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‘It’s a hobby ofwith pleasure at his praise ‘Bell Farets a lot of online orders now, especially for our Christave me the idea for my new business Now that er and my brother has left school to work full-ti up to Auckland to concentrate on aup online over the past couple of years’ Her enthusiaset her self-consciousness, her freckled face losing its preoccupied reserve and coed her on with an interested question while Ashley giggled so in Ross’s ear
‘It’s for corporate and PR purposes as well as people looking for the individual touch, so small but exclusive, handcrafted and distinctive—the kind of curio you don’t usually find in shops outside the local area of production It started off New Zealand-the iteh overseas orders to enablean international online service’
‘Well, you’ve certainly done the right thing co here You’ll find plenty of ideas at the locala plu to pop in her reat deal of what’s on offer is far too touristy for your purposes, but there’s soenuine craftwork to be had if you strike the right tio off the beaten track a b
it I’m sure Mum can help you there and, actually, it’ll really fit in withto ask you to do, becauseto be a tour of some of the food markets of France and I had planned to dash thither and yon in the car to pick up information and samples from markets and specialty food producers so that I can decide where I want to focus my research’
It didn’t sound too onerous, and Veronica’s fears of spending the greater part of the beginning of her holiday in Provence cooped up inside were gratefully dispelled And besides, Karen would soon be arriving to take back her rightful duties
‘So you’re going global,’ teased Miles ‘Are you ai to be New Zealand’s next dotcom millionaire?’
‘I don’t think that’s really likely,’ smiled Veronica ‘But I’ve already had some important orders from Kiwi multinational companies’
‘Guts and money, I suppose you ,’ Zoe guessed shrewdly
‘Well, it is a bit scary, but in a good way,’ Veronica ad it for years so I’s work out I’ll probably take on a partner at so trips’
‘If you want expert advice you should talk to Luc,’ said Melanie ‘He’s in a perfect position to know He made his first fortune in currency speculation and doubled it backing Internet start-ups’
Veronica immediately felt her skin prickle with renewed tension For a few otten theto Sophie, but his swift answer showed that he was perfectly able to multitask
‘You forget that I also lost it all the same way,’ said Luc drily
‘Yes, but you were only twenty You soon ain, and more,’ said Melanie proudly ‘Honestly, Veronica, he’s invested in new Internet co about And he’s right here, so why not take shae of his prime area of expertise?’
Veronica thought she already had! Half turned away froh that feathered hot breath over her bare shoulder, and was
‘No, really,’ she choked ‘Enough people have had their holidays disrupted I don’t want to disturb him on his break—’