Business, Brunch, and Bevies!

"A list of contacts can be arranged, though some of them may be reluctant to talk to anyone outside the Del Bosque family," she told Asteria very truthfully, "But we will cross that bridge, when and if, we need to. No use in borrowing trouble, if there is none..." Zora said.

"And discretion is a big thing on my part," Zoraida said her tone now very serious. "Dealings like yours and what you are looking for are not run of the mill acquisitions where a few phone calls are made, a meeting is arranged and it's done," she said. "I think a few favours will need to be called in as well as some magical contracts made," she mused.

"Yes, I agree," Zora said as she poured them both some more champagne emptying the bottle just as the dessert tasting menu came out with all the desserts cut up in pretty little bite-sized pieces in foil cups so the women didn't have to worry about getting dirty or getting their hands excessively messy.

"It seriously has been a good while since I've been able to relax and just enjoy a moment." she told Asteria as she eyed a dessert that had a candied walnut piece on top.

"Don't worry, we can worry about that, if and when it happens," Zora said. "You never know with contacts. They may just require a favour in return, or a monetary recompensation. Who knows?" she remarked with the air of one that was not too worried about that for the moment. It was a "cross that bridge when we get there" situation and Zora knew that it was better to wait and see.

"Tiramisu, a very good choice indeed," she grinned, "I think I am going to try this one... it looks like it might be a French meringue cookie," Zora said as she chose a light pink scalloped tidbit. "Light, fluffy and sweet," she said as she bit into it and savored the delicate meringue.

"God, I love meringue," she confessed, "Meringues, like mint ones, covered in dark chocolate, just so heavenly..." she stated as she took a sip of her champagne, wondering about Asteria as she looked at her curiously.

"You've moved back to the island recently? How has that been?" Zora asked as she licked the stickiness off a finger.

"I know what you mean about things losing their charm after a while... sometimes progress or just expansion makes a place lose what once made it charming or homey." she agreed as she took a sip of her champagne.

"My aunt is a firm believer in adoption. She adopted three children this year, all from different backgrounds and with very different needs," Zora explained as she pondered which dessert to try next. "I admire her for it too. I am not sure I could do that, adopt three at a time..." she said thinking Celeste was an amazing person.

"How did you come across Exra if you don't mind me asking?" Zora enquired as she finally decided on something with whipped cream or icing on it.

"I do understand that and wholeheartedly agree." Zoraida murmured as she listened to Asteria talk about children being raised by others and immediately began thinking about her own son and how he had been raised by others too.

"That is very commendable," Zora said truthfully when she heard the story behind how Asteria had come across Ezra took care of him and finally convinced him to come and live with her here on Manta Carlos.

"He's lucky to have you, and I'm going to guess that he has made your life better too," she observed, remembering how happy the children had made Celeste and how she still seemed today.

Zora just grinned when Asteria mentioned Ezra's very inquisitive mind, having been on the receiving end of his questioning more than a few times, she completely understood where she was coming from.

"I wasn't born on the island, on," Zora said shaking her head, "I am a transplant of sorts. My company needed new headquarters, a place where we could consolidate everything between the Narrow Reality and places like Manta Carlos..." she explained to Asteria as she fiddled with the champagne glass stem.

"I was actually born in Spain, spent my school years abroad and since then, I've lived in quite a few places," she said with a smile. "So, yes, I guess I have been finding my way." she surmised having never really considered this before now.