CHAPTER TWENTY: Champagne?

Kaylee Declan was supposed to join them but because of pressure of work, she had to stay and work overtime.

"There are no prices." Kelly Channing said when the waiter gave them each a menu.

"They are printed on mine," Mila Connor told her, laughing.

"That's so the invitee doesn't know the cost."

"Oh, but..." Kelly Channing began.

"Enjoy the free afternoon off from all the pressure at work," Mila Connor told her, "and forget your... your female independence."

Kelly Channing laughed." My female independence is important to me," she said.

"Let me give you gifts," Mila Connor said, taking hold of her hand gently. "Accept the magic of this place. Learn how to... how to accept."

"I am not sure that I want to do that," Kelly Channing replied, pulling her hand away from hers.

Once they had made their order, a wine waiter came to the table and asked what they would like to drink.

"Champagne," Mila Connor replied, without hesitation, without even reading the wine list that the waiter gave to her.

"Champagne?" Kelly Channing asked. "Girlfriend, since when did drinking become your norm?"

"Kelly Channing dear, it is meant to celebrate." Mila Connor said confidently, smiling.

"What are we celebrating?" Kelly Channing asked, feeling sure she knew what her answer would have been.

"Your first work. Without being sacked on the second day." Mila Connor replied.

"Were you expecting me to be sacked on my second day at work?" Kelly Channing asked.

"That's not what I meant. It's a misunderstanding." She said.

Mila Connor told the waiter to bring a champagne bottle and two champagne flutes.

Mila Connor tired from all the endless conversation, opened the champagne bottle and poured out some onto her champagne flute.

She poured some for her friend and clicked their glasses together. Mila Connor emptied her glass and immediately started dinning on the beef steak that was placed in front of her by the waiter.

The food was wonderful. Kelly Channing thought it looked beautiful.

The lighting was subdued and gentle. Most of the light in their quiet corner came from two candle sets on the table. Light and shadow mixed together in agreeable ways.

After the meal Mila Connor and Kelly Channing headed home for it was now late in the evening.

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In a large capital city like the one in which Quetzalli Axel resided in, there were several busy streets, but the busiest of all is street 224. From early morning, traffic starts building up.

Crowds of pedestrians, shoppers and others could be seen walking along the pavements outside the shops or trying to cross the road.

The noise of cars and taxis hooting, or of scooters, flying past is deafening. Anyone who stops by to watch the scene is amazed at the number of vehicles zooming past or crawling along when caught at the traffic lights.

The people, mainly lady shoppers with children, line the street as they await an opportunity to cross the road. It is a bright and gay scene. The main attraction is the variety of textile shops, departmental stores, the Selangor Emporium, carpet shops, restaurants, jewellers or electrical goods shops, pavement stalls with small items like costume jewellery, toys and aluminium cooking utensils and vendors attracting customers to buy their wares.

In the hustle and bustle, one could savour the delicious aroma of Oriental delicacies floating in the air. It comes from ''pungent curries, fried chicken and sweet meats, tempting passers-by to stop for some refreshment.

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After breakfast, Quetzalli Axel headed out to meet a friend whom she was going to spend the day with getting to catch up.

By the time she arrived at the Way 5 hotel and restaurant. Her childhood friend, Myla Grayson had already arrived and was settled down having been feasting on some delicacies. She was all fancily dressed in a plaid print tie neck flounce sleeve tweed dress, black ankle boots and a rhinestone embellished faux pearls chain cross body black tote bag.