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“Wait,” Mara sat forward, her eyes not trusting what she’s hearing. “You haven’t been having sex? But what will happen to you now? You’ll forget how to use it.”
I tossed a bit of breadstick at her as she laughed hysterically. No one dared look over at us in this establishment, they knew who Mara was. She could get away with murder with a full room of onlookers and still get away with it. Mara was the daughter of media royalty, hell if Australia had royalty, Mara would be the princess, and my mother had married into wealth so I knew all too well that no one would bust my chops here either.
“I’m taking a break,” I told her. “I’m exhausted with teaching them all what to do when they’re down there.”
“See, now if you get yourself a husband, you don’t need to worry about that.”
I rolled my eyes as the waiter put the salad down in front of me. Mara looked down at the bowl and back up at me.
“Now if you aren’t dating, what’s the point in eating healthy?” she asked me.
I shoved a fork full of leaves and vegetables in my mouth and crunched as she waited for me to answer.
“I like to look good,” I told her. “Now shut up and eat your own salad, hypocrite.”
We laughed as we lunched, keeping my mind from the gloom that was my business empire that was on the verge of crumbling. The lockdown of COVID had boosted my business exponentially, to the point I had stopped working for the film studios, but now, since everything had opened up and more and more women were doing what I had been doing, I was finding it hard to stay afloat. Unlike my friends, I did not come from money, I came from nothing and I was about to be shot all the way back down to nothing if I didn’t make some meaningful connections at this damn conference.
MATTIE
“Veruca?” I called out to my oldest friend as I entered her shop. The doors had been locked but I knew the passcode to enter. I saw all of her new designs for the new summer edition. When Veruca had told me in school she was going to get into fashion, I never expected her to be at the forefront of swimwear in Australia.
“Up here, darling,” she called out from the loft. I headed up the stairs to her tiny office above her shop. She quickly came over to greet me with her usual kiss on each cheek. “You look magnificent.”
“Thanks,” I said, nervously. I would never have the body I had when I’d been with Scott but now I had these love handles that seemed to give me the kind of curves I needed to fit into the dresses I’d always coveted. “Why did you want me to come by? I know you’re busy with summer just around the corner.”
“Well,” she said. “I have this ticket to a conference for women. It’s called Boss Babes Unite and it happens every two years but it coincides with a family event this year. I’m giving you the ticket. You don’t need to do anything but show up.”
“What is it?”
“It’s just a female empowerment and networking conference that happens on the islands up in the Whitsundays. Five days of networking, guest speakers, seminars on how to make your business boom. It’s a waste of the ticket if it’s not used so please go, it will help take your mind off—”
She stopped and immediately I knew what she didn’t want to say. She didn’t want to remind me of the fact Scott was having a baby and marrying someone else and I still hadn’t gone on one date since our divorce..“It’s okay,” I told her. “I’ve come to terms with it.”
“I’m sorry, Mattie. I really didn’t want to say it but I believe this will be good for you.”
“You know what,” I said. “You’re right. I’ll take it. How much was it and I’ll compensate you.”
“Bullshit,” she said quickly. “This is my gift to you.”
I rolled my eyes. She was never letting me pay for her. Even after she had all but rescued me from the streets after my husband kicked me out of our apartment and my family wanted nothing to do with me. She had saved my life a year ago and our friendship was even tighter than it had been before that.
“When is it?”
“Next week. It starts on Thursday. I’ll shoot the flight and hotel details to you, and pack for summer. I’ve heard the islands are going to be getting a heatwave.”
“The whole thing is paid for?” I gasped.
“Yes, it’s included in the ticket price. It’s on an island so there’s no escape, not that you will want to, and it’s completely paid for so all your meals, your drinks, activities everything.”
“Sounds like a dream come true.”
“Oh it is, I’m bummed my family event is on. But I’m so glad I can give this to you. You may just find that little piece you need for your business.”
I hugged her tight, and she returned the hug just as fiercely. “Now go and get what you need. I’ll send everything tonight.”
I blew her a kiss and headed down the stairs and out onto the street, a spring in my step. This was going to be good. I could feel it in my bones.
CHAPTER2
