Sweet Revenge (Cocoa Narel Chocolate Shop Mysteries Book 1) by Morgana Best Read Free Book Online

with commercial leases,” Borage said. “It’s not like buying something. People don’t usually haggle on commercial leases.”
    I spoke before Carl had a chance to. “No, it’s perfect. I love it.”
    Borage looked pleased. “Well then, let’s go back to the office. That is, unless you want to see other properties?”
    I shook my head. The store was on the small side, but I knew I wouldn’t need a whole lot of space, and this saved on costs. It was also quite a well-visited public location, without being so central that it would be overwhelmed by other stores. It was perfect.
    “Let’s go back to my office and sign the paperwork,” Borage said.
    “Why don’t I buy us all coffee from this cafe?” Carl said, winking at Borage who shuffled uneasily from one foot to the other.
    “I’ve already had five,” I said, “so not for me. Thanks anyway, Carl.”
    “Well, I’ll buy you a coffee, Borage,” Carl said insistently.
    I stood on the pavement with Borage while Carl went into the café to buy coffees. I took the chance to study Borage a little more closely. Was he Tom Fletcher? He did look similar to him. He was tall and he looked like he worked out. He had the same type of face shape, but I suppose that could be said for many men. Plus, if he was going to change his name from Tom, Carl had a valid point. Why would someone change his name from Tom to Borage?
    Tom too had been overweight, and like me, he had been hopeless at sports. I’d had quite a crush on him back in the day. I wondered whatever had become of him.
    Carl emerged triumphantly from the café and handed the coffee to Borage, who accepted it, but then snatched his hand away and Carl’s fingers lingered a little too long on his.
    Soon I was sitting back in Borage’s office, reading the paperwork before I signed it. I signed the paperwork and duly handed over a security check which amounted to two months’ rent.
    Borage said I could start decorating immediately. “We don’t have any problems here such as waiting times, the usual kinds of problems.” He took a sip of coffee and continued. “I know the landowner personally. I know the lease starts in two weeks, but the landlord won’t mind if you start setting up now. I’ll text you as soon I have a chance to talk to him about it, but I think he’d allow you to start setting up today, if you wanted to.”
    I was more than a little overwhelmed. This morning I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to find a place to lease, and now I was being told that I could start setting up immediately. I didn’t know how to react, though there was no denying that the premise was exciting.
    I’d settled on a store, and it all looked like it was going ahead extremely quickly, though without any problems. My anxiety started to give way to excitement.
    Carl sat in his car and patted my shoulder. “Congratulations, Narel! How exciting!”
    “Sorry you struck out with Borage, though.”
    Carl pulled a face. “I figured it was a long shot, as he didn’t strike me as my type, if you catch my drift. He’s handsome, though.” Carl had said it almost absent-mindedly as he turned the ignition, and it was hard to disagree. Still, I had a lot more on my mind than men at the moment. As a matter of fact, after the whole fiasco with Guy, dating was the last thing I wanted to do.
    “Where to?” Carl asked.
    “To the center of town!” I declared. “It’s time to do some shopping.” Carl laughed as I said it and drove off.
    It was an amazing feeling to know that my business was becoming more than just an idea.
    We went to a furniture store first. It occurred to me, again, that I didn’t really know what I was doing. How many tables did I need? What kind? Was there a special kind of wood that was better suited for public spaces? I sighed aloud and decided just to have a look. I didn’t need to buy anything today.
    “Do you think this would look good?” Carl asked, pointing to some kind of nightmarish