Fatal wounds

12

Valentina

I sigh for the umpteenth time and spin in my chair. I have a rather difficult client. He came to me a few weeks ago trying to find a big house for himself. The problem is that he always has something to say.

Specifically about prices being too low. Yes low.

I print another set of listing off my computer and go through them. Three more options for him.

Option one is a four bedroom, four bathroom, two thousand eight hundred forty eight square foot home listed at nine hundred eighty thousand.

His second option is hopefully one he'll go for, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, six thousand one hundred seventy eight square feet listed at two million six hundred ninety five thousand.

And finally the best option yet, six bedrooms eleven bathrooms, twenty five thousand square feet and listed at twenty three million five hundred thousand.

If that's not enough for him, I'm not sure what is. I gather the papers into my purse and make my way over to Molly's cafe where Mr Miller wants to meet.

I decide to walk over to the cafe. It's surprisingly nice outside and the cafe is less than a mile away.

As soon as I arrive the smell of rich coffee beans wafts in the air making my mouth water. I haven't had a good coffee in a while.

I look around the place searching for Ryan. I spot him rather quickly, though what I don't expect is for him to be in another meeting with a man.

Ryan faces towards me and a man faces him with a stack of white papers.

I approach the two slowly till he notices. Ryan smiles, "ah! Seems I have overlapped meetings."

I give him a strained smile. Some people deserve to be strangled. "We can reschedule if you're busy." I say as sweet as I can. I cannot afford bad reviews.

As fast as light, the man signing the papers whips his head around. My eyes widen when I see him. "Theo?"

"Valentina?" He smiles, "no need to rescheduled," he shakes his head, "Ryan double booked, Ryan will have two meetings at the same time." He shrugs and moves farther down the bench.

"Right." Ryan mumbles with a dirty look. "Of course," Ryan sends me a smile, "Valentina was it? I didn't know you were on first name basis with your clients."

Since I've been working with Ryan we were on last name basis but to prevent any awkwardness I smile. "I'd like to think first name basis provides a deeper understanding of character and helps me find the best fit for my clients."

Ryan's smile falters the tiniest bit when I sit next to Theo. I slide my purse down my arm and retrieve the three listing. I place them onto the table and push them towards him.

He grins and takes them.

I try to ignore the burning gaze on my cheek but ultimately can't and I turn to Theo.

"Hi." He sends me a boyish grin and takes my purse from my arms setting it next to him. "What time are you off work?"

"I have my own brokerage Theo," I laugh, "I work for myself. I'm off work whenever I want."

"Damn." He whispers grinning, he looks down and shuffles in his seat before looking up. "I think today should be the day you let me take you out again."

"Do you now?" I muse, "shouldn't you focus on those papers you should be signing?"

"All done." He clicks the pen and pushes the papers aside. "If you're free so am I."