To New Beginnings. Sequel -(On Hold)

Chapter 2

Candice

I wish I could've stayed in bed for another hour, but life wasn't having it. I was opening up a third chain for my bakery, Moore's Cakes, and today was the day to screen for general managers, just about over 30 people today alone and by myself might I add. I'd rather the strategy of getting to know an individual first hand before handing over that power to some else that I mostly likely wouldn't trust. Running a business like this was like walking on egg shells.

Sometimes I like to stop by each shop three times a week, just to ensure that everything was going as it should and on my other hectic days, I traveled to tastings, seminars and events to promote my business. I ran on 3 hours of sleep, with no complaints and when it was time for me to execute, I did what needed to be done.

My new location was still under renovations but I saw it was the perfect opportunity to interview right in that spot. My employees called me, cut throat and boss lady whenever I was about my business, but they knew that I would do anything for each and everyone one of them. When I started my first location, I had no idea what I was doing. I was a little lost lamb in the middle of the woods.

Opening day, my first few hires did anything but respect me and on that very day, we made zero dollars. No one bothered to hand out fliers or work, some never bothered to show up. I was a clueless 21 year old, early college graduate, who went to school almost the whole three-hundred and sixty five days if it wasn't for holidays and breaks. I went to school in the the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer and graduate top of my class, valedictorian and ironically enough... I was the smart college kid who was also a complete idiot. I thought being down with everyone would earn me respect because we were practically the same age, mostly younger.

A month later, after losing more money than I invested, the landlord and debt collectors were going to shut me down, that was until, new hire for the hundredth time named, Cleo, walked into my life. She came like a storm, with insults and sharp witt, finally making me realize the potential of what I had. The worst and best thing she ever said...

"Wow you're a college graduate? I would have never guessed that daddy's money made smart ones too... Aren't you a little bundle of bad mistakes!?"

Those words fueled so much anger to my core that I slowly began to attest to the truth that she made me angry. I felt so weak and vulnerable...

So, that day I closed up shop early, got in the car my daddy's money bought, got home, slammed the front door so alarmingly hard that I wanted my neighbors to hear me and like the wimp that I was, flopped onto the bed in my little studio and balled my eyes out til they hurt.

When did I become so weak? Was all I thought about.

☆☆☆

I turned over on my stomach and stuffed my head into the pillows, hoping some how they would put me out of my misery so I wouldn't have to face how much of spoiled brat I was then. I was going to be in so much debt that my father would most likely pay off but the true devastation was that I would loose my first ever business that that I poured my hard earned savings and soul into... knowing all too well I never even left an impression..

Suddenly there was a sullen knock on my front door.

I froze there in my pillows unable to grow the balls to answer who ever it was... The number one person being my father, who would probably try to make me feel better by offering to buy me things... the act of "dad" that I grew so accustomed... and at times would find myself engulfed in the act of being a bratty rich teenager.
My mother and I haven't been on great terms since our big fight when she sent me off to my father. She and my father spoke regularly but when it was time for me to talk, I would just pass, leave the room or make him pretend like I was never there. My brother on the other hand, was soon to wed this fake blonde woman from Arizona who he met at his job.

After he graduated college, he went to law school, passed his bar and became an amazing lawyer. He got a great job at some firm in California and that's when, Pippa... yes that's her damn name, just to add... Pippa, came into his life and changed it for the worse. He bought her whatever she requested and whenever I flew down to visit, she was excessively sweet to the point of nausea.

With that being said...

Once the knocking of the door grew from banging to kicking and then screaming from a familiar voice, 'open this damn door', I jumped out of bed and swung it wide open in annoyance to find Cleo standing their with a paper bag and glass bottle that I made out to be wine. No pillow and loud intervals of lalalas was strong drown out her voice.

She was a crazy, sassy mess wrapped in a bundled of friendship and she saved me from my self that day. Hours of talking brought me to a single attainment...

I had lost myself... as obvious as
that turned out to be.

"Candice... Is it possible to call you Candy." I hadn't heard that name since I left home. I was Candice to everyone here, thanks to my dad who declared that Candy was too childish and immature. It took months of use to it but it still took several years for it to grow on me... I still winced at it to this day.

"Yes...you can!" I shot up with a strange sense of relief. We sat in silence and drank wine.

"Can I tell you a secret Candy?" She said breaking the quiet meanwhile, I looked into her eyes patiently anticipating her words.

"You are the first and only person I could ever would call or consider a friend..." I stopped mid bite to the bizarre but delicious choice of bacon and eggs that she bought for us. I stared at her completely lost.

Come again? She insulted me and called me names like 'spoiled pudding' or 'rotten Candice' any chance she got. which come to think of it, made me wonder why she would want to call me Candy?

"Look, I am sorry for those awful thing that I said... It was rude and uncalled for and I judged you so hard." She could sense my disbelief... She was definitely a New Yorker, despite her Jersey origins. She had jet black shiny wavy hair that was cut in a bob... pretty deep, alluring green eyes and tanned glowing skin. She was tall and slim and she was beautiful like a model... her mouth... not so much.

"I am a fucking asshole and you deserve this apology. I just see the potential in you and your business kid. You got something here but you don't want it bad enough." She was two years older than me and wiser than anyone I could ever know.

We grew together and she helped me in so may ways, that I made her a partner and we killed it.

She's became my best friend...

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Thank you guys for reading

Did you guys enjoy Cleo? do you like her so far or still want to feel her out?

I know this was a bit boring and not enough dialogue or pizazz but hey,

it's only the beginning.

look out for updates.

kisses :-*