Chapter 6

[chilly658]

6 C.R. Property Developments
Serpentine Road,  Mayfair, London
Monday 24th January 2011

Within two and a half years Carmen Richardson had built an empire based on a conversation in that Cafe with Jade Harris and April Glover and one little black book, an empire which was now valued in excess of ?158 Million which now boasted no less than twelve very regent looking offices all over the city of London and boasted no less than eighty five members of staff.

She had bought, renovated and sold one hundred and sixty seven properties around London and also bought and rented a further four hundred and seventeen more creating vast revenues of cash and she had now begun to look into areas targeted for development in the counties of Kent, east Sussex and Bedfordshire as her business grew in accordance to her expansion plan which if the truth be told more or less came from that little black book.

Outside of her plush Mayfair office was her brand new car, her pride and joy, an Aston Martin DB9 which had come with all of the extras, Carmen Richardson was a self confessed lover of gadgets and of course prestige cars.

Inside her office she was sitting at her stunning oak four feet by four feet partner style desk working on some figures with somebody sitting opposite her at the other side of her desk.  "It was lovely seeing Jade last night."   April Glover told Carmen who nodded and then touched the new broach on her lilac business jacket which had been a present from Jade the night before.

The previous night they had all gone out to dinner, paid for by Jade as a way of saying thank you to Carmen for letting the shop and flat to her at a discount rate and Jade had presented the broach to Carmen who in all honesty hated the red, in her opinion, monstrosity but had gracefully accepted it because it had come from Jade and Carmen now wondered if Jade hated it too and this was maybe one of her little pranks.

Carmen hadn't really changed very much as far as appearance went, her clothes were now designer and much more expensive like the lilac business suit she was wearing today but her hair was still the auburn coloured bob and her personality was still the same as it had been before.

She looked up at April who was sitting there watching her work.  "I miss her actually."   Carmen told April who nodded in agreement.  "I know that she's just on the other end of the phone or a drive to New Kent road but it's not the same."  Carmen added, again to a nod of agreement from April who now leaned forward. "We ought to do it more often."  She told Carmen who looked up with an expression of concern.  "We ought to do what?"  She asked.

April sat back now and giggled.  "Spend time with Jade you daft cow!"   She told Carmen who grinned knowingly.  "Goodness if I was going to turn, I'd pick somebody prettier than you."   April assured her.

Carmen looked out of the window.  "I'm going to make a point of calling her at least every other day."   She said which again brought a nod from April.  "Yes that'd be nice, nothing like a good smothering is there?"  April reminded her.

Carmen stared at April now.  "You have no idea of the lovely image involving you right now when you mention smothering."  Carmen teased and April mocked a face of utter shock.

Carmen now stared again at April.  "Don't you have anything to do?"    She asked and April shook her head.  "Absolutely nothing apart from sitting here and irritating you."  She told Carmen who nodded her head.  "You're an expert at it for sure."   She told April.

Carmen shook her head as she gave up and began to place the file into her desk draw.  "I have absolutely no idea why I pay you so much."   She told her long term friend who simply smiled.  "You know how much it would bother you if I weren't here."   She truthfully told Carmen who nodded in agreement.  "I'm still keeping the smothering image for now."   She said to April as she gave her a wink.  "Come on, you can treat me to lunch."   She added as she stood up from her desk and April stood up too.  "Note to self, get rich by sponging lunch from your friends."   April said as she followed Carmen out of the office door.  "Can I drive?"   April called as Carmen began to climb down the stairs and received no answer at all.

That night when Carmen was laying in her bed she called Jade's number.  "How was your day?"    She asked as she snuggled down in her bed with a smile as Jade Harris explained all of the days trials and tribulations of incompetent delivery drivers and teenage girls wanting to try on every single item in her shop.

Carmen was missing her friend Jade so much.