “Where is she?”
    “She’s gone,” Mary had said, and stuck a plate with brownies in front of him. “Taste and tell me which you like best.”
    “I can see that. But will she be back soon.”
    “Not for the next few days. She said she was going on a buying trip.”
    “What?”
    “She needs stuff for her gallery and she wanted to check out the work of some of her artist friends. She thought it would fit in well.”
      “Great. Is there a number I can call her at?
      “No. But I have her itinerary if you want.”
    Her itinerary. He was supposed to be in Vancouver and … he looked at the rough, hand-written map Mary had handed him. This was somewhere in some godforsaken corner of Vancouver Island.
    If he was smart he’d catch the next plane back to Vancouver. He’d take the ferry back from Nanaimo tonight after picking up a cell phone. He … “How long ago did she leave?”
          “About an hour ago,” Mary said.
          He reached down, rubbing the cat which had suddenly appeared on his lap.
    “This is not the way to do business.”
          “No. Of course not,” Mary said, but he could see a twinkle in her eye.
          “The one on the left,” he said pointing at a half eaten brownie. “It’s rich and chewy without being over-poweringly sweet.”
          “My choice too,” she said appreciatively.
          He rented a jeep from a car dealership next to the cell phone outlet in Nanaimo. And then he called Martin Lee. “I won’t be able to make the meeting tomorrow. If you could tell me your concerns I’ll see what I can do.”
          “Cost. This damn green concept costs too much money.”
          “It’s what you wanted.”
          “That’s what people want to buy. I don't care.”
          “Green costs more. But you’ll have people lined up waiting to buy.”
          “So make it green. Green enough to get the buyers in. No need to go overboard. Keep costs down.”
          “You want green, you get green and it’s going to cost you. Painting the building green and putting out a pretty brochure isn’t going to cut it.” He clicked the phone off and felt a huge sense of satisfaction. He was tired of dealing with men like Lee and Greg.
          Right now he just wanted to get on the road and drive. Parksville, Comox, the signs of familiar communities giving way to yet smaller hamlets. It was getting dark as he approached Campbell River, a small fishing community and he decided to grab a room at a small fishing lodge on the water.
          Without much real hope he showed the desk clerk the hand drawn map and asked if she could give him direction.
          “Oh, that’s Bente’s place. She lives just down the road from me. Are you a friend of hers?”
          “Not really,” he said.
          The girl gave him an enquiring look. Fresh faced, about twenty something she looked as if she was in the habit of trusting people.
          He sighed. “It’s a long story. The friend I want to see is visiting her. I’m hoping I can catch her before she heads to her next destination.”
          “Oh.” The girl looked puzzled. “Why don’t you just call?”
          “To start