“Eh!” Rena faked being offended. “It took me three meetings to be graced by that privilege.”
“And now I’m starting to regret it.”
Giselle laughed, then waved to urge the squabbling duo to follow her.
~~~
“So...Gabriel Tesano, uh?”
“Shh!” Giselle urged when Rena probed.
Aaron had been called away just as they were leaving the lobby. Someone had recognized him and wanted to ask about his parents.
“We’re just friends,” Giselle insisted.
Rena chuckled. “Guy, Guy...that’s one thing those gorgeous bastards don’t have-women friends. Not the kind you’re talking about, anyway.”
“Rena shh!” Giselle ordered again. “I’m Giselle here, not Guiya. Anyway, enough about me and Gabriel,” with that she shifted a suggestive look toward Aaron across the lobby.
Rena rolled her eyes. “He’s like a little brother. Now tell me about Gabriel.”
Giselle’s cheeks pinked. “Intense. Sweet.”
“Mmm...Aaron’s the same...” Rena mused “I think I’d use noble instead of intense, though.”
“Well, well,” Giselle’s light eyes blazed with mischief. “This is something new. You don’t usually like the rich.”
“I don’t think that’s changed,” Rena looked over to where Aaron stood. “I just don’t think Aaron Tesano is his family. Guess time will have to tell about that.”
***
“Rena says you’re interested in the lower income areas for transportation purposes,” Giselle noted once she’d returned to the study room to check on the researchers. Aaron and Rena had been reviewing the maps for almost an hour.
“She’s right,” Aaron carefully set aside the map he’d been reviewing. “The idea has promise, but lately I’ve gotten interested in other challenges involving our employees.”
“Nooo...” Rena groaned from her spot at the other end of the long table. “I’ve heard these fairytales one too many times. Time for a coffee break.”
Giselle laughed as her friend sauntered from the study room. “Hard to believe you’re partners in this.”
Aaron coughed up a laugh. “It keeps me suspended in a daily state of disbelief. How long have you and Rena been friends?” He asked once they’d enjoyed a little laughter.
“Since we were in the fourth grade.”
“You were in school together?”
Giselle blinked, as if suddenly understanding what he was asking, “Rena’s school was closer to where my mother worked so...it was easier.”
“She lives in Harlem. Gotta be tough being the only white kid,” he made the observation softly.
Giselle gave a resigned sigh. “Tough is one way to put it.”
“You’re from a big family?” Aaron queried.
“Three kids.”
Aaron whistled. “That must’ve been tough too, on your mom.”
“Well my dad was there but um-yeah, yeah it wasn’t easy.” Her eyes drifted back to the table. “What are you trying to do here, Aaron?”
He studied the table as well, rifling through the maps as he strolled the length of it. “I want Tesano employees to be able to come to us when times get tough.”
“You mean financial times?”
“Those too.”
Giselle smiled wistfully. “Is that why Ree said fairytale?”
Aaron shrugged. “Promises of easy times are abundant, but few actually experience such times. Do you think I’m weaving fairytales too?”
“I think you mean what you say, it’s just-”
“Please,” Aaron encouraged when she seemed to reign in her curiosity.
Giselle gave a quirky tilt of her head. “For every good reason to move forward, there’s a caution against it and plenty of people to share those cautions with you.”
Aaron propped a hip on the table. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
“I know people who’ll be affected if you keep your promises and if you don’t,” she said.
