AN: Hi, readers. hope you are well and happy. Please fell free to try reviewing, even if you hate this story.

Ms Meyer is a legend in her own lifetime and owns Twilight. I own a rhubarb patch.

Chapter ten. It's who you know, not what you know.

I woke up this morning with a firm focus. I decided to spend a bit of time going after the catering clients who'd dropped me. I was determined to find some sort of clarity in this situation.

I'd also be handing out my lovely new brochures that I'd designed, with updated information and prices. They were lovely, I was proud of my colourful design work. The brochures were sitting in a box, ready for distribution.

I knew most of the clients who'd dropped out, where they lived and worked. Taos is a really small place. Everybody seems to know everybody else!

I made a list and started at the client who dropped out first. I stopped by her gallery and decided that I was going to have a relaxed conversation, and see if I could find out any clues as to what was going on.

I walked in wearing a simple vintage Dior A-line dress and ballet flats. Steve found me this special dress and posted it to me. It fitted perfectly and looked brilliant. He was always sending me stuff like this. My amazing original fairy god-mother!

Heidi saw me and initially waved, and then had a look of nervousness come over her face. We'd done business before, and she'd been fairly friendly then, I wondered what her story was?

I smiled.

"Hey Heidi, how's things? It's been a few months since I've dropped by, the new show looks great. I've heard good things from the arts review, about the artist you're showing at the moment."

"Oh yeah, he's been selling well, we've had some good publicity for the opening."

"Oh great. Excellent." I smiled, as if I didn't have a care in the world.

I turned back to look at the large canvases...

"So is there anything you are interested in?"

"Maybe... I'm not sure... I'm possibly looking for some new pieces for the house...I don't know...I'll have to see..."

I wandered around she followed, her curiosity peaked, there's nothing like getting a salesperson's interest, than idea of possibly scoring a big sale. She did work on commission after all.

"Mmm, it's a pity though...there's another artist I've got my eye on...his work isn't so pricy...although I do love this piece in particular."

I stood and looked at the most expensive piece in the gallery. Admiring it and looking very interested.

The silence was becoming stifling; Heidi was starting to look uncomfortable.

I thought I'd bring up the exhibition opening which we didn't cater, due to a strange, sudden change of mind on Heidi's part.

"So Heidi, what can you do to help me make up my mind?" I looked over at her nervous face.

"So I consider your artist here, rather the cheaper one which I also like, down the road?" I was playing hard ball.

She looked nervous, I knew she wasn't able to drop the prices, but she might be able to give me some insights, as to why she suddenly dropped my catering her event, for another firm.

"We're both in business in a small town. I know you might be able to help me." I put the verbal-squeeze on, smiling.

"Umm, yeah sure, what is it Bella?"

"How many openings have I catered for this gallery, is it five or six in the last two years?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"Was our work of a high enough standard?

Did it meet your expectations?

Did you get exactly what you wanted every time we catered your openings?" I was rapidly letting the questions attack her, she blinked.

"Oh yes, all the work you did was just great! You were always on time, on budget, always beautifully presented, never a single problem."

"So I've been asking myself, why did you change your mind so suddenly a week before the last opening? Did I do something wrong? Was it someone who works for me? The quote seemed fine when we first talked."

"Oh, err, well, ummm... It's a bit difficult to say, uhh... if you promise not to get angry with me...I'll tell you."

I quirked my eyebrow and waited, feeling anxious, but trying to keep a cool exterior...

"Well, I just heard something from someone... About something to do with you and your ...err ...food."

"Oh, I'm guessing it wasn't rave reviews then?"

Heidi was red; sweat was dripping on her forehead.

"Well, I heard from someone I've known a long time that an event you'd catered was ruined by food poisoning."

"Oh, really? Did this person say which event this was?"

"Err, the Smith and Wesson wedding. Late last year."

"Well that would be impossible." I smiled icily.

"Why's that?"

"My company didn't cater that wedding! The Smiths went with my competitor in the end, as my quote was higher. In fact I think they were the same bunch that did your last opening...I hope no one got ill after it?"

"Oh umm I didn't hear anything about it if they did. But they weren't as easy to get on with as you and their food wasn't really fresh."

I snorted, "That's because I cook everything fresh especially, from scratch, using local ingredients. They buy bulk frozen food, which they reheat. I can guarantee they would be unable to tell their clients what's in the food they serve, where it was made, and if it's been possibly contaminated."

I stood tall. And breathed deeply.

"So do you think you'll be using their services again, or will I be hearing from you to quote on your next opening?"I quirked my brow at her, I'm glad she came clean about the reason she dropped me.

"Well seeing as I know your work is great, and I like you, I'm going to ring you for the next opening... Actually we're planning something next month, can I send you the details?" Heidi almost looked relieved to get the weight of her poor choice off her chest.

"Sure, anytime I'd be more than happy to give you a quote Heidi."

She looked like things might be not so bad, and we could work together in the future.

"I would also appreciate it, if you told the person who told you the food poisoning story, that they seriously need to consider re-checking their facts! It might have seriously affected my business otherwise, and we can't have that, can we?" I looked at her, seriously.

"Sure, sure I'll tell Maria she had it completely wrong." Heidi blurted out.

"Ah Maria, well I'd be careful trusting anything she says from now on...I hope she's not getting nasty now that Jasper and I have gotten married." I flashed my ring and eyed Heidi.

"Oh right, she used to hang out with him, didn't she? Oh maybe she's just jealous."

"Please don't worry about her, just remember me when it is time to use my services again. I really want to keep doing business with you."

I fished out some new brochures out of my bag.

"Here's our new seasonal menu and all of our new updated activities and price list. Notice here how we give discounts to those special valued customers."

She nodded and looked down at the brochure.

"Thanks Bella, it was good talking to you."

"Yeah, thanks Heidi, I appreciate you telling me what was bothering you. Thanks for your time."

I turned and left.

Damn you Maria! I just hope to God it's just a misunderstanding, and not a deliberately bad rumour being circulated on purpose. If it is she's just messed with the wrong family!

I went to visit the next client who'd suddenly dropped me from his birthday event.

Jeff was a guy who'd initially wanted me to do the event management for his fiftieth birthday. It was going to be a gala event, band, seating, dance floor, lighting, sound, DJ, security, as well as food. One hundred and twenty, of his very closest friends and colleagues.

He said my quote was good, and was looking to spending nearly fifteen thousand to make his special night one to remember.

We shook hands and he was keen...

Until I got a cold, short message on my message bank telling me to he was cancelling, two days later.

I tried hard to get him to answer my calls, but he was always out.

I dropped by his car lot. Jeff sold high end European luxury cars.

Let's see if I could find out if he was willing to answer my questions.

"Hi Jeff how's it going? You're looking really well!"

"Oh Bella, I wasn't expecting to see you. My word! Aren't you a wonderful sight for sore eyes?"

I must have looked slightly surprised, but nodded and smiled.

"What can I help you with today? Looking to update that Mini of yours to something a little more powerful? Or perhaps larger, we have a lot of excellent vehicles at fine prices, if you're interested..."

I hummed as smiled.

"I have been thinking about getting something more modern, I do love smaller cars though, they are more fuel efficient and zippy."

"Come over and see our Audi and Volvo range."

Ugh I didn't think so, but I slowly walked over eyeing off the cars, like I was serious.

"Nice cars..." I dragged my hands over the shiny paintwork, admiring the design and colours.

"So Jeff how's your wife and family?"

"Not bad, they took off to Fiji for a little vacation."

"It's a pity you're not with them. I hear it's lovely, especially the diving.

So happy birthday for your fiftieth last week!"

"Err, thanks Bella, but I'm not much in the celebrating mood."

"Oh?"

"Well things have been a little rough lately, and my wife got some strange ideas in her head and has left me...that's why the party was cancelled."

"Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that! What did she hear?"

Jeff looked at me and rolled his eyes.

"She'd heard from some friend at the golf club that I was having an affair...and it was you I was supposed to be seeing."

"Really? That's weird! Everyone in town knows I'm with Jasper, we just got married in Vegas."

"Ha! Well good for you! Jasper used to do the car cleaning for me when he was a kid. He's a nice young fella. Did a good job too."

"Jeff did you ever find out who it was, who told your wife this out and out lie?"

"It was her golf buddy Maria, the mayor's daughter; she used to hang out with Jasper. Maybe it's a case of sour grapes."

"Yeah it's a pity your wife believed her over you isn't it?"(Bloody idiot!)

"If I take this further, do you think you might be willing to provide a statement of what you've just told me? I'm thinking there might be something more than sour grapes on Maria's part, not just being upset that Jasper and I have gotten married."

"Yeah, I'd like to give you evidence 'cause Maria's lies have cost me my marriage."

"Maria told one of the galleries that I gave people food poisoning, when it was the competition that catered, not me. I've lost business over this. I might have to lay off staff if I can't turn it around." I looked at Jeff and sighed, poor guy, his wife believing that nasty piece of work Maria.

"Anyway, here's an updated brochure, why don't you have a look? I still do birthdays, and corporate events if you're interested. I really hope things turn around for you, and that you both reconcile. I really do."

He smiled sadly. "Yeah I miss the old girl and the kids."

"Thanks for your time Jeff."

"Thanks for listening Bella, think of me when you want to trade in that antique you're driving."

"Ha ha! Sure."

I told Jasper when I got home late in the evening; I was so tired and wound-up. I didn't know if I wanted to scream or cry, or maybe seek vengeance on Maria and her nasty lying rumour-mongering ass.

I got clear acknowledgement from five out of six ex-clients who'd bailed on my catering firm, that Maria had said something to cause me to lose business.

*Apart from the food poisoning, and affair, she'd told my clients that a kid with peanut allergies went to hospital eating my nut laden food.

*That I had gotten so drunk at a wedding that I forgot the wedding cake and flowers, then collapsed in a heap in the kitchen.

*That during one school formal after party I'd got up on the table and started to strip.

I couldn't get info out of the last ex-client, as they seemed to be directly employed by Maria's family, or were somehow related to her.

I was sure that there'd be a lot more nasty rumours circulating about me and my apparent incompetence. I was so angry, it wasn't fair.

What the hell did I ever do to her?

At least I'd gotten to the bottom of this particular mystery.

After I'd spoken to Jasper, he was ready to pull shreds off of Maria. He wanted to go over and seek violent vengeance against her, her family and all the people who believed her.

I told him to hold off on the seeking of vengeance, just yet. I had a few plans up my sleeve first, that I wanted to try, before things got really nasty.

I pulled out my trusty phone, I'd recorded all the people I'd spoken to, and three were happy to be provide statements, saying that Maria had given them the misinformation.

I called Pete and Charlie to tell them about what was happening with the catering business and Maria's sabotaging rumours.

I thought I'd do a statement and list of all the clients I'd lost, the money I would have made, and the potential loss of earnings.

I wrote out the various statements I'd gotten verbally from the days conversations. Who said what and to what extent they'd implicated Maria.

I looked at my new brochures, I liked the design and layout, and they looked really good.

I felt it was time to up the ante and start doing some serious counter information to blunt Maria's message.

I would do a blitz of well placed info -

* leaflet drop in all letter boxes and businesses of Taos and surrounding areas

* send out a media release for both local papers, and radio stations

* collect testimonials from satisfied clients, and add these into media releases and flyers

* put up new signage for the delivery truck and shop front in town; also freshen up paint work inside shop

* offer a discount if an existing client refers me to a new client

* stop by personally to all existing galleries and give them a personal detailed run through of their catering needs and event calendar

* highlight my firm's use of locally grown, fresh ingredients, unique menu choices, like- themed events, international cuisine, vegetarian, vegan, lactose / gluten intolerant and sugar/fat free, low-cal menus

* look into catering more children's parties, find performers and musicians to assist.

* look into the gem and lapidary crowd, the classic car crowd, and the fishermen dad hangs out with, maybe they are hidden markets?

* ask my friends in the Latino and Tribal communities if they have events they'd like me to cater. Sue might help she's working at the tribal art school teaching basketry now.

* ask all the people I have employed full time or casually, to talk about the business as much as possible with their neighbours, friends and families, and for them to seek out good ideas and new things we could try to keep the business afloat.

Once I'd finished my list I wasn't feeling so bad. I knew if I diversified my clients, that it would be easier to make my little business survive. Maybe even thrive.

I'd show people like Maria, that I wasn't going down without a fight.

I knew five of the six people I had talked to today were keen to address the lies Maria had told, and right a wrong. It was interesting that once I'd spoken up for myself, they'd been very keen to believe me.

It was a first night in a long time that Jasper and I settled in front of the fire snuggling and chatting about all the things we could do to pull the rug from under Maria.

I said that 'flourishing in the face of opposition and adversity is the finest form of retaliation.'

I said I had hope, and showed him my list of things I could do to diversify my clients and advertise.

I also told him about how each of the people who'd had dealings with Maria, were also negatively affected. Maria's lies and misinformation had them individually. Nearly everyone was keen to hear the actual truth, especially when I hadn't even catered those particular weddings, after-parties and birthdays.

Jasper thought I might have a good case for suing Maria, for loss of business earnings and damage to my reputation.

I agreed with him and said I'd try and gather as much evidence about her slander as I could. But in the mean time, I was going to do everything I could to make my business a success.

We started kissing on the sofa and making out like high school kids.

God I love him.