Grant Books was open and people were filing into the big store while pastries and coffee were available as they entered. Cat was there with her mother and Lois to see how everyone was enjoying the newest book store on the block.
"No protests, no demonstrations. The neighborhood loves us."
Lois at her side piped up, "They're wondering where we've been all these years...how they did without us. It's a hit!"
Cat's mother spoke up, "How's the children's department going?
"We don't know, school hasn't started yet but there's the little children's book store on the corner, The Shop Around The Corner."
Cat's mother scoffed, "Oh yes we're going to crush it."
And inside Cat began to feel terrible for this whole thing, that little shop was going to have to close and that beautiful girl was going to have to let her mother's shop go. And Cat felt nothing but guilt for that girl and her little shop around the corner.
Across the street Kara found herself having the most difficult time trying to untangle Christmas lights and Siobhan cutting up paper snowflakes for decorating the store.
"You know they've only been open six days. And we did $1200 less than the same week last year."
Ever optimistic Kara piped up, "That could be a fluke right?"
"Or not."
Kara sighed, "Their store is new, it's a novelty. It'll all shake out. Meanwhile, I'm putting up more twinkle lights."
Siobhan paused, "What if we have to fold? I'll never find another part-time job. Then I won't be able to pay my rent, and I'll have to move. To Brooklyn!"
Winn pipes up from the background, "Ah, the joy of rent control. Six rooms, $650 a month."
"We know. You've told us a million times. I can't believe you're bringing this up at a time like this. It's like those people who brag because they're tall."
Kara still distracted with the lights assures them, "Guys, we're not going to fold."
Winn sighs and walks out the front door, "You know what you guys are cold, I'm going to go to the nut shop where it's fun."
"Winn! Winn hey!"
Kara follows after him, Siobhan in tow holding the trail of the christmas lights, spotting one of her children's book authors peering into the front window, "Miranda, hey!"
The woman of average height with brown hair and blue eyes walks into the store, "Kara, are you surviving?"
"We're so excited about your new book. When should we schedule a signing?"
"It's being published in January. Will you be in business in January? I'm so worried."
"We're doing great. Aren't we?"
Siobhan nods, "We're great!"
"Oh thank goodness! You can count on me for anything. Support, rallies, picket lines. We can get the Times to write something. Or that nut from the Observer."
Kara squints at that, "What nut at the Observer?"
As Miranda begins the leave the store she pauses to fill Kara in, "James something-or-other. The one who's in love with his typewriter. This is just the sort of thing that would outrage him!"
Kara looks at the closed shop door in disbelief as Siobhan tries not to laugh behind her back.
Later that night on their way to a dinner party Kara explains it all to James, "A nut? She thinks I'm a nut?"
"That's not the point, she thinks my store is in trouble. Why would she say that? There's enough business for us all."
James nods, "Yes, there is. No question. We are fine. You're more than fine. You're absolutely fine."
"We are fine."
And as James agrees the front door to the party opens and they're greeted by an older shorter woman happy to see them, "Hi, how are you?"
Kara and James both look at each other and saying in unison, "Fine."
And they're led into the house by the woman, "Vince will be so happy to see you."
As Kara and James are led into the hot spot of the party unbeknownst to her is Cat Grant across the room with her girlfriend Alice talking up a group of people. Or rather Alive is talking up a group of people while Cat pretends to be interested. Cat happens to glance in the direction of Kara who is listening to James speak and Cat sets her sights on Kara. Alice hands Cat her cup and asks her to grab her a refill while she continues to blabber on to her friends and Cat rolls her eyes and walks off but Cat pauses and looks behind a pillar back at Kara. Walking up to the hired drink mixer for the evening Cat requests a new drink. Kara follows behind her and requests a white wine.
Cat tries to keep herself turned away from Kara but it's too late, Kara's spotted her."
Kara smiles, "Well, hello there."
"Oh, oh, hi!"
"Do you remember me from the bookstore?"
Cat nods, "Of course I remember you, yes."
"How's your aunt?"
"She's doing very well thanks."
The bartender hands Cat her drink, "Well, I better go deliver this. I have a very thirsty date she's like a camel."
"Cat right? Cat isn't it?"
Before Cat walks off she turns and smiles at Kara, "And you are Kara."
And Kara looks slightly off put at her quick exit and sighs to herself, "Kara Danvers," her wine glass in hand she walks off to be met by James friend.
"I can't believe you were talking to Cat Grant."
"Cat Grant? As in…"
"As in she's going to take over everything," the man shakes his head and walks away leaving behind a stunned Kara.
Kara had no idea she was talking to the Cat Grant, the Cat Grant running Grant Books who was putting her shop through hell. Kara finds Cat putting food on a plate, "Your last name is Grant?"
"G-R-A-N-T."
"I didn't realize, I didn't know. You were spying on me weren't you?"
Cat laughs, "Why would I spy on you?"
Kara gulps, "Because, because I am your competition which you know or you wouldn't have put up that sign: 'Just around the corner.'"
"The store entrance is around the corner. There's no other way to say it. It's not the name of the store. It's where it is. And you do not own the phrase 'around the corner'. The reason I came into your store that day was because I was spending the day with Annabel and Matt. I was buying them presents. I'm the type of woman who likes to buy her way into the hearts of children who are her relatives. There was only one place to find a children's book in the neighborhood. That won't always be the case. And it was yours. And it is a charming little bookstore. You probably sell, what, $350,000 worth of books in a year?"
"How did you know that?"
"I'm in the book business."
Kara shakes her head before she walks to the other side of the table to fill up her own plate of food, "I am in the book business."
Cat smiles and walks after her, "I see. And we are the Price Club. Only instead of a 10-gallon vat of olive oil for 3.99 that won't even fit under your kitchen cabinet, we sell cheap books. Me, a spy? Absolutely. I have in my possession the secret printout of the sales figures of a bookstore so inconsequential, yet full of its own virtue that I had to rush over for fear it will put me out of business."
Kara looks at her with hurt and disgust clearly written on her face, James rushes to her side, "Oh hey, James Olsen."
"Cat Grant."
"The inventor of the superstore. Of course. The enemy of the mid-list novel. The destroyer of City Books. Tell me something, really. How do you sleep at night?"
But before Cat can answer her girlfriend shows up with a new drink in her hand and answers the question, "I use a wonderful over-the-counter drug: Ultra-dorm," Kara and James look at her in shock, "Don't take the whole thing, just half. You'll wake up without even the tiniest hangover. You're James Olsen, aren't you?"
"Yes. Leaving."
"Your last piece in the Observer about Anthony Powell was brilliant. Brilliant, yes. I'm Alice Walker," she extends her hand and shakes James' hand. Kara and Cat stand there avoiding each other as their significant others talk.
"Cat this man is the greatest living expert on Julius and Ethel Rosenberg."
"You really liked my piece? I'm really flattered."
Alice and James get lost in conversation while Cat and Kara awkwardly stand there, Kara with a sarcastic look on her face and Cat wishing the moment was over. Cat manages somehow to drag Alice away and Kara drags James out the front door. And later that night with Alice passed out in bed and Cat unable to sleep she goes to her computer and starts up another email.
Do you ever feel you've become the worst version of yourself? That a Pandora's box of all the secret, hateful parts - your arrogance, your spite, your condescension - has sprung open? Someone provokes you, and instead of smiling and moving on, you zing them? 'Hello, it's Miss. Nasty.' I'm sure you have no idea what I'm talking about. -NY152
No, I know what you mean, and I'm completely jealous. What happens to me when I'm provoked is that I get tongue-tied. My mind goes blank. Then I spend all night tossing and turning trying to figure out what I should've said. What should I have said, for example, to the bottom-dweller who recently belittled my existence? Nothing. Nothing even now. Even now, days later, I can't figure it out. -Shopgirl
Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could pass all my zingers to you? Then I'd never behave badly and you could behave badly all the time. And we'd both be happy. On the other hand, I must warn you: When you finally have the pleasure of saying the thing you mean to say at the moment you mean to say it, remorse inevitably follows. Do you think we should meet? -NY152
Kara stares at the screen, "Meet? Oh my gosh," she can't answer that right now so she closes her computer screen and pushes it to the back of her mind.
Over the next few days Cat and Kara try to avoid each other, Cat sees her at the local coffee shop where she grabs her coffee and newspaper and tries to hide her face so she can slip out the door undetected by Kara. And Kara who's buying flowers from the local florist who spots Cat walking down the sidewalk and she tries to hide her face with a bouquet of flowers. And in the supermarket Kara ducks down and tries to go in the opposite direction that Cat is in. The sooner she gets her stuff the sooner she can stop breathing the same air as one Cat Grant.
Kara somehow manages to maneuver her way around the store without having to meet face to face with Cat. It's not until she's in line at the check that she has to unfortunately put up with a smug Cat Grant. Kara was so preoccupied with not having to deal with Cat that she didn't realize she got into the cash only line, the cashier finishes ringing up her items and Kara just wants to get out of there.
"Seventy-two twenty-seven," says the eager cashier as she sees Kara trying to hand her a credit card she frowns, "This is a cash only line."
Kara panics, "What?"
"This is cash only."
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, all I have is a credit card. I'm sorry. Is that okay?"
The impatient man behind her in line pipes up, "No, that is not okay. There's a sign."
And Kara see's a line of angry people waiting behind her in line, "I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry. I never do this, but I'm asking you to make an exception."
Cat sees the commotion after paying for her own groceries and pops up behind Kara, "Hello, do you need some money?"
Kara grumbles, "No I don't need money, thank you very much."
The cashier is growing impatient and asks for Kara to get in another line. Cat takes a minute to look at the cashier's name badge, "Hi, Rose, that's a great name Rose," she puts her hand on a credit card machine at the counter in front of her, "This is a credit card machine. Happy Thanksgiving. I know you can cut us a break and do that much on the holidays," the cashier smiles and Cat smiles back as the cashier takes Kara's credit card, "Rose really is a great name."
Cat looks to Kara, "Well, it looks like you're fine now."
"Fine," Kara grumbles and snatches her credit card back as Cat walks away with a smirk on her face leaving Kara wishing the world would just swallow her up till tomorrow.
