Secret Designs(45)

Gwen nodded her head, her lips pursed. "Can you leave these with me to show to my colleagues?" she asked.

"Of course."

"Great. How about we meet again tomorrow? I can let you know what we have decided by then."

"That will be fantastic. Thanks so much for the opportunity, Gwen."

"Thank you, Ari, for calling me first. I must say, I'm really impressed."





*******



Ari was buoyant after she left Gwen's office. This could really happen! Stores could be stocking her lingerie line, if this pulled through. Not only that, she knew Gwen's company shipped items to worldwide customers, so she could be selling her garments around the world.

With almost certain good news looming in the horizon, she allowed herself to think of her next step. If she secured the orders—and from Gwen's reaction, it was almost certain—she would need capital to buy materials and produce the first batch. That would not be cheap.

She'd already approached the banks for a business loan, but the answer from each of them was the same. Apart from detailed business plans, projected costs, projected profit and loss, and a whole lot of other things, she also needed a guarantor who would sign on the dotted line that he or she would be liable for her debts should she fail to meet her financial obligations. Well, she could never ask that of anyone, so she was left with one other, less onerous option—borrow money from one of her friends.

She involuntarily shuddered, hating that alternative. But she needed to do it, so she would do it. After she had delivered on Gwen's orders and gotten paid herself, she would be able to pay back the money she borrowed anyway.

Question was, who could she approach?

She mentally went through her list of friends and there was only one person she knew who could afford to lend the amount she required without sweating about it. Jasmine.

She groaned, going through the list again, hoping to come up with someone else.

Blank.

Argh!

She couldn't very well expect Jasmine to hide it from Kane. That would be too much to ask. Darn. She would just need to plead with both of them not to tell Dylan.





*******



Ari sat, looking business-like on Jasmine's lounge, and explained the whole situation to her friend.

"Of course, Ari, that's not a problem," Jasmine said. "I'm so excited for you! Congratulations!"

"Thank you so much, Jaz," she replied, exhaling her relief. "You don't know what your help means to me. You were my very first paying customer. Now you're also about to become my money lender."

"Oh, don't worry about it," Jasmine said dismissively. "I'm glad to help. When do you need the money?"

"As soon as possible, if you don't mind. Also, I drafted this letter." She fished an envelope from her purse and handed it to Jasmine. "That's just a contract to confirm the amount I'm borrowing from you, the date you can expect payment from me and the interest applicable."

"Interest?" Jasmine asked.

"Yes. I want to pay you interest equivalent to how much you would have earned had you kept your money in your bank. It's just fair."

"You only want to borrow the money for a short time, Ari. I don't want you paying me interest. I won't accept it."

"Then I'll have to find someone else to borrow from then."

"Ari, don't be silly!"

"Accept the interest or I won't take your money."

"Fine. I accept," Jasmine said in resignation.

Ari beamed, her excitement bubbling out of her now that the difficult part had been sorted out. "Can we do a happy dance?" she asked Jasmine, abandoning her business-like demeanour.

Jasmine laughed. "Okay, you obstinate person."

They jumped up from their seats, jiggled around and hugged each other.





Ari sipped the low-fat smoothie Jasmine made for them as they lounged on the day bed by the poolside. She gazed at the sparkling water. The memory of Dylan dunking her in that same pool, then holding her close to him, came rushing back to her.

The now-familiar ache in her chest throbbed, and she closed her eyes, pretending to relax, to hide her emotion from Jasmine.

"I can't wait to tell Kris and Sam about your good news," Jasmine said, forcing her to put a fake happy smile on her face. "Does this mean you can stop looking for a job now? Are you going to concentrate on your business now?"

"I won't know until after I get sales feedback from Gwen's team. For all I know, my designs won't sell and they won't order again from me. I'm still keeping my eyes open for job opportunities, but the pressure is off for the time being. Right now, I'll have my hands full in fulfilling all the orders, including your dress, which should be ready for your first fitting in two weeks."