Reba looked through her window as she pulled up into the parking area. They were in front of a small building with papered-over windows, a Sold sign placed on the front door.

“Um, Cherry? Is this what I think it is?” Reba asked calmly, even as she wanted to squeal.

Cherisse took her hand and led her to the door. “Come on. See inside first before you go off.” Her wide grin was definitely saying what Reba had guessed.

The inside was empty, but Reba’s mind was already churning with the possibilities.

“So,” Cherisse spun in a circle, “we’re in Sweethand’s new location. No more doing this out of my apartment, thank you, Jesus.”

Reba finally allowed herself to scream and hug Cherisse. This had been one of Cherisse’s dreams for a long time. “Oh my god, it’s really happening! Are you gonna have dining in? I can already see some cute tables and chairs set up right in this corner.”

“Definitely. Maybe we can get Devon to help with the interior layout. I don’t know if that’s a thing he does, but…” She grinned, and Reba rolled her eyes.

“You ask him. It’s your place.” Reba twirled around. “This is amazing.”

“It is, but there’s more.”

Reba stopped twirling. “More?”

“Oh, yeah. I couldn’t have gotten here without you, you know that, right? I want to offer you the Manager position.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Reba choked out. She couldn’t have heard right. “But I…I don’t have a degree or anything. That’s a big position.”

“Reba, do you really think I give a damn about some piece of paper? The moment we met, I knew we were going to be baking up some magic.”

“You literally walked up to me and said, ‘I need you.’ I thought you were hitting on me.”

Cherisse laughed. “Yeah, I did come on a little strongly then, but when I saw what you had done at that small gathering, I hunted down the host and badgered them until they pointed you out.”

“You mean the whole scene I caused wasn’t the reason you hired me?” Reba had gotten into it with the host that day too. The fact that Cherisse had wanted her to help with Sweethand even then still blew her mind to this day.

“I mean, I did admire your fire then.” Cherisse chuckled. “I know this is a big responsibility, but I couldn’t offer it to anyone but you first. If you prefer to stay in your current position, that’s fine too. I’d totally get it, but you’ve been there with me throughout all of this, and you deserve to go to the next level with me by my side, so think about it?”

“I…” She was legitimately at a loss for words. Her parents had always accused her of not being ambitious enough, of not wanting to aim for more than an assistant.

Reba was truly content with where she was. Cherisse seeing potential in her as a manager for an actual Sweethand location was so unexpected and yet gratifying that she thought Reba was capable of this. She didn’t want to let Cherisse down, but this was huge.

“I’ll think about. When are you anticipating the opening?”

“I think we’re safer if we aim for early next year. It’s already September.”

“I’ll definitely have an answer way before then.”

“Don’t stress too much, okay? Whatever you choose, I’m happy with. If you pass on the new position, I’ll definitely need you to help me choose and sit in on interviews.”

“Deal!”

“Now, what do you say about some lunch to celebrate? My treat.”

“Oh, no, no, boss lady. I got you. You’ve done so much.

“Alright, you don’t have to twist my arm. Rent in this place ain’t cheap!”

Reba snorted. She took photos of the empty space so she could compare it to when they had everything up and running. And maybe she would show it to Devon too, get his opinion on it. Just because he was in the business. Not because she was going to use it as an excuse to talk to him.

Not at all.

Tags: N.G. Peltier Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net