see your bank manager, or whoever, and sort out your expanding into my side of the shop, but I won’t stick around. You take Steep seriously? Well, I take Sparkle every bit as seriously. My life savings are going into this, and I don’t have assets I can sell or people I can ask to help me should things falter. Which, they won’t.’
Ben nodded. ‘You’re right, they won’t. Because as much as I’m sure I could fill the space or figure out some alternative arrangement, I have neither the time nor the inclination. So, I guess that means I agree to your ridiculous rule.’
‘Good.’ Poppy held out her hand for Ben to shake and caught the edge of her wine glass, knocking it over, which saw it domino into his wine glass, sending a stream of wine over the table and onto the floor.
Please don’t be a sign. Ben shook his head in despair. Please don’t let it mean that ‘Sparkle & Steep’ is destined to become ‘Debacle & Weep’.
Poppy clapped her hands, the sound bouncing off the bare walls. ‘Righto, you lot. Welcome to the first day of the rest of your lives. A grand day no less. A day that will go down in history as being the start of two of the most fabulous businesses London has ever seen.’ Poppy paused, and waited for a cheer of encouragement, or at the very least a grunt to show that she’d been heard. None came.
She’d successfully managed as a nanny to six-year-old triplets, you’d think she could hold the attention of two eighteen-year-olds, but no. Sophie was inspecting her nails. Joe had his eyes on that damn phone of his. And her business partner was clomp-clomp-clomping back and forth in the kitchen, muttering into his phone. Pausing every now and then to flick her the thumbs up. Why? She had no idea. But if it meant things were moving forward at a rapid pace she was happy for him to leave the teen wrangling to her.
‘Joe? Are you listening to anything that’s coming out of my mouth?’
No answer came. Right, then. Drastic measures were called for.
Stomping over to where he stood, Poppy plucked the phone out from his palm and marched it to the kitchen. Turning on the tap she threatened to douse it in water. ‘Don’t think I won’t,’ she warned. ‘We’re not paying you to spend hours looking at mindless gaming videos, or… half-naked women… or whatever it is that has so captured your imagination.’
‘Unicorns.’ Joe folded his arms across his chest and popped his hip out. ‘I was looking up unicorn suppliers with quick delivery times. I get the feeling you want things up and running soon as possible.’
Poppy glanced at the screen to see a wall of unicorn giftware. ‘Oh, I see. And how long do these sites you’ve found take?’ Poppy returned the phone to Joe. ‘And what’s the pricing like?’
Sophie shook her head. A disgusted puff of air escaping her lips. ‘Are you telling us you haven’t even sorted that out yet? Have you thought about storage? And getting things through customs?’
‘I’m not daft, you know. Of course I’ve got that worked out.’ Kind of. Poppy had known she’d have to figure that stuff out, she just hadn’t expected for things to race ahead at breakneck speed – but there was no way she was letting Sophie know that. If they got a hint she was flying by the seat of her pants, they’d try and take advantage. ‘But, it’s good to have fresh stock, different stock, and I really appreciate that you’ve taken an interest in my business, Joe. Nice work.’ She slapped Joe on the back, then motioned to Ben to hang up the phone as soon as he could. ‘Speaking of space. We need to decide who gets what.’
With a quick goodbye Ben shoved his phone in the back pocket of his navy pants and leaned against the door. ‘I was hoping…’
‘To have the side with the bricks? I agree. It will suit your vision.’ Poppy fisted her hands and placed them on her hips. ‘I’m happy with the other side. It’s lighter, brighter. And I was thinking I’d get some holographic tinsel and drape it down the windows on my side of the shop.’
‘Cooooooool,’ breathed Joe.
‘Oh, God. No.’ Sophie gagged.
‘I’m with Sophie.’ Ben shook his head so quickly Poppy wondered if he would sprain his neck.
‘What’s wrong with that? It’s my side of the shop, isn’t it? I can do what I want, can’t I?’ Poppy tucked her tongue into her cheek.
‘Poppy. No. I forbid it.’ Ben placed his hands on his hips, mirroring hers, his face growing pink. Then red. Then almost purple. ‘It will look beyond tacky. What will people think of the shop? Of my shop?’
‘They’ll think it’s a fun place to visit. That our shop is a warm, welcoming, engaging, and just a little bit magical, place to spend time in.’ Poppy reached for her braid and stroked it.
‘She’s having you on,’ Sophie said flatly. ‘Honestly, Ben, can’t you see that? You’d think you’d know when your girlfriend was having you on.’
Ben’s eyes went from Poppy’s straight face, to her hand on her braid. ‘Damn it, you’re right. Her hand is on her braid. That’s what she does when she’s telling a white lie. And she’s not my girlfriend.’
‘Really?’ Sophie’s bottom lip slackened with surprise. ‘I totally thought you were. You’re kind of cute together. Like an old married couple.’
The colour in Ben’s face had beaten a retreat from its purple shade, but still held a blush. ‘Well, we’re not. We’ve just known each other forever. Right, Poppy?’
‘Right.’ Poppy dragged her hand away from her braid. ‘Just friends. That’s all. And since you outed my joke, Sophie, you can work for Ben. I get the feeling you two will get along well. Joe, are you cool to work for me?’
‘Cool.’ Joe shoved his hands in his jean pockets with a nod. ‘Do I get a staff discount?’
‘Sure do. More than that, you can have whatever takes your fancy at cost.’
‘Awesome.’ Joe nodded his approval, then picked up the bucket of cleaning supplies Poppy had brought with her. ‘In that case, I’ll get onto it.’
Poppy flashed him a thumbs up, then turned to Ben. ‘That means Sophie’s yours.’
‘Good.’ Sophie nodded her approval. ‘I like tea. I can bake a bit. And I’m all class.’
‘And all ego,’ Joe muttered as he walked past them towards the kitchen.
‘Whatever.’ Sophie elbowed her brother.
‘Well, now that’s sorted…’ Ben took in the space that was to be his. ‘I’m going to stain that counter a dark brown and find shelving that can go up against the brick wall and stain it the same colour. How are you with a paint brush, Sophie?’
Sophie held her hands up, showing off her intricately designed nail polish. ‘Steadiest hands you’ve ever met.’
‘Excellent.’ Ben held his hand up for a high-five, which Sophie ignored with a shrivel of her nose.
‘Here,
