Chapter 1
Elizabeth coughed as facial powder fills her lungs as she sat at her friend’s vanity. “It’s a blind date Nicole, not a date with the Queen of England.”
Her friend made a disgusted face, “Of course not, that’s gross. She’s like...triple your age. No, she’s more than that. Now Lizzy, stay still.”
After an hour of lengthy torture, she was ready for the date. “What if she’s a murderer.”
Her friend laughed, “Then it’s going to be a writing inspiration for you. Elizabeth, have fun. If this doesn’t work out, I’ll let you work on your stories, or let you cry over fictional deaths.”
The writer faked a sniffle, “Dobby didn’t deserve to die.”
Nicole looked confused, “Who’s- stop distracting me and get your butt to the restaurant. It’s called Les Paradis.”
“Fine”
Lizzy made it to the restaurant then looked at her phone. She sees the person that was supposed to be her date. She was a fair-skinned woman who was drinking a cup of red wine. Her hair was dirty-blonde, pulled back in an elegant bun, her lips were slightly curved in a small smile and painted with a similar color of red apples. Lizzy self-consciously walked to the sophisticated woman after taking a deep breath. “Miss Gine.”
She laughed. “Call me Haily. You must be Elizabeth. Sit. I’ll order some wine. Is red okay?”
Liz nervously nodded and examined Haily. Everything about her seemed so familiar, but she couldn’t pinpoint it. “So Liz, can I call you Liz? Well, I would like to get to know you better. You don’t have to have to tell me, but then we would be sitting in awkward silence.” Haily then flashed a subtle but charming smile.
“Well, only if you elaborate and tell me about yourself, alright? Well, my side job is working as a journalist, however, my main job is writing. Novel writing.”
“What do you write genre-wise?”
Lizzy grows excited, someone seems genuinely interested. “Well, it depends. Right now, I’m in an action/mystery/romance mood. I’m working on one. I’d like to tell you what it is about but then I would have to kill you.”
Haily perched her head on hands then leaned forwards, “I’ll take my chances.”
Elizabeth grinned and sipped her wine. “Well right now it’s about a news reporter who is well...nosy. However, she’s great at investigating and solving murder cases. Good people love her, however the ‘bad guys’ you can say hate her. Especially ones she put in prison.” She stopped to take a breath and then started to talk again. “They soon face a difficult case when a copy-cat killer attacks those close to the news reporter. She kinda goes mama bear mode, I really adore her.”
Haily looked truly amazed, “Tell me when it’s published so I can read it.”
A waiter comes to their table, “May I take your order?”
The two placed their order and once he left, they continued talking. “So what do you do Haily?”
“If I tell you, I got to kill you.” She then laughs. “I work as a secretary. Take calls and say, ‘ Have a nice day.’ I know it’s boring.”
A soft laugh escaped her but Elizabeth shakes her head, causing loose strands of brown her to cascade down to her shoulder. “On the contrary. What do you do when you aren’t working.”
“I love baking and painting. I know it’s time-consuming, but I love it. I’m not a fan of free time.”
The brunette nodded. “Of course. What do you paint and bake?”
“Well, I paint abstract art, it’s my favorite form of art. And baking...hmm? Whatever I find online. Yesterday I made some creme brulee, lemon if you were curious.”
“Might have to keep in contact with you, if you hire me as a taste tester.”
“Of course.” They finished their food and split the bill.
“Haily, I enjoyed our little date. Here’s my number, talk to you later?”
“Of course, see ya.”
