A Rocky Start

'Everybody has to start somewhere,' Maeve reminded herself when she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirrored wall behind the barista station at Café Beau Faire.

"One double shot espresso... please," she requested, "And a latte- almond milk, no sugar," she added.

"Sure," the male barista replied, he always had a cheerful smile, even when it was 6:30 am on a Wednesday and the fumes from the coffee machine were clouding up the place. Maeve attempted to take the drinks from his hands, but as always, he had to stall and make some small-talk.

"You've cut your hair..." he said raising his dark eyebrows and staring perhaps a little longer than necessary.

Maeve gave him a half-smile and touched her silky chestnut brown hair that barely reached her shoulders- it was a spur of the moment decision- too much gin and tonic and binge-watching old French movies had made her feel like she wanted to emulate the chic Parisian girls on the black and white screen. She hoped her pearl drop earrings completed the look and she could pull it off, years of hip-length, long locks gone.

Father will have an episode when he sees it.

Maeve nodded silently. His comment had made her insecure, but she hid it well.

"Suits you," he added, "Really makes you look like a model or-"

"I'm late," she said cutting him off, and grabbed the coffees.

---

It was true, she wasn't being rude, she actually was late.

Maeve assured herself as she sipped the almond milk latte and walked at a fast pace.

Too sweet, didn't I say no sugar?

She passed multiple luxury stores, an array of handbags were being set out in the window displays. Mannequins being dressed in the latest styles. Maeve smirked when she saw a pair of last season's knee-high lace up suede boots being slipped on a pair of plastic legs. 'Honestly, people just see anything and buy it these days,' she thought.

It was a long walk to Gallery 40, but Maeve liked the exercise and the fresh air.

At this time, the stores were just opening. The nightclubs and high-end restaurants were still closed. This district was the playground of the elites in Shanghai, and Gallery 40 represented a slice of Paris in the east.

Maeve adored this city. The fashionable people, the beautiful gardens, the non-stop traffic, the neon pink skyline.

Gallery 40 was one of the top art galleries in Shanghai. Run by Madame Qui. She had lived another life back in France and now the seasoned woman had retired her dreams to this small but elegant home. Maeve smiled when she saw the quaint little building, sandwiched between a women's bridal store and an office building. It was a different atmosphere in the gallery. One could almost forget the exact location if it wasn't for the ominous shadow being cast on the whole building by the huge Zen Tower directly opposite.

Before unlocking the doors of the gallery, Maeve twisted her body around to take a look at that unsightly building. Over thirty stories high, Zen tower dominated the whole district. It's mirrored windows, magnified the rising sun and shone like a beacon of greed and money.

Maeve's black heels clicked on the black polished floors of the gallery, and she made sure to close the doors behind her.

She turned on the air-conditioning and made the way past the walls of canvases upstairs towards Madame Qui's private office.

Maeve carefully poured the espresso into a porcelain coffee cup and placed it on the antique desk. As she was opening the drapes and letting the sun in, she heard some footsteps climbing the stairs.

"Gosh!" said Madame Qui as she entered wearing a black and white hound's tooth skirt suit, red heels and a faux fur stole draped over one shoulder. "Honestly, this heat!" she complained as she picked up a magazine from the desk and aggressively fanned herself. "You really should do something about that Maeve!"

Maeve glanced at the time, it wasn't even seven yet. The air-conditioning hadn't had a chance to cool the place.

"Your coffee," Maeve smiled and handed it to the older woman who had now crashed into her tall leather chair. Madame Qui's well make-upped face was shiny.

The older woman peered into the cup and took a sip, whilst simultaneously inspecting Maeve's appearance.

Maeve fidgeted with her short black skirt which barely reached mid-thigh. It was paired with a tight white blouse, pristine clean, and so fitted that it showed every curve of her slim but womanly figure. Her tights were sheer and skin colored on her long legs and her black heels were only a little worn from the morning walks here.

"Good..." Madame Qui commented.

Maeve sighed in relief, nervously touching one of her earrings.

"Is my hair all right?" Maeve asked and then instantly regretted it.

"Hmm?" Madame Qui looked up and studied the young woman for another brief second. "It's fine," she said decidedly. "Don't you have work to do?"

"Right! Yes... I'll just get to that now..." Maeve nodded and made her way out.

She rushed slightly down the stairs to the main gallery floor, still holding her breath and she only exhaled when she got to a large modern canvas of a poppy field painted in varying shades of red and orange.

'Phew...' she thought, 'fine' meant good. Madame Qui would only describe a person's appearance as fine if she was actually pleased.

Maeve bounced her way through the back towards the kitchen were she finished her own coffee.

"Well, well! A smile from the ever-gloomy Maeve!" Cuifen sang as she swung in the door, her long black hair tied up into a sleek pony-tail. Zhi Cuifen was a seductive beauty, curvier than Maeve but shorter and her face was a little plain but she made up for it with well-skilled cosmetic application. Ruby red lips and dramatic eyes finished her look. Cuifen wore the same uniform as Maeve except her blouse was a little unbuttoned at the collar bone and the slight outline of a pale pink bra showed through the white shirt.

Maeve immediately extinguished her smile. "Morning, Zhi Cuifen..." she nodded.

"Ugh!" Cuifen groaned and rubbed her forehead, "Too early for honorifics..." she cackled, "I had the wildest time last night," she laughed, "Have you ever woken up on a guy's couch, taken a look at his face and realized that he's the creepy loser you always rejected?"

"Huh?" Maeve almost spat out her coffee, "The print guy?"

Cuifen looked embarrassed, "That's the one. I think he thought that by giving us that deal on last month's prints that he had somehow romanced me and I would fall for his scrawny ass-"

Maeve shrugged, "Well... you did end up on his couch..."

"Nothing happened!" Cuifen snickered, "On my honor!" she raised a hand to her chest patriotically with a stupid smile. "Anyway," she continued grabbing Maeve's coffee and finishing the last of it, "Why are YOU in such a good mood. Is it a guy?"

"Huh? No, no... no!" Maeve repeated, "I just- it's a good day."

Cuifen didn't look impressed, "Oh, what a shame. I thought that maybe you'd finally met someone."

"No way," Maeve insisted, as she checked the time on her phone, "I'm definitely not interested in meeting anyone... ever."

"Have you given up on men?" Cuifen spoke with a sarcastic tone, "Is that why you've cut off your pretty hair? I always thought you and that silly roommate of yours were strange-"

"ENOUGH CHIT-CHATTING!" Madame Qui squawked like a bird of prey suddenly appearing in the doorway. "Clients will be arriving soon, the director of Sun House is coming at nine and Zen Tower will be picking up their commissions for their new offices!"

"Oh!" Cuifen perked up, "I'll take the Zen Tower Commission, I heard their president is ruthless and handsome," she grinned mischievously.

"No, I need you to schmooze the Sun House director," Madame Qui pointed at Cuifen, "He's an older man with tacky taste and a big ego. He'll buy anything if influenced by a young girl. Maeve can handle the Zen commission. It'll be straight-forward. They will send the assistant to pick up the paintings sometime this morning. Just remember to get them to sign the no-return policy."

"Yes Madame," Maeve nodded.

---

Meanwhile at Zen Tower, computers were booting up and office workers were filing in to their positions.

The president arrived shortly after. He was a man in his mid-thirties named Lui Ming; sharply dressed, in a navy pin-striped suit. A streak of silver hair interrupted his slicked back dark hairstyle. He was clean shaven and wreaked of cologne. His face was angular and cold.

Lui Ming was a close relative of the late Mr. Xin, owner of Zen Investments. Lui Ming currently held the position of president at Zen Investments.

The company had money in every pocket of every branch of the industry. Their job was to spot an up-and-coming company and take it under their wing until they had more than tripled their investment. From fashion, to restaurants, to hotels and smaller companies, no business was exempt from the ever-watching eyes of the Zen tower.

Lui Ming was greeted by a harem of secretaries wearing short skirts and nervous smiles.

"Get Pan Yingjie in here," the president ordered.

Secretary Pan entered the dark modern office and stood opposite the president's desk. On the wall, was a large Zen logo in neon flickering behind the president, casting a luminous glow.

Secretary Pan was a man in his late twenties and he had been working for Zen Investments since he graduated business school. The head of finance, Mr. Kang, entered the office immediately after him and closed the wooden door with a 'click'.

"Good," President Lui commented. "What's the update on my cousin's itinerary?"

"He should be arriving later today," Kang, head of finance, replied. "Your grandfather recommended that we give him the Schiffer account, doesn't he speak fluent English?"

The president laughed hearing this, "Already? How ambitious! Ha! My little cousin has just arrived after living in his bubble overseas for five years, shouldn't we be hospitable and invite him to a good meal? Work can come later..."

Kang glanced at Secretary Pan and back to the president, "Yes, you're right," he smiled.

"Pan Yingjie," the president spoke, "Pick up my dear cousin from the airport and bring him to the hotel we agreed upon. Treat him to a traditional meal and have a masseuse visit his room."

Secretary Pan nodded in agreement.

---