It was a beautiful sparkly red convertible with all the bells and whistles and if he'd been in love with her, she would've been more than happy to accept the generous gift but that wasn't the case. It was a gift for a mistress and she couldn't accept it without feeling horrible about herself. Because of this, she wouldn't accept anything he tried to buy for her. If she caved in even once, she'd lose a piece of herself and she couldn't let that happen.
He was already getting her in his bed every night and she loved each minute, though she wouldn't admit it to him. She was beginning to want what she could never have. She turned the key in her ignition and smiled victoriously when the motor turned over and started.
"That's a real good girl," she praised her car. It drove her sister nuts when she talked to the car like it was a human being but she didn't care. She figured her words of praise were the only things keeping her car going.
She drove to work, only a few miles away, thankfully, and felt her tension evaporate. She loved working with Jasmine and Trinity at their shop. It was an amazing place with a café, floral department and unique gifts. She couldn't imagine how satisfying it must be for them to know it was theirs and no one could take it away.
She knew their husbands had more money than they would ever spend and they didn't need to work but they, like her, needed something of their own.
"Good morning Nicole, how are you today?" Trinity said, as she walked in the door.
"I'm great, how about you?"
"Wonderful. Now, come sit with us and have some breakfast. Jasmine just made the most incredible pastries I've ever eaten in my life," Trinity demanded. Nicole felt a bit guilty sitting on the job. She didn't want to take advantage of her friends, who'd been kind enough to give her a job.
"I really should get to work," she told them.
"Nonsense. As you can see, we don't have any customers right now and the whole idea of having a place like this is so we can have our own place to gossip and get away from the house," Jasmine said. She set an overflowing plate of pastries on the table with a pot of specialty made coffee. The delicious aroma filled every breathable space in the store. Nicole was sure she was going to gain a hundred pounds while working with the girls. She'd never before had a job where she had so much down time.
"I think my clothes are fitting tighter just being in here," she said with a laugh. The women chatted for a while, enjoying each other's company. A couple of the other employee's came in and moved around the shop but it was a really casual atmosphere.
"So, if you could do anything, what would it be?" Trinity asked her. Nicole missed the sly look between the two women.
"I'd love to have some place like this, actually. This is amazing. I'd enjoy having my own scrapbooking store, someday. I haven't had time to create any albums of my own in years. The cost to get set up is expensive and with as much as I've always worked, I couldn't justify spending the money," she said with a sigh.
"Oh my gosh, it's so interesting you mention that because Jasmine and I have talked about expanding and bringing in more products," Trinity said with a smile.
"That would be so great if you brought in scrapbooking supplies. I know you wouldn't regret it. It's such a popular craft. I know you don't need money but it's a huge earning potential. I'd love to help you pick out some products and I could even teach some of the classes," Nicole said with real enthusiasm.
"How about if you're running your own scrapbooking store," Jasmine told her. Nicole was filled with a desire she didn't even want to think about. There was no way she could take on her own business. She would never be able to get the loans and if it failed, as so many small businesses did, she'd never be able to recover. She already owed Ryan her left arm and leg. She couldn't pay for a business and pay him back too.
"That would be such a dream, but now isn't the right time in my life to go into such a huge investment," Nicole told them sadly.
"Well, you have two new best friends who already own the space. It wouldn't take Ryan long to build an addition and you have nothing to lose as we're already established. We're going to invest in you because we know beyond a shadow of a doubt you'll excel at it," Trinity told her. Nicole's eyes filled with tears at the confidence her friends had in her. It was such an overwhelming feeling, leaving her speechless.
She finally got up and gave them each a huge hug. She couldn't keep the tear from sliding down her face at having met two women who were so caring and wonderful. She really wished she'd known Jasmine more during their school years because she had the feeling they would've been inseparable.