Lana verified that the image of her and the client were both visible on the camera feed that Minnie was viewing on her side of the Zoom video meeting, "Ms. Hart, you're all set.""Thank you, Lana. Miss Lima, I'm sure that Lana mentioned to you that this video meeting was going to be recorded. Can you verbally confirm your acknowledgment and agreement to this meeting being recorded?""Yes, I understand that this meeting is being recorded," Carlotta replied."Thank you," Aphrodite said. "Please state your full legal name for the record.""My name is Carlotta Garcia Lima.""Thank you. May I call you Carlotta?""Of course."Aphrodite began, "Carlotta, you are here today to share with us an incident that occurred during the time that you were working at Coastline Multimedia as an intern. Please describe this incident for me in your own words.""Okay," Carlotta said. "I was studying graphic arts at HGTC...""That's Horry-Georgetown Technical College," interrupted Aphrodite. "Correct?""Yes,
“Roosters are an oyster bar standard made up of a single saltine topped with an oyster, horseradish, and several slices of jalapeño. The tradition: You shoot one back, grimace, chase it with a beer, and before you know it, you've eaten a dozen and got a T-shirt to prove it. This is not that. This tastes good. Instead of something you'd eat only after partying a bit, this version is an adept way to start a party,” Xavier said as he plated the oysters from the bag that had been delivered a few minutes ago.“I have never had oysters in my entire life. But you don’t look like a party guy at all.”“I am not a party guy but my brother is and when he had his wild phase it was my responsibility to accompany him to every single place so he does not do anything stupid.”“Ahhh! The joys of being a bigger brother.”“Then I am sure that you are ging to love it. Do you know that oysters are always a big hit with the cafes by the sea side?”“Is that so? Why?”“Because they are considered not only a
Staring at her computer screen, Aphrodite was awash in so many emotions that she could not catalog them all. Shock, rage, confusion, disappointment, and a tinge of guilt boiled and bubbled within her for several moments after scrolling to the company profile section of the D&B report that she had received on Coastline Multimedia. And it was from Xavier. How on earth had he known that she needed this report was beyond her idea but she knew that if Xavier de la Velga sent you something then you were supposed to take it up and trust it like you would do God’s words.Most of the details listed held little immediate interest for Aphrodite. She could have TJ or Lana review the financial viability of the company later. Her attention had been drawn to the only detail that was relevant following the interview with Carlotta Lima, and that was the field for the "Named Principle" of the corporation. In the case of Coastline Multimedia, this field held two names, Corrine Justice (CEO) and Devon J
"This package arrived for you while you were out."Devon saw the large FedEx document box sitting on the kitchen counter. "Thanks, Mom, I was expecting it."He handed the pharmacy bag that he had picked up for his mother to her and said, "I'm going to take the package into the study and see what I can make of its contents. Holler if you need me for anything.""Is this the package that that woman said she would send you?" Cori Justice asked.Devon had shared with his mother the recent events related to Minerva Hart as well as the telephone call from the mystery woman purported to have been Athena's psychiatrist. His mother had adored Athena and was almost as devastated by her betrayal of Devon as he had been. Her support had been invaluable to his ability to even function normally in the months following Athena breaking up with him.Studying the return label, Devon saw that it was just a generic FedEx shipping location in Greenville, South Carolina. "That's the only package that I was
She had seldom discussed her family life that first summer, only admitting that she had two parents and a younger sister. While she shared her educational objectives, she had never discussed what she intended to do after college. She had offered him no insights into her childhood, her travels, or other life experiences of note. Devon had been an open book to her by the end of the summer, and Athena had partaken freely of what she saw there. He had been judging her book almost entirely by the "cover" that she showed him. There had been no substance visible to him beyond that.The contrast between sisters that he had examined briefly last night came back into his mind. When he compared the more than two months that he had known Athena that first summer with the hour and a half that he had spent with Aphrodite last night, Devon began to recognize things that his love must have blinded him to. Athena likely had some emotional issues that might have stunted her ability to develop and maint
Cara stared at Xavier after asking the question and he just stared back.“What do you mean, what? I am just asking you to come with me. IS that something so difficult? I mean, you want to go and travel all the places and I know how you can travel in the best manner possible…”“Hold on a second,” said Cara as she wiped the corners of her face with a paper napkin and said,” If this is what I think you are saying then let me finish eating first. Till then can you hold that thought? I think that my brain is not working properly because it doesn’t have enough food in it.”Xavier knew that she was thinking correctly and she was also not taking this the way that he had hoped. Obviously he had thought that she would be overjoyed at the fact that he was giving her an opportunity to move around with him and be with him all the time but she did not look overjoyed. In fact she looked quite annoyed and irritated.Come with me to Madrid. Xavier repeated again.This time Cara did not say anything an
“Oh my goodness….lord this is…” Cara stepped off the bottom tread of the long staircase that had brought them deep underground and looked around her. This is amazing.She glanced up at Xavier and his easy smile combined with the warm Press of his palm against the small upper back and had a dangerous effect on her equilibrium.He turned towards her and gave an approaching maitre d a knowing smile. “400 years ago this was a network of winery sellers run by monks he said. Now its one of Madrid's finest restaurants.”The window list space might have felt stuffy and oppressive but it had been so beautifully restored that instead it felt well coming and intimate. Following the matrix d she walked beneath centuries old arches of brick and stone through an in chanting labyrinth of narrow passageways that linked a series of dining alcoves and galleries of varying ships and sizes.Isolated from the noisy bustling city above and with soft music piped through invisible speakers and subtle atmosph
“I haven't made up my mind but I suspect that's what I will end up doing full even if I stay in Melbourne the house is too big for me. It was too big for dad and Matilda really but it's right by the ocean and Matilda adore the sea,” she caught herself. “Sorry,” she muttered dropping her keys to her wine glass. “I know that you are not interested in…”“Don’t.” Xavier reached across the table and covered her hand with his. His mouth formed but his voice was soft. “If anyone should apologise then it is me.”Cara’s skin tingled under the warm pressure of his fingers. Her heart beating a little faster she looked up. “What's the apology for?”His thumbs stroked over her knuckles. “For what I said in the car on Sunday. It was disrespectfully it is not my place to judge Matilda or to make assumptions about the situation she found herself in. The fact is she made the choice 35 years ago and that was ultimately for my benefit report that I am grateful to her.Cara’s throat stuck and for a momen