Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Four

'Your car is like the coolest thing I've ever been in,' Lauren said as they climbed down from Ecie's jet black metallic Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid Tiptronic. 'I have never driven in a Porsche before so I can easily say that this is the best day of my life.'

Ecie laughed as they walked out of the parking lot and towards some stores.

'So was it like a graduation present or something?'

'Oh no,' Ecie laughed. 'My dad was just in one of his loving moods. He said he was so proud of us.'

'I'm sorry if I'm freaking you out or something,' Lauren replied. 'It's just that where I'm from, it's not exactly customary to see famous rich people. This is like a whole new world to me.'

'It's totally cool,' Ecie replied. 'You're not freaking me out. I find you really refreshing and I think you're really fun.'

'Thanks,' Lauren smiled. 'So where are we going now?'

'Work,' Ecie grinned as she pushed open the doors of the Los Angeles Chêne de Pois. 'What do you think?'

Lauren looked around in awe and amazement. 'This is definitely, hands down, without a doubt, the best day of my life.'

Ecie smiled as they walked in and up to the front desk.

'Hello. How may I help you?'

'I'm Ecie Woodrow-Thurgood,' Ecie said. 'I transferred from the Malibu store.'

'Ecie?' the assistant said looking through the computer.

'Ecie?!'

Ecie spun round and saw a face she hadn't seen in a year.

'Oh my, Ecie, how are you?'

'Holly?' Ecie grinned. 'What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in forever.'

'I work here,' Holly replied. 'I'm actually the head of this place.'

'No way,' Ecie said. 'Really?'

'Yeah,' Holly grinned. 'How have you been?'

'Oh Holly there is so much stuff that I've got to tell you,' Ecie said excitedly. 'So much has happened since you left. How are Ryan and the baby and everything with you?'

'It's all going really well,' Holly nodded. 'Time has just whooshed by.'

'I got a new cell phone,' Ecie said digging through her bag. 'Let me give you my new number.'

'Okay,' Holly nodded. 'I tried contacting you after the baby was born, but I couldn't get through.'

'Oh I'm sorry,' Ecie said pulling out her BlackBerry. 'I've changed my phone twice since I last saw you.'

'So you've been busy,' Holly grinned. 'Nothing much has really changed with you then.'

Ecie laughed as she went through her cell phone. 'Here you go.'

'Thank you,' Holly said taking out her cell phone from her back pocket. 'This is so amazing. I can't believe you'll be working for me again. How weird?'

'Oh yeah,' Ecie said introducing Lauren. 'This is Lauren Holliday and she's looking for a job. I had no idea that you ran this place. I just saw there were vacancies so I thought she could try.'

'That's okay,' Holly smiled. She looked at Lauren. 'Do you have a résumé on you or anything?'

'We printed some off before we stopped over,' Lauren replied looking in her brown bag for a sheet of paper. 'I've got it.'