"Hey, do you have those looks pulled for my meeting? I'm about to go grab a snack and head over there," Clarke asked as Katie said goodbye to a customer that bought a bouquet for his wife. It was nearing noon which was not only her lunch time but time for a big meeting with a potential new client. The client was the wife of a big CEO who held a lot of events, and if she liked what Clarke had to say, the shop would be her permanent go to. That would really put the shop over the top and make it a place even her harsh mother would have to be proud of. But the woman was a tough one; very opinionated and snobby. It was hard to tell what she was going to like or hate.
"Yes ma'am. I put them in the top drawer on the right for you in a plain black folder," Katie answered.
Clarke power-walked towards the back of the flower shop with determination where the office was, her arms pumping with effort. "Thanks; what would I do without you, Katie?"
"Ask God for more hours in the day so you could do it all yourself," Katie teased. But she was probably pretty accurate on that one.
Clarke actually managed a chuckle as she grabbed the folder and walked back out, practically running out the door. She would have to go back down the road and grab something quick at the coffee shop to eat on the way there in the car. She hated the idea of getting crumbs on her clothes or in her vehicle, but she also did not want to waste time eating when she should be spending the extra time with the client, making sure she made her happy.
She walked inside to find that Joe was on lunch and had his mouth full, which meant he couldn't delay her with his comments. She ran up to the counter and ordered a bagel and cream cheese and paid before edging to the end of the counter to wait for it to be warmed up. When it was, it was handed to her in a small paper bag with the cream cheese already spread on it.
Her flats clunked out the door as she ran to her car and got in, pulling out the bagel and sticking it into her mouth before turning on the GPS. She had programmed the woman's house the day before so she would be ready. She had a large estate on the other side of town in a gated community.
Clarke chomped down the bagel practically choking as she drove down the road, people honking at her driving once again. But she hated wasting company time when she felt she wasn't doing anything. She wanted to make use of that lunch hour and get this deal done.