"Prejudice"
Chapter 2
The next week moved swiftly for Vianne and her family. Though no one would kindly rent them a place, they did find one man who begrudgingly opened the doors of his run-down shop next door for them. Vianne began to work, doing what she had done in Lansquenet.
By the end of the month, the new Chocolaterie was open, though no one would stop by and buy any chocolates.
One morning around eight o'clock, someone stood by the display window, staring in fearfully as if the devil himself were inside.
"Care to try any samples?" Vianne said from the doorway, making the onlooker jump. She peered both ways before stepping closer to Vianne.
"I'm not supposed to be here you know." She said. "I was sent to see if you were perhaps a spy from an enemy country? But I can see you're not. So I'll go."
"No please, come inside." Vianne said, smiling. She looked the woman over, taking in all the details.
This woman was tall and slim, and she had a beautiful figure. Her eyes were a strange mixture of brown and what seemed like almost a red color. Her hair was brown with reddish highlights and her skin was an olive color.
"Please, just one taste of my chocolates. I already know what you're favorite is." The woman looked skeptical, but followed Vianne inside anyway. She sat down at the counter and Vianne handed her a tiny gold box.
"Open it, it's your favorite."
"How do you know?" The woman asked her.
"Just trust me...I have a knack for guessing peoples favorites."
"Except mine." Came Roux's voice from behind her, making her jump. "She couldn't guess mine for her life." The woman smiled with uncertainty and put the chocolate in her mouth.
"It's excellent." She said when she finished it. "What was that one?"
"It's an ancient Mayan chocolate, although I'm not sure of the name. It's a hollow milk chocolate ball with a dark chocolate and raspberry drizzle on top. I knew it was your favorite."
"How?" The woman asked.
"That's my secret." Vianne said, grinning widely. "What did you say your name was?"
"I didn't, but it's Veronique."
"That's a lovely name, Veronique."
"Thank you. But I must be going. I'm not supposed to be here. Your shop is lovely. Thank you for the chocolate. I'll pay you some other time." Veronique rose, but before she could leave Vianne stopped her.
"Please, don't bother with the money. But tell whoever sent you that I'm not an enemy. I'm just the seller of chocolates, the seller of small dreams. I'm here to help you, all of you." Vianne finished, and let Veronique leave, closing the door behind her.
"They're going to need a lot of convincing, I can see." Roux said, coming up behind her.
"More than the ones in Lansquenet, at any rate." Vianne replied.
"We'll manage." Roux said, sitting on a stool at the counter. Vianne only nodded.
Veronique ran down the street to the council meeting that was in order.
"Monsieur!" She said to the man who was leading it that night. "I've been to the Chocolaterie. She's not a spy."
He eyes her suspiciously. "Well what is she then?" He asked.
Veronique paused for a moment, and then answered, "She is the seller of small dreams."
A/n: Ah yes, the long awaited second chapter of Prejudice. I have no idea where this story is going, but don't expect anything soon, because I'm going away for a month starting tomorrow. But I will write, mark my words. Thankie to all my reviewers.