Read Online Revolution World by Katy Stauber - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Katy Stauber
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gave you a ride home tonight," Harmony laughed. "The beer sneaks up on you sometimes."
*****
Clio excused herself to have a word with a friend she saw in the corner and left them deep in a discussion over them merits of sod warehouses.
After chatting with her friend, she turned around and bumped into the table behind her. There was Bob the Money Guy having dinner with Nancy Kolstad, their head office assistant. Nancy was a solid middle-aged woman. She worked hard, stayed late and had the office running like clockwork. She was also a twice-divorced single mom. Clio liked her, even though Nancy delivered daily lectures on the importance of orderly paperwork and meticulous planning. Although she knew Nancy hated her haphazard notes, Clio always found her lab well stocked and running smoothly. Nancy was a big believer in regular maintenance on all of the equipment.
Clio was not sure she liked seeing Nancy sitting so close to Bob. She thought Nancy was way too good for Bob. Bob had obviously had a few drinks. He happily flirted with Clio and Nancy by turns, his face getting redder and redder. Clio kept looking between them to try to figure out what the story was. Nancy leaned over and patted her hand.
"It's alright, honey. I know how deep the water is. I'm just looking for a weekend swim is all," Nancy said, sipping on an excessively fruity drink. Clio laughed out loud and left them with a clear conscience. Friday nights were no time for sober thinking, but she didn't want to see a nice lady upset by a playboy like Bob.
She waved to Joanna, still every inch the power broker, sitting in one corner with her husband, Eric. Eric was a lawyer who occasionally did some work for the Co-op. Clio had always wondered why he stayed in Ambrosia Springs. He always seemed vaguely dissatisfied. Right now he was toying with his dinner, looking bored while Joanna talked away on her handheld. He halfheartedly waved back at Clio as he slumped in his chair. She always forgot how large the man actually was. He slouched all the time.
As she made her way to the bathroom, she heard a few grumbles about foreigners. Looking around, she saw a table of people casting hard glances towards Max and Seth.
She knew that Floracopia would have to make very sure that everyone in town knew these foreigners were an exception. It was too good an opportunity for this town to have Omerta in their own backyards. She was tapping a note to herself on her handheld when she sat back down.
"Tell me something, pretty lady," asked Max with a courtly air although he was dead serious. "Why is everyone being so nice to us? I mean, Seth and I have never been on the scouting tours before, but in general most places are eager to have us. When we came to Texas it was the opposite. Everyone was rude and went out of their way to let us now we weren't wanted. When we persisted, the local officials came up with all manner of rules and fees and really made it sound like it would be completely impossible for us to open a business anywhere in Texas. Yet when we got here to Ambrosia Springs, it has been nothing but charming ladies and fantastic food. That Joanna woman from your City Council assures me that all obstacles will be cleared away for us. What's the deal with that?"
Kalliope leaned back and arched an eyebrow at her sister and mother. Harmony cleared her throat while she tried to collect her thoughts.
Clio leaned forward and tried to answer as best she could. "Well, like I said, we've got our little terrorist problem that tends to discourage non-Texas companies from coming here in the first place. Since they aren't targeting oil or military targets, the US government gave up trying to find them. Texas is trying to fix that on its own, but the state has limited resources. Also, we know that Texas is famous for our high crime rates and poverty. I mean, we are basically a third world country these days. Many cities really can't support more people so they try to discourage
*****
Clio excused herself to have a word with a friend she saw in the corner and left them deep in a discussion over them merits of sod warehouses.
After chatting with her friend, she turned around and bumped into the table behind her. There was Bob the Money Guy having dinner with Nancy Kolstad, their head office assistant. Nancy was a solid middle-aged woman. She worked hard, stayed late and had the office running like clockwork. She was also a twice-divorced single mom. Clio liked her, even though Nancy delivered daily lectures on the importance of orderly paperwork and meticulous planning. Although she knew Nancy hated her haphazard notes, Clio always found her lab well stocked and running smoothly. Nancy was a big believer in regular maintenance on all of the equipment.
Clio was not sure she liked seeing Nancy sitting so close to Bob. She thought Nancy was way too good for Bob. Bob had obviously had a few drinks. He happily flirted with Clio and Nancy by turns, his face getting redder and redder. Clio kept looking between them to try to figure out what the story was. Nancy leaned over and patted her hand.
"It's alright, honey. I know how deep the water is. I'm just looking for a weekend swim is all," Nancy said, sipping on an excessively fruity drink. Clio laughed out loud and left them with a clear conscience. Friday nights were no time for sober thinking, but she didn't want to see a nice lady upset by a playboy like Bob.
She waved to Joanna, still every inch the power broker, sitting in one corner with her husband, Eric. Eric was a lawyer who occasionally did some work for the Co-op. Clio had always wondered why he stayed in Ambrosia Springs. He always seemed vaguely dissatisfied. Right now he was toying with his dinner, looking bored while Joanna talked away on her handheld. He halfheartedly waved back at Clio as he slumped in his chair. She always forgot how large the man actually was. He slouched all the time.
As she made her way to the bathroom, she heard a few grumbles about foreigners. Looking around, she saw a table of people casting hard glances towards Max and Seth.
She knew that Floracopia would have to make very sure that everyone in town knew these foreigners were an exception. It was too good an opportunity for this town to have Omerta in their own backyards. She was tapping a note to herself on her handheld when she sat back down.
"Tell me something, pretty lady," asked Max with a courtly air although he was dead serious. "Why is everyone being so nice to us? I mean, Seth and I have never been on the scouting tours before, but in general most places are eager to have us. When we came to Texas it was the opposite. Everyone was rude and went out of their way to let us now we weren't wanted. When we persisted, the local officials came up with all manner of rules and fees and really made it sound like it would be completely impossible for us to open a business anywhere in Texas. Yet when we got here to Ambrosia Springs, it has been nothing but charming ladies and fantastic food. That Joanna woman from your City Council assures me that all obstacles will be cleared away for us. What's the deal with that?"
Kalliope leaned back and arched an eyebrow at her sister and mother. Harmony cleared her throat while she tried to collect her thoughts.
Clio leaned forward and tried to answer as best she could. "Well, like I said, we've got our little terrorist problem that tends to discourage non-Texas companies from coming here in the first place. Since they aren't targeting oil or military targets, the US government gave up trying to find them. Texas is trying to fix that on its own, but the state has limited resources. Also, we know that Texas is famous for our high crime rates and poverty. I mean, we are basically a third world country these days. Many cities really can't support more people so they try to discourage
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