Snippet Saturday ~ Workplace
Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is workplace. Check out the opening scene from my upcoming book Foreign Affair. This is the very first book I wrote, and is being released as a previously published book by Samhain in February. and then blog hop to the other blogs listed!
EXCERPT (unedited)
Lena Richards kept a bright smile pasted on her face as she listened to her obnoxious client ramble on about Aspen. Be cheerful. Don't let her know you'd like to take a butter knife to those plastic breasts.
"I want the most exclusive lodge. Not some Travel Channel knockoff deal of the week." Her client tossed her head, but the platinum curls didn't budge. "This is my honeymoon, for Christ's sake."
"Of course." Lena gave an understanding nod. The woman wore enough dead animals to open a postmortem zoo. Beyond her clothing and accessories, nothing about the woman looked real, and she hadn't shut up since she'd entered the travel agency. She was like one of those yakking dolls with a pull string. Only this doll had a rack like a porn star and the personality of a pit bull.
"I don't care what the cost. I'll make my fiancé put it on his credit card."
"A honeymoon is special. You deserve nothing but the best. Let me find some brochures and information on Aspen for you." Lena's mouth curved into a smile as she opened the file cabinet to her right. "I'm actually getting married mysel—"
"I don't give a damn if it's my honeymoon or my weekend off. There's nothing more appalling than middle-class lodgings." The woman crossed her legs, and her gaze moved over Lena. Her lips thinned in obvious distaste.
What a bitch. Lena's mouth tightened as she searched for the Aspen folder.
No doubt, she was being written off as some Wal-Mart shopping Pollyanna from Hicksville.
All right, maybe she didn't own a Louis Vuitton purse, and she didn't own some jacket made up of dead, skinned animal—not that she'd want to. She worked at an upscale travel boutique. It brought in enough to pay the bills and keep her dressed well, but in no way did it give her an allowance to support a Hollywood wardrobe.
Lena forced her warmest smile. "Give me just a moment, Miss Monroe."
Carolyn Monroe. Fifty bucks said the woman had her name changed legally so she could thrive on a dead woman's fame.
"Ah, here we are." Lena placed the folder on the oak desk that separated them.
As she sifted through for a particular brochure, she noticed Miss Monroe eyeing a box of imported French truffles sitting on Lena's desk.
"Another client brought those in. Please, have one." Lena slid the box toward her.
The woman looked horrified. "I couldn't. Do you realize how much fat is in just one?"
Yes, have five. Lena smiled and murmured, "I try not to look at the nutrition label on those things."
"Well, you should."
Lena drew in a deep, calming breath and kept the smile on her face. This woman just begged to be slapped. She found the brochure she needed and set it aside, then took out a couple more.
"These are the more exclusive lodges. I might also add that the one on top is famous for celebrity sightings."
As she'd predicted, Miss Monroe's eyes lit up with pleasure, and she snatched the paper from her hand. "I'll look these over and get back to you."
"When is the wedding, if I might ask?"
The woman's lips thinned. Interesting. Had it been because of the question? Or perhaps a little turbulence in the engagement?
"Early summer, I imagine. My fiancé is an architect in New York. We're still working out the relocating bit." Miss Monroe stood, slipping a purse that cost more than Lena made in a week over her shoulder. "Thank you for your help, Leah."
"It's Lena," Lena corrected, but the woman had one foot out the door already.
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