Read Online Absolutely, Positively by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jayne Ann Krentz
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for her. She knew Zinnia had hired her in the middle of a recession out of compassion, not because she actually needed a counter assistant.
Molly had been determined that her new employer would not regret her act of generosity. She had plunged into the task of working full-time with the same energy and enthusiasm that she had once reserved for her studies. There had been no other option.
Within a week of working at Zinnia's tea shop, Molly had realized that unless something was done, the business would not last the year. With it would go her job. After some research, Molly suggested that Zinnia add a full line of spices to be sold in bulk. Zinnia had gone along with the plan.
Seattle was what gourmets and restaurant reviewers liked to call afoodie town. Molly knew that exotic spices were of interest to a lot of people. After locating and contracting with various sources for a steady supply of everything from dried New Mexican chiles to Spanish saffron, Molly had turned her attention to packaging and advertising. The shop changed its name to Pipewell Tea & Spice.
Instead of opting for a trendy, Euro-modern image, which the espresso bars favored, Molly had chosen an old-fashioned, antique design for the shop. The result had been a store that captured the feel of an early nineteenth-century tea and spice traders' dockside warehouse.
Business had picked up rapidly.
Molly expanded carefully. She offered a mailing service so that out-of-town customers would not have to carry their purchases home in their baggage. She provided recipe books and prepackaged dip mixes. She developed catalogs. She installed a tea bar in the front window.
Molly capitalized on the new research reports that promoted the healthful aspects of tea drinking. She pursued health food junkies and jaded coffee drinkers with clever marketing schemes. When that proved profitable, she started marketing to the New Age and meditation crowd. She hired an instructor to give lessons in the ancient art of the Japanese tea ceremony.
The bank got its money. Jasper borrowed more. Life went on. Somewhere along the line Molly realized that she was never going to go back to college to finish her studies.
Zinnia made Molly a partner in the business. With a view toward her own retirement, she had suggested that the name of the shop be changed to reflect the future. Molly had never forgotten the thrill of pride she had experienced the day the Abberwick Tea & Spice Co. sign had gone up over the door of the shop.
A year later, Molly bought out Zinnia's half of the business. The lease was up for renewal. Molly decided to move to a new location. She chose spacious, airy premises midway up a broad flight of fountain-studded steps designed to channel tourists to the waterfront. It was a perfect location for attracting both the tourist crowd and the office workers who often ate their brown bag lunches on the steps.
Zinnia went on a long cruise.
Jasper finally managed to take out a lucrative patent on his industrial robot systems. At Molly's suggestion he had licensed the rights to an aggressive young Oregon firm. Money had poured into the Abberwick family coffers.
There was suddenly so much money that even Jasper and his brother could not manage to blow it all before they were killed in their man-powered aircraft experiment.
Jasper left his daughters a sizable patent royalty income that promised to continue for years. He had left the huge headache that became known as the Abberwick Foundation to Molly.
Tessa busied herself brewing tea for the window service bar. “Tell me more about this hot date with Trevelyan.”
“There's nothing to tell,” Molly said. “I haven't gone out with him yet.”
“Ruby Sweat is playing the Cave on Friday night,” Tessa said ingenuously. “You could take him there for an evening of fun and frolic.”
“Somehow I don't think the Cave is Harry's kind of place.”
“I still don't get it. What made you decide to
Molly had been determined that her new employer would not regret her act of generosity. She had plunged into the task of working full-time with the same energy and enthusiasm that she had once reserved for her studies. There had been no other option.
Within a week of working at Zinnia's tea shop, Molly had realized that unless something was done, the business would not last the year. With it would go her job. After some research, Molly suggested that Zinnia add a full line of spices to be sold in bulk. Zinnia had gone along with the plan.
Seattle was what gourmets and restaurant reviewers liked to call afoodie town. Molly knew that exotic spices were of interest to a lot of people. After locating and contracting with various sources for a steady supply of everything from dried New Mexican chiles to Spanish saffron, Molly had turned her attention to packaging and advertising. The shop changed its name to Pipewell Tea & Spice.
Instead of opting for a trendy, Euro-modern image, which the espresso bars favored, Molly had chosen an old-fashioned, antique design for the shop. The result had been a store that captured the feel of an early nineteenth-century tea and spice traders' dockside warehouse.
Business had picked up rapidly.
Molly expanded carefully. She offered a mailing service so that out-of-town customers would not have to carry their purchases home in their baggage. She provided recipe books and prepackaged dip mixes. She developed catalogs. She installed a tea bar in the front window.
Molly capitalized on the new research reports that promoted the healthful aspects of tea drinking. She pursued health food junkies and jaded coffee drinkers with clever marketing schemes. When that proved profitable, she started marketing to the New Age and meditation crowd. She hired an instructor to give lessons in the ancient art of the Japanese tea ceremony.
The bank got its money. Jasper borrowed more. Life went on. Somewhere along the line Molly realized that she was never going to go back to college to finish her studies.
Zinnia made Molly a partner in the business. With a view toward her own retirement, she had suggested that the name of the shop be changed to reflect the future. Molly had never forgotten the thrill of pride she had experienced the day the Abberwick Tea & Spice Co. sign had gone up over the door of the shop.
A year later, Molly bought out Zinnia's half of the business. The lease was up for renewal. Molly decided to move to a new location. She chose spacious, airy premises midway up a broad flight of fountain-studded steps designed to channel tourists to the waterfront. It was a perfect location for attracting both the tourist crowd and the office workers who often ate their brown bag lunches on the steps.
Zinnia went on a long cruise.
Jasper finally managed to take out a lucrative patent on his industrial robot systems. At Molly's suggestion he had licensed the rights to an aggressive young Oregon firm. Money had poured into the Abberwick family coffers.
There was suddenly so much money that even Jasper and his brother could not manage to blow it all before they were killed in their man-powered aircraft experiment.
Jasper left his daughters a sizable patent royalty income that promised to continue for years. He had left the huge headache that became known as the Abberwick Foundation to Molly.
Tessa busied herself brewing tea for the window service bar. “Tell me more about this hot date with Trevelyan.”
“There's nothing to tell,” Molly said. “I haven't gone out with him yet.”
“Ruby Sweat is playing the Cave on Friday night,” Tessa said ingenuously. “You could take him there for an evening of fun and frolic.”
“Somehow I don't think the Cave is Harry's kind of place.”
“I still don't get it. What made you decide to
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