Chick Lit Box Set

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

All was silent when Aggie walked downstairs to the shop the following morning. She’d managed to shower, wash and dry her hair with a noisy hairdryer, get dressed and have breakfast and still there’d been no sign of her sister.

It was the first day of the shop opening as a fully functioning business, and although she was nervous, she was full of excitement. The opening event the previous night had given her the confidence for which she’d been looking. Positive comments from pretty much all who had been invited had given her a boost and she therefore felt more than ready to start selling lingerie and other things.

Striding into the main part of the ground floor, she grinned as she took in what she had created. Aphrodite’s Closet was going to be a success. She could just feel it. Flicking on the lights and the heating, she began to walk through the store, checking the cabinets and shelves to make sure everything was hanging and folded the way it should be. A couple of the scarves hadn’t been hung up properly so she adjusted them, smiling at the feel of the luxurious fabrics.

Then she moved over to the lingerie, checking that the knickers were in the right slots in the cabinets.

Heading back upstairs to the second floor, the sound of the door being unlocked startled her and she rushed back downstairs to make sure it was Coco walking through the door.

Sure enough, a bright and sparkly Coco was standing inside, smiling at her.

“Good morning,” Aggie sang as she jumped off the bottom step.

“You’re chirpy this morning,” Coco said with a grin.

“And you’re very sparkly,” she said, looking down at her outfit.

“I couldn’t help it. I had to wear something that reflected my mood,” Coco grinned, taking off her little fur gilet to reveal a blush pink dress, the arms of which were covered in pink sequins.

“It’s lovely. Isn’t that one of the dresses you bought in Vegas?”

Coco nodded and did a little turn. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?”

“Very. I feel a bit underdressed now.”

“Hey, you look great. I love that green blouse and those trousers on you. I’d be more inclined to wear them with heels though,” Coco suggested.

Aggie scrunched up her face. “Heels? For a full day in the shop?”

“Yeah. What about those low black heels I bought you for Christmas? They’d look fab.”

“Maybe,” Aggie said, “But I can’t face the prospect of heels while working down here.”

“Fair enough. The brogues are cute too,” she grinned.

“Why thank you, Aggie smiled as she continued to prepare the shop for business. “So, you ready for the big day?”

Coco nodded with enthusiasm, “Of course. You?”

Aggie nodded, “Can’t wait.”

At exactly nine o’clock, the girls both grinned at each other and went to unlock the door at the same time. Together, they put their hands on the open sign and turned it to face the outside world.

“We are officially open,” Coco squealed as they ran back behind the counter and waited for their first customers to arrive.

Not more than five minutes passed before the door was pushed open, and a young woman carrying a very young baby in a sling walked in.

Coco recognised her immediately, “Isabella! I didn’t expect you to be in so early,” Coco said as she walked back toward the door. “And you brought the little one with you. He’s grown so much already.”

“Hey, Coco, well he’s had me up much of the night so I figured a drive in the car might help him sleep. Would you believe it, he’s conked out now? He loves sleeping in the sling.”

“Well, thanks for coming back so soon. Do you remember Aggie?”

“Yes of course,” Isabella said as she walked over to Aggie and smiled. “Congratulations on the opening of the shop. It’s breathtaking.”

“Thank you,” Aggie replied, beaming. “I certainly didn’t expect anyone from last night to be in this quickly,” she laughed.

“Well, I saw so many wonderful things last night but we had too little time to buy anything so I figured I’d come in today and get it all before it’s all sold.”

Coco and Aggie both laughed.

“Well, we’ll leave you to have another look. Let me know if you need any help with anything.”

“Thanks. I’m going to enjoy this,” Isabella smiled as she headed straight for the second floor.

Within the next hour, a multitude of people had wandered in, had a good look around and bought things.

Christie had also appeared and disappeared, promising to return the following day to help out.

But it wasn’t until around midday that things started hotting up, with the arrival of several middle-aged women who claimed to have read about the shop online.

“Oooh I wonder what they’re talking about,” Coco said as she ran upstairs to pick up her iPad. Once back downstairs, while Aggie helped a young woman choose a nightdress for an upcoming holiday, Coco began searching Aphrodite’s Closet online.

oOo

The Goddess of Love arrives in Frambleberry

The grand opening of Aphrodite’s Closet, an adults-only store on the corner of Pelican Street, was not only a huge success but a bit of an eye-opener for this reporter, writes Simon Connor.

The store, split over two floors, features everything you can imagine from simple women’s cotton underwear to the more risqué lingerie to the even more daring toys and gadgets for the bedroom.

But it’s not just the contents that will make you want to go back for more, it’s the grand architecture and brilliantly designed interior decor. Not to mention the three women responsible for the newly opened store.

Agatha Trout is the new owner of this incredible building after her Great Aunt Petunia left the property to her in her will following her death late last year. Petunia Petal died in her sleep, aged ninety-nine. Agatha, unsure what she would do with the building, was greatly influenced by her best friend, Coco Watson, who suggested an adults-only shop was the way to go, after some research showed that such a shop had never been opened in the town.

Agatha and Coco are joined by Agatha’s younger sister, Christie Valentine, who, after having twins three years ago, says she was ready to get back to work.

Together, the three businesswomen are looking forward to welcoming adults, young and old, to Aphrodite’s Closet and hope that the business will grow into a huge success. Undoubtedly, this reporter believes that is exactly what will happen.

“Well, that’s a lovely write up,” Agatha said after listening to Coco read the article online. “I loved the headline,” she said as another customer paid for a couple of new bras.

“Yes and there’s lots more like it. I’ve read at least four posts saying what a great night it was, and what a fab shop it is. If we continue like this, it’s going to be ace,” Coco grinned as she followed another couple upstairs who needed a little assistance choosing something “for a friend.”