RaStro FicS

She keeps me warm (17)

All the next day, Glaiza did everything she could think of to keep Rhian occupied, not giving the red hair too much time to think about the events of yesterday. The short hair found it easy to spend all day with Rhian. When it was time to take Rhian home, both women were exhausted. Yet, it was a satisfying feeling.

As promised, the next day Glaiza stopped by Rhian's apartment to take her to lunch and then off to look for office space. The short hair took the afternoon off which was unheard of at the tool shop and Chynna bugged her all morning long to find out exactly why the short hair put in for some personal time. "None of your business." Glaiza grabbed her keys and walked down the hallway to the front door of the office building.

After giving Rhian and Glaiza the grand tour, the realtor allowed the couple some time alone to discuss the matter. "Well, what do you think?"

Rhian's gray eyes perused the place once more before answering. "I don't know. I'm not sure if I'm ready."

Glaiza didn't want to influence her friend but this office space was located right across from her work and she secretly wished the red hair would acquiesce to her suggestion. "You said yourself you're working more and more...having to turn away appointments. And might I mention again that in a few weeks we will have several graduating students who'll need a job."

Rhian mulled over the aspect of hiring a couple of therapists to take over some of her clientele. She finally shrugged. "It could work."

Smiling, Glaiza nudged her friend. "Let's go get the realtor."

"Hold on." Rhian grabbed the short hair's arm. "There are other factors to consider." Glaiza waited. Finally, Rhian admitted. "Money for one thing. And extra bookwork. I mean I do well enough keeping my own records but this..." She waved her arms around. "This is a business."

Glaiza's calculating mind went to work. "First, money. How much will you need for start-up?"

Rhian rolled her eyes. "More than I have."

"No problem. You get a loan."

"And my collateral would be?" Rhian ran over in her mind the few things she owned. "I have some savings, my cooper and Robbyn."

"There are small business loans you can get." Glaiza assured the red hair.

"Yeah, well. I'm not sure the bank will be as enthusiastic as you are about me being a good loan risk."

The short hair walked a few steps away. Glaiza followed her. "I see." The short hair sorted through a few financial figures in her head quickly. "What if you could get the loan? Would you do it? Start your own business?"

Rhian looked out the window, across the street to where Glaiza worked. "I suppose. But that's if the bank is giving me a loan."

Glaiza placed her hand on Rhian's shoulder. "I wasn't talking about the bank ."

The red hair turned around, her eyes shifted back and forth suspiciously before landing on the short hair. "We gonna rob something?"

The older woman chuckled, leaned in and whispered in a consistory manner. "Only as a last resort."

Laughing, Rhian walked past her friend. "Then what?"

Again, Glaiza dropped her hand on the red hair's shoulder and twirled her a round. "I've got some money..."

"Oh, no!" Rhian shot up a hand. "No, I'm not borrowing money from a friend."

The short hair crossed her arms. "Then how about a business partner?"

One of the red hair's eyebrows hiked up. "Even at that, Glai. I'm not sure it's a good idea. I appreciate it really I do but..."

"Stubborn." Glaiza pursed her lips as if hitting the target dead on.