Cold Feet

VIOLA

I can’t believe my luck. I had thought I wasn’t going to hear from Clark soon, if ever again but he calls me a few days after I spoke with him the first time. He sounds unbelievably cheerful.

“Viola,” he finishes my name in a sing song tone. “I have something I think you’re going to love.”

I get excited just by the tone in his voice. “What is it?” I ask excitedly.

“Well, there is a wedding planner who asked me to find her an assistant before we spoke. I gave her a call and told her about you. She recalls you well and is eager to give you a chance to get back in the game.”

“Okay. So I would be her assistant?”

“Actually no. I spoke to her about you for that job but it turns out she’s got a whole new idea that she wants to launch and she wants to ask you if you’d be interested to head up this project.”

“What is the project?”

“She didn’t say but she wants to discuss it with you directly. She says she thinks you’ll love it. It needs entrepreneurialism, creativity, a self starter, and she thinks you have all those qualities. She also said the pay is good.”

“Okay, I’m interested,” I say. “I know Lara. She’s a nice person and I think we could work well together.”

“Great!” Clark says. “So shall I get her to call you?”

“That would be good but I work shifts. It would be better if you give me her number or you give her mine. Then we can message and arrange a time to talk. I don’t want to miss her call. It will be really unprofessional and this sounds like a good opportunity.”

“Okay,” Clark says happily. “I’ll arrange everything.”

“Thanks Clark.”

I can’t believe my luck. It’s sounds like it’s a perfect opportunity

there’s a bounce in my step that I haven’t had in a long time. I feel like I’m on top of the world and

Clark but it doesn’t come. These things take time, I tell myself although my excitement begins

message. It’s late and there’s no chance that I’m going to get a message at this hour. I take a shower and get into bed. I

don’t answer calls from unknown numbers

immediately after I press the

have to refrain

Viola. This

lights up and splits apart with the hugest smile. I struggle to

make small talk before Lara gets down to

Clark tell you what I have in

opportunity and that you think I might be a good fit in respect of being a self starter, entrepreneur, and

Well, I want to start a new niche service. It’s for people

“Elope?” I ask confused.

“Yes,” Lara says.

say hesitantly. “I thought people who elope just get on a plane or get in a car and

true. I’m thinking though that there is an opportunity for people who choose to elope to do it properly. I mean instead of stealing away like thieves in the night, they can do it nicely even if it is at the last minute. We can offer limo rental, jets, hotel bookings, rings, dresses, everything they want at

service would look like. The more I listen and the more I think, the more I believe it can work. By the time Lara is finished explaining

position if you want. It’s yours but I think this opportunity is more challenging. It’s

to yell into the phone. “I am really grateful that

genuine. I can hear her happiness in her voice. “Don’t you want to know how

point but I don’t really care. It could pay almost nothing