The Hunter(2)

I dressed in sweats and a tank top then set about deciding what to wear to work in the morning. I had given my credit card a serious workout the day before, trying to find the perfect outfit for the first face to face meeting with my prospective client. It was a prestigious commission and I was determined to land it. I had eventually decided upon two possible outfits but I couldn’t make my mind up which one to get so I had rashly gotten both. I pulled them both from my closet. Holding a beautiful grey pantsuit in one hand and a cream shift dress with matching jacket in the other, I was still trying to make my final decision when there was a soft knock on the door.



“Come in,” I called and Chad’s head popped around the door.



“I’m off for a rehearsal with the band. See you later, yeah?” he asked, frowning slightly as I turned to face him fully.



“You know that I shouldn’t. I have a big day tomorrow; the last thing I should be doing is having a night out,” I muttered wryly.



“Ah, but you are one of our best groupies, Issy, you must come,” he said, batting his eyelashes and attempting to give me his best puppy dog eyes but breaking into a large grin before he continued. “We have asked to perform first tonight instead of our usual slot before closing time just so that you and Angel can get home early enough to get your full quota of beauty sleep.”



“I take it that you aren’t staying over tonight then!” I said, raising an eyebrow pointedly.



Chad shook his head and laughed. “No, Angel won’t let me.” He looked miffed.



I laughed at his sulky face before holding up the two outfits. “Which one should I wear tomorrow?” I asked.



His eyes flicked from one to the other before he held up his hands and shouted, “Angel, get in here quick! Your flat mate is trying to emasculate me!”



As she entered my room, Chad grabbed her and gave her a peck on the cheek before murmuring “Issy needs your help. I am out of here babe.” Angel laughed as I rolled my eyes at him.



As he left he called back, “See you later ladies - yes, Issy - both of you!”



I shook my head at Angel then asked “How on earth do you put up with him?”



“Ahhh, he isn’t all bad,” she grinned.



“Yeah, so I heard!” I grinned back.



She pulled a face then said “The grey one” as she sat on my bed.



I slid both outfits back into my closet and exhaled loudly. Immediately Angel was at my side, sliding her arm around me. “I’m really not used to seeing you be nervous. You are the most confident person I know.”



“Um, hello …Travis? Bass player, playboy and exhibitionist?” I said, mentally picturing him on stage with Chad and the rest of the band.



“Well, yes obviously, excluding Travis - nobody is more confident than Travis!” she agreed, laughing. “The most confident woman that I know then.”



“I don’t feel it,” I said. “I need to land this job. If I can pull it off, it will be quite an achievement and the photos of the completed design will look amazing in my portfolio.”



“You will knock ‘em dead tomorrow, you know,” she said softly.



I hugged her and, not for the first time, thanked my lucky stars that I had such an amazing best friend. We had become friends at college. An unlikely pairing, it must be said. Angel, or to call her by her full name, Angelina Roberts, was the only daughter of exceedingly rich parents that weren’t around most of the time. Sure, they loved her but they also loved their obscenely rich social lives. They were extremely kind and generous (they had purchased our apartment and gave Angel a fabulous allowance every month) and would be at Angel’s side in an instant, should she need them. Most of the time however, they were content to let her live her life as they continued to live theirs. I, on the other hand, had no family and could only be described as a destitute student, relying on a generous scholarship and a very modest income.



It was thanks to Angel’s mother that I had gotten started in the interior design business. It had been my dream to become an interior designer and last year, when we were staying at her parents’ winter home in Jekyll Island, I got my break. It was totally by accident really. Angel’s parents had hired two well respected interior designers to plan a major refurbishment of the place the following spring and the plans had been left spread open on a tabletop. I couldn’t help but take a peek at them and was caught snooping by Angel’s mother. I quickly learned what it was that she wanted to achieve and before I knew it, I had made some suggested amendments to the plans. She was delighted with my suggestions because they were so sympathetic to the original design of the building and not just about the latest styles. She confessed that neither of the designs were what she truly wanted but that mine was. I was hired on the spot and, though I hadn’t intended for it to happen, it all went beautifully and, despite my protests, I was forced to accept the astronomical fee that had been quoted originally.