Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [73]
Annie snapped her address book shut. Done. The biggest decision facing her now was what to wear. Business attire or casual? She finally opted for white linen shorts and a tangerine-colored blouse with matching sandals and visored cap. After all, she was a tourist. Why not look like one.
It was twenty minutes past eight when Annie walked into the airport.‘The first person she saw walking toward her was Stella Kaminsky and behind her, Kiki Aellia, dressed like a New York banker. “Stella! What are you doing here?”
“Joe wanted to see this island before we leave tomorrow. Boy, is it good to see you. Is everything okay?” Stella said, giving Annie a squeezing bear hug.
Annie laughed. “Sure. Just hang on a minute. I’m meeting someone.”
“Miss Aellia, it’s nice to see you again. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Stella Kaminsky. Stella, where’s your husband?”
“Men’s room. Here he comes. He’s all mine.” Stella laughed, as she linked her arm with her husband’s. Everyone shook hands.
In a million years Annie would never have matched the grinning Joe to Stella. He was a full head shorter, chubby where she was lanky. And it was obvious he was very much in love with his wife who was beaming from head to toe.
Her eyes on Kiki Aellia, Annie said, “This will only take about thirty minutes. If you wait for me, we can explore together. You didn’t rent a car yet; did you?”
“We were just going to do that. We’ll wait for you,” Joe said.
“Jeez, this is great. What a memory, huh, hon?”
“The best.” Joe grinned. He removed his baseball cap to reveal a shiny bald head. He mopped his head and slapped the cap back on. Annie winked at him.
“We won’t be long,” Annie said over her shoulder, as Kiki guided her to the nearest restaurant.
Seated, the two women stared at one another. “That’s a lovely dress,” Annie said.
“Our old housekeeper made it for me. She doesn’t sew anymore. Guess I’ll have to go to Hilo Hattie’s from now on. I’ll just have coffee and toast,” she said to the waiter.
“I’ll have the same.”
“The coffee here is terrible,” Kiki said.
She’s nervous, Annie thought. “Are you uncomfortable with me, Miss Aellia?”
“You are the eight-hundred-pound gorilla,” Kiki said quietly.
“Is that how you view me?” Annie asked.
“In a manner of speaking. I don’t mean ...”
“I know what you mean. Here’s the deal. It’s the same one I offered you the other day with one exception. The contract is only for six months. It’s still a take-it-or-leave-it offer. Price cut of two dollars. You still roast the coffee. And, your company owes me twelve thousand pounds of coffee. You can fax the contract to our offices. For now a handshake will do it.”
Kiki Aellia extended her hand across the table. “You drive a hard bargain. Do you mind me asking why the short-term contract?”
“I don’t mind at all. The answer is simple. It’s what I want. Perhaps it is a hard bargain. However, it’s fair. Business aside, do you agree?”
“Yes. I don’t know what my brother will think. We’ve never done short-term contracts.”
“I don’t know what my brother will think, either. Guess what? I don’t care.”
“I have to care. Parker isn’t going to like the deal. His bottom line was a dollar and a half. I cannot guarantee the short-term contract. I think your brother agreed to the original deal.”
Annie shrugged. “Would your brother risk losing the account altogether?”
“Would you have walked?”
“In a heartbeat,” Annie said.
Kiki smiled. “I knew that. Parker didn’t believe it. He still doesn’t believe it. My intuition tells me he won’t go with the six months. He’s been trying to locate you.”
Annie could feel her heart rate speed up. “Really,” she drawled.
Kiki smiled. “Yes, really. Are you being evasive, elusive, or are you just playing hard to