Celadon Man part 2

 Jansy barely crawled out of bed at four thirty the next morning. Night gigs at the gallery and early mornings at the cafe really did a number on her, especially when her sleep was restless. She dragged herself to the bathroom, and stepped into the shower.

  "Man, I'm going to need a lot of coffee today." She muttered to herself. Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, her phone rang.

  "This had better be important." Jansy answered, clearly wanting to strangle whoever was calling her at this ungodly hour.

  "Can you come by the gallery this afternoon?" Helena asked.

  "No." And without a second thought, Jansy hung up the phone. Helena knew better than anyone outside of Jansy's family, that she was not a morning person. Jansy continued on her morning routine, dressing in relaxed fit, low ride jeans, a light t-shirt with non slip shoes. With her first cup of coffee in her hand, she headed out to her car and made it over to The Upper Crust by five thirty. The cafe was in a brick, free standing, rather new building.

     "Morning Chloe." Jansy said, sounding and looking bleary. She skirted past her boss, and older, slender redhead with a sharp wit.

    "Rough night?" The older redhead asked, chuckling, wearing jeans and a tea shirt.

    "Yes and no." Jansy answered, she wasn't ready to admit to anyone that she spent half the night tossing and turning, dreaming about hot sex, with a certain ceramics artist, with deep honey kissed skin, deep rich brown eyes, full, luscious lips, and coal black hair.

    "Yes and no? Who is he?" Chloe asked, with an arched eyebrow and smirk.

    "I'll call you when the scones are done." Jansy responded, making a bee line to the kitchen. Chloe just chuckled.  Several hours later, after the scones, croissants,  donuts, chocolate chip cookies and blueberry muffins were all baked, Jansy was ending her day at two in the afternoon.

 "Thanks for the hustle Jansy, don't forget, inventory on Sunday." Chloe said, as Jansy was getting ready to leave.

 "Ok, three o'clock, right?"

 "Yes. So Jansy, who's the guy?" Chloe asked, attempting to look nonchalant.

 "Do we have to do this now?"

 "You only look like shit when you're dating or thinking about a guy as a prospective boyfriend."

 "Thanks, I love you too. Ugh, perspective boyfriend. I'm getting too old for the dating world." Jansy muttered.

 "Well?"

 "He's Helena's cousin."

 "How long have you been going out?"

"That's just it, we aren't, I just met him last night. Bye!" Jansy said making a fast get away, with Chloe's throaty laugh following her out the door. Jansy hopped into her car and headed over to Bamboo Jungle. Once there, she walked through the door and straight to Helena's office. Mai Li was there.

  "I didn't think you would come." Mai Li laughed, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

  "Lena just has really bad timing." Jansy remarked, before taking a swig of her fifth cup of coffee.

  "She's called you at that time before, and there wasn't that much attitude. What's up?"

 "Nothing, just a rough night." Jansy tried not to squirm, as she knew what the next question would be.

  "What did you do after the show?" Mai Li sat up straighter and leaned forward, her brown almond eyes, intense on her friend. Jansy groaned on the inside.

  "Nothing, I went home."

  "And put a call in to some booty call we don't know about?"

  "No! Not with having to go to the cafe to work this morning." Mai Li looked skeptical at this reply. Jansy rolled her eyes and sat down in a chair.

  "So there is booty call we don't know about?" Mai Li couldn't help herself, she smiled at her own joke, her dimples briefly flashing.

   "Seriously, nothing happened, just a restless night's sleep. So what's this meeting about?"

   "The upcoming artist we'll be featuring." Helena said, breezing through the door. She took one look at Jansy and smiled. The meeting didn't take long at all, Helena handed out the schedule, and briefed the ladies on the types of artists to be featured. What Helena said last, was what shocked Jansy and Mai Li.

  "For the first time in Bamboo Jungle's history, we will have a visiting artist on staff. My cousin Byron Geum will be with us for several months. During this time, he will be completing a collection that will be featured and sold exclusively here. He will also act as an art liaison, bringing in talent from far and wide. This is it ladies, Bamboo Jungle has a chance to be placed on the map." Helena smiled widely at the reaction from her two friends. Both friends were thinking very different things.

   "Art liaison?" Mai Li asked, hoping her event planning skills could keep up.

  "Visiting artist?" Jansy asked, thinking about the fact that Byron would be around and there was no escape. Helena grinned wider than ever at Jansy's response.

  "Yes and Yes. If things go according to plan, I will be able to offer you two full time positions and take on two more parttimers. From then growth will be steady. Byron has a good eye for art and a good nose for where to sniff it out. He's in New York for a few days, and I thought to have a small dinner at my home to welcome him, also inviting the on call staff. Jansy, can you please call in a favor with Chloe?"

   "You've called in quite a few favors with Chloe. I'll need something to bribe her with, that would probably be your best bet." Jansy replied.

  "Ok, I'll think of something. In the mean time, would you mind cooking for the dinner?" Helena's face said it all. How could a grown woman look like a lost kitten whenever she wanted something? Jansy caved, and Mai Li giggle.

  "Not so fast Mai Li. Put your event planning skills to the test. Here's what I need for the dinner." Mai Li glanced at the papers Helena handed her.

  "You call this a small dinner." Mai Li asked, eyes questioning Helena's sanity. Jansy glanced at the sheet, Mai Li held out to her. Her eyes bugged.

  "Well, not exactly small dinner." Helena replied, pretending to arrange files, so she didn't have to see the look on her friend's face.

  "Lena, fifty-five people is a full scale party." Mai Li replied, twisting her fingers, through the long side of her asymetrical hair cut.

  "Cooking huh? I get to choose the menu." Jansy added.

  "NO! Because every time you choose the menu, you make it too simple."

  "You could always cook, or better yet, ask Diego's mom," but that was as far as Jansy got.

  "Fine, you pick the menu. If you need me at all this weekend, I will be at the farm house preparing it for Byron. I'll also have to put in a call to Mr. Song to get that kiln in order. I'm hoping it won't need any major repairs. Hey Jansy, do you think Jamaal wants to make some extra money?"

  "Do fish need water to swim?" Jansy asked.

  "Yeah yeah, meeting over." Helena said. Mai Li bolted out the door as if her sundress was on fire. Jansy turned to leave, but Helena stopped her.

  "Not so fast. Been dreamin' about boinking my cousin?"

  "Don't start."

  "Well, the only thing I can tell you, is to expect a phone call," Jansy rolled her eyes, but Helena continued,
 "If he does ask you out, please don't feel obligated to go out with him, because he's my cousin. Just go because you want to. If you don't, it won't end our friendship."

  "Thanks Lena." Jansy smiled a little.

 "But I will say if you hurt Byron, I will beat your ass!"

 "I haven't decided on anything Lena. If you need me, I'll be in bed all weekend." Jansy said, and turned and walked out of the office.