AROUND THE HEART IN 80 DAYS

Eighteen

Lola peeped over to look at the screen Jacqueline was fully focused on. She decided that day, since she lived closer to Abbotsford, to be there to support her friend who was planning to secure a new job at the estate's Community Center.

So, right there, it was Imogen, Jackie sandwiched in the middle, and Lola on the right, three of them squeezed into a bench that couldn't have been more than a meter.

Imogen patiently kept on looking onward to a wooden door, maybe waiting for a person to attend to them, since she was obviously more familiar with the surrounding. Jackie was on her phone nonstop. And Lola peeked through a doorless frame, looking at people who were still working out on steel equipment. Despite it being almost noon on a Monday.

"This place looks small. Where do you think you can fit a whole yoga session?" Lola quizzed, absent-mindedly fanning herself with her palm. The weather was cool and calm, but three people jammed together on the only available bench was not encouraging.

Jacqueline stopped her reading and looked to Lola, but it was Imogen who turned to answer. "Don't be deceived, if you stepped into that room, the space is massive. I don't see why we'd be refused."

Lola nodded. "Ok. Are we waiting for the Estate Coordinator?"

"Yes. We're lucky to even see him today. That's why we're here. He's always going to and fro the earth. It's not easy to handle matters of this large neighbourhood and still take care of family and other businesses. I hope we don't catch him on a bad time."

Lola showed her understanding and leaned back into the wall. "I'm also hoping, that the pay will be good. I mean, if they can't afford extra chairs..."

Imogen gave a short bark of laughter. "They didn't see need for a reception. An office or two, simply treasury and overall management. I'm sure there will still be room for improvement as time goes by."

"There are over a hundred residents in this neighbourhood. When the due for just a month is added up, I believe they should be able to buy a chair." Lola added strongly.

"I'll give you that, though." Imogen finally resigned.

"You're really so positive. Like our Jack here. Who apparently can't leave her phone alone. What have you been so busy with?" Lola tried to read clearly at the screen of the phone in her friend's grip. "Mmm. Nice choice there, Jack." She tapped at Jackie's screen, on one of the images Jacqueline had opened on Restaurant Interiors on Pinterest. "Not too floral, not too sweetingly sickening either. I like the attention to the wood."

"I know right? I've always been a fan of brown and seeing it here, it goes with the cookies, the brownies..." Jacqueline said.

"Pretty expensive too."

"Well, you-know-who sent a great gift to my bank not long ago and I plan to use some of it for my personal purpose."

"What'd he send money for?" Lola lowered her voice. "Aren't you his sworn enemy?"

"Even enemies have to eat. Edrei told me to go shopping for his fridge. And I'll pay back what I'll use from it the moment I have enough."

"Wow wow. This man has turned you into his personal cook. And also, you have a lot of promises you've made to the profits you'll make that hasn't come yet."

Jacqueline lightly elbowed her friend in the rib. "You'll see."

"Oh yes. I forgot to mention, how are you going to manage that small bakery partitioning for your large scale baking."

"I can't partition the space for that.  It's already enough for display and seating." Jackie frowned.
"Genie, are you positive this Mr. Burberry man wouldn't question my roots? Because those shop owners were the most hesitant people I have ever seen in my life."