Home Matters (A Ripple Effect Romance Novella, Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

that she was standing in a half-demoed kitchen—Pete’s handiwork, she assumed, even though she hadn’t seen him since they’d left LA—she was having trouble shaking the feeling that this design was an epic mistake. One that all of America would assume had been hers.
    Pressing the tablet to her chest, Olivia tore off after Eleanor. “Right, but you’re taking down every single wall on this main floor,” she said, not ready to let her objections go just yet. “As a born and bred Southerner, I can assure you that folks down here prefer a certain amount of coziness. This design feels more like a loft than a warm, inviting family home.”
    Eleanor stopped on the front stoop and bent her arm over her mouth. “The homeowners said they wanted an open plan,” she said on the trail of a nasty barking cough.
    Not wanting to chance catching whatever virus had laid siege to Eleanor’s immune system, Olivia took a step back. “No,” she disagreed. “If memory serves, they said ‘a more open’ plan. That implies fewer walls, not no discernible division whatsoever.”
    Palming her throat, Eleanor continued, “Olivia, were you or were you not the one who told me how William let it slip—just yesterday—that the Calhouns’ had expressed a change of heart and requested he show them loft-style condos instead of single family homes?” she asked. “I have it on good authority his people have been down by the river scoping out townhomes for two days now. Besides, completely open plans are best for entertaining.”
    The competition on this show was much more intense than Olivia had ever imagined. Winning the homeowners to one side or the other meant a hefty bonus for the winning side, and, more important, job security. She needed this win as much as Eleanor, which had her giving another thought to whether or not she wanted to push. As usual, she couldn’t help herself.
    “But this couple didn’t say they liked to entertain,” Olivia asserted, then quickly corrected herself. “Well, except when they were reading from the prompter. Why these shows think everyone is obsessed with ‘entertaining’ is beyond me.”
    Eleanor spun her eyes skyward. “Your enthusiasm is admirable, really, but need I remind you—again—your job here is not to question mine. All you need concern your pretty little head with is convincing the family they love our renovation and thus choose to stay in this home. I’ve lost too many homeowners to William’s sweet-talking ways, and I’m not losing the first challenge of this season,” she said as she skipped down the front steps, her bony fingers gliding along the wrought iron banister. “So I suggest you get on board with this design if you’re going to have any chance of swaying the family to stay.”
    Olivia huffed out a breath and chased Eleanor down to the front sidewalk. “I wouldn’t have to ‘sway the family to stay’ if we would just listen to them, give them what they want.”
    Eleanor’s quick pace hit a sudden stop. She shot Olivia a perturbed look. “They don’t know what they want. That’s why they hired us.” She scanned the faces of crewmembers milling about the thin sidewalk and street. “Marty,” she called over to the show’s producer.
    Thumbs dancing across the screen of his phone, he typed a few last steps before looking up. “Yes, love?”
    Eleanor hooked a thumb in Olivia’s direction. “Do something…”
    Uh-oh . Olivia’s heart sprinted a lap around her chest. She’d pushed too far.
    Marty slipped the phone into his pocket, his willowy stride bringing him to Olivia’s side in three sweeping steps. “Olivia, dear.” He lowered his pointy chin and rounded his grey eyes. “Let’s go over this again. While it’s Eleanor’s responsibility to conjure up award-winning designs, it’s yours to be the beautiful, unwittingly charming new face of Home Matters .” He dragged a fingertip along the blunt edge of Olivia’s bob cut. “With which, I have