Chapter 8
"That's it? That's everything?" Renee asked, genuinely surprised at how little the spread had cost them.
Larry Duval smiled and nodded his head. "This is a new concept; nothing like this has ever been done before. My uncle put together this spread especially for the Winter Palace."
"Yes, of course," the Queen said. "Henry Duval. Your uncle has built up a solid reputation around these parts. He's been recommended to us on a number of occasions."
Larry looked at her. "I'm just curious, Your Majesty. I was wondering why.."
Renee smiled. "Why we chose to use you for our party this year?"
Larry nodded.
"Well, it's simple." Renee stood up from the table. "As I just explained, we've been recommended to use your services for years. We have used other catering halls in the past, larger and more expensive than yours, and I wasn't impressed until the Princess saw your ad in the paper and brought it to my attention."
"You mean, Princess Danielle?"
Renee frowned. "Of course I do. Is there any other? And while we are speaking of the Princess, I wonder just what is keeping her? She is supposed to be taking care of this, not me."
"I'm coming, Stepmother," Danielle called from the other room. "I'm just finalizing some last minute plans with Jackie and I'll join you. I promise."
"Actually, Mr. Duval and I have concluded our business together and have reached a mutual agreement that will benefit us all."
"Have you now?" Danielle said, smiling as she walked into the other room and headed straight for Renee.
"Sorry to be late as usual, Larry," she said, extending her hand. "It has always been a pleasure doing business with you in the past."
Larry smiled and took her hand in his. "You are quite welcome, Your Highness. I'm just sorry my uncle couldn't be here to meet with you in person".
"I'm sorry, too," she lied, "but sometimes these things can't be helped. I can understand when someone doesn't show up for work. I think in this kind o f business, someone has to cover for them." It was then the phone rang and Renee picked it up. It was her private line anyway.
"Sorry," Renee said, "but something just came up." She held out her hand to Larry. "It was nice to meet you at last, Mr. Duval. I hope to see the full dinner here on Christmas Eve and that beautiful brunch you put together for Christmas morning."
"No problem, Your Majesty." Larry said, standing up. He kissed the back of hand, and then released it.
Renee nodded and smiled. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to."
She walked out leaving Larry and Danielle alone together. "Well, I am glad to finally meet with you, instead of hearing y our voice on the phone or seeing you from a distance."
"As I am, Larry. I'm sorry that I've been so busy lately."
"Yes, I've heard about your recent engagement. Congratulations."
"That is not final yet, Mr. Duval. There are still some things that have to be worked out."
Larry smiled. "Well, I hope that you get what you want, Your Highness." He smiled. "Now if you'll excuse me." He was about to go when he turned around again.
"Oh, I almost forgot. I have to leave a message with one Nicole Lindsay. I heard that she works here?"
Danielle smiled. "Yes, she's a new arrival. She's out on break at the moment. You can relay the message to me and I'll make sure that she gets it."
"That's it? That's everything?" Renee asked, genuinely surprised at how little the spread had cost them.
Larry Duval smiled and nodded his head. "This is a new concept; nothing like this has ever been done before. My uncle put together this spread especially for the Winter Palace."
"Yes, of course," the Queen said. "Henry Duval. Your uncle has built up a solid reputation around these parts. He's been recommended to us on a number of occasions."
Larry looked at her. "I'm just curious, Your Majesty. I was wondering why.."
Renee smiled. "Why we chose to use you for our party this year?"
Larry nodded.
"Well, it's simple." Renee stood up from the table. "As I just explained, we've been recommended to use your services for years. We have used other catering halls in the past, larger and more expensive than yours, and I wasn't impressed until the Princess saw your ad in the paper and brought it to my attention."
"You mean, Princess Danielle?"
Renee frowned. "Of course I do. Is there any other? And while we are speaking of the Princess, I wonder just what is keeping her? She is supposed to be taking care of this, not me."
"I'm coming, Stepmother," Danielle called from the other room. "I'm just finalizing some last minute plans with Jackie and I'll join you. I promise."
"Actually, Mr. Duval and I have concluded our business together and have reached a mutual agreement that will benefit us all."
"Have you now?" Danielle said, smiling as she walked into the other room and headed straight for Renee.
"Sorry to be late as usual, Larry," she said, extending her hand. "It has always been a pleasure doing business with you in the past."
Larry smiled and took her hand in his. "You are quite welcome, Your Highness. I'm just sorry my uncle couldn't be here to meet with you in person".
"I'm sorry, too," she lied, "but sometimes these things can't be helped. I can understand when someone doesn't show up for work. I think in this kind o f business, someone has to cover for them." It was then the phone rang and Renee picked it up. It was her private line anyway.
"Sorry," Renee said, "but something just came up." She held out her hand to Larry. "It was nice to meet you at last, Mr. Duval. I hope to see the full dinner here on Christmas Eve and that beautiful brunch you put together for Christmas morning."
"No problem, Your Majesty." Larry said, standing up. He kissed the back of hand, and then released it.
Renee nodded and smiled. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to."
She walked out leaving Larry and Danielle alone together. "Well, I am glad to finally meet with you, instead of hearing y our voice on the phone or seeing you from a distance."
"As I am, Larry. I'm sorry that I've been so busy lately."
"Yes, I've heard about your recent engagement. Congratulations."
"That is not final yet, Mr. Duval. There are still some things that have to be worked out."
Larry smiled. "Well, I hope that you get what you want, Your Highness." He smiled. "Now if you'll excuse me." He was about to go when he turned around again.
"Oh, I almost forgot. I have to leave a message with one Nicole Lindsay. I heard that she works here?"
Danielle smiled. "Yes, she's a new arrival. She's out on break at the moment. You can relay the message to me and I'll make sure that she gets it."