#TuesFlashFicTrain: Down to Business

Picking up where I left off in last week's #TuesFlashFicTrain, Rita and Laura are just beginning a business call.  Stop by Trials and Tribulations of Writing Fiction to see other possible scenes that continue the story from last week and to catch up on the previous parts of the story if you haven't seen them yet.

                “Smith Sisters.  This is Rita.”

                “Are you both there?”

                “Yes, Mr. Orange.  Rita and I are both here,” Laura rolled her eyes.

                “And you’re in a public place?”

                “As requested,” Laura was glad Rita answered, and in a much politer tone than Laura figured she could manage with this potential contract.

                “Send me the proof of your, ah, charms shall we say.”

                Laura rolled her eyes again, this time at his lame attempt at a double entendre that fell quite flat.  She sent him several files via her open laptop.  Laura could see Rita was still a little distracted, so she started to prepare herself for the public demonstration request she knew was coming.

                And, just like clockwork, it came.  Laura both loved and hated this song and dance.  It was a necessary evil in hers and Rita’s line of work, but it was old.  She usually let Rita be in charge of this part, but Rita clearly wasn’t up for it right now.  Rita usually loved it.

                “Well?” he prompted from the cell phone.

                Rita nodded, giving Laura tacit permission and acknowledging she was in no position to perform the demonstration.  Rita picked up the phone and switched it to Face Time.  Laura took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  Several moments of still silence passed.   Then, Rita could see a subtle shift come over Laura.  The power was clear when Laura opened her eyes.

                Laura sauntered over to a table near Rita.  Rita discreetly kept the phone’s camera focused on Laura.  A business man was sitting at the table Laura picked.  He seemed to be waiting for something, or someone.  Rita couldn’t help but smile a little when Laura caught his attention.  The man started to pant, almost literally.  Laura was so good at this, much better than Rita.  Then again, that may be because Laura was always in control.  No matter what.

                “You have a contract,” came from the phone.

There are a few days left to get your response for the Don't Panic Picture Prompt in!  March 6th at 11:59 pm CST is it!

#TuesFlashFicTrain: Day Dreaming

It took me a bit to come up with my response for the Flash Fiction Train story today.  Let me know what you think, and be sure to check out other takes the next piece of this story over at Trials and Tribulations of Writing Fiction.

                “Walter!”

                “Excuse me, ma’am?”

                Rita shook her head, “I’m so sorry.  It’s Rita.”

The young man behind the register at Three Bean Coffee gave her one more odd glance before handing her the receipt and her change.  Coffee, a meeting, and a conference call.  Those were her tasks today.  Simple.  Straightforward.  Something she could normally do without thinking about it much at all.

Damn this cold and that noxious concoction.

Rita collected her coffee and set up shop at a table in the corner of the busy shop.  As she flipped open her laptop, a flitting shadow caught her eye.  Glancing up, her heart almost stopped.  Then the man kept going.  Jerking her attention back to her table, Rita knocked her coffee over.  She snatched up her laptop cursing to herself.

“Let me help.”

“Laura.  Thank the gods you’re here.”

“I can see this is not your morning.”

By this time Laura had the spilled java mopped up with several napkins, had rescued the paperwork from the doom of brown stain, and had her bag propped neatly in the spare chair across from Rita.

“That’s one way to put it,” Rita flopped back into her chair.

Laura returned in a few minutes with a new cup of coffee for Rita and a fancier drink Rita didn’t recognize for herself.

“Now, Rita.  What’s got you so flustered?  The conference call starts in ten minutes and we really need to be on this.”

“I know.  Part of it is this stupid cold I just can’t seem to shake.”

“And?”

Rita hesitated.

“You dreamed again last night, didn’t you?”

Silence.

“Rita!  You know what happens!”

“Laura.  I know.  But what else could I do?  That’s the only option I had to try to take care of this cold once and for all.”

“It didn’t work.”

“I’ve noticed.”

The women were interrupted by Rita’s cell phone chirping.  Their contact was calling.  Time for business.