<div style="text-align: center"><i><span style="font-family: 'Bad Script', 'cursive'"><span style="font-size: 26px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(226, 80, 65)"><b>Jacob Tanner</b></span></span></span></i>​</div><div class="bbImageWrapper bbImageAligned--left js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/attachments/300full-jpg.89551/" title="300full.jpg">
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</div><br/><br/>"Jacob, you're going to be late to that party if you don't get a move on,"<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.shopify.com%2Fs%2Ffiles%2F1%2F0515%2F0988%2F7129%2Farticles%2Fgirls-with-tattoo-sleeves.jpg%3Fv%3D1611312958&amp;hash=f64a19d8291cb5b29d86938931f3bc25" href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0515/0988/7129/articles/girls-with-tattoo-sleeves.jpg?v=1611312958" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Valerie</a>chirped.  Maybe it was a genetic trait that baristas were always so chipper, even when scolding.  Something in the coffee.<br/><div style="text-align: justify"><br/>
"I know, I know," he groaned.  He really wasn't much for parties.  Especially the high society kind.  Thanks to his parents and his grandmother, he had the money to fit in.  He just didn't feel like he belonged among the hoity toity of Yonders.<br/>
<br/>
Jacob could afford a mansion in the rich part of town, but chose to live in an apartment above "Books and Brew", his bookstore coffeeshop.  He liked being in the center of town, not on the fringes. Running upstairs, he showered and shaved and dressed and was down quickly.<br/>
<br/>
"How do I look?" he asked, striking a pose.<br/>
<br/>
Valerie gave him a long and critical look before finally stating "You'll do" as she stepped forward to straighten his tie.  "Not that I know what is appropriate to to wear to a fancy party among the rich, never having been to one."<br/>
<br/>
"You could be my plus one," he replied with a grin.<br/>
<br/>
"Nope," she stated with an emphatic shake of her head.  "Where you're going is rarified air.  I'm frankly allergic to wealth and only tolerate you because you write my checks.  Besides, who's going to man the coffee bar?  <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fthebowdoinharpoondotcom.files.wordpress.com%2F2020%2F01%2F87741218_318x280p.png&amp;hash=1e4be821065795775bfe67ec5cb6ae90" href="https://thebowdoinharpoondotcom.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/87741218_318x280p.png" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Nathan</a>?  He would freak out if he had to operate the cappuccino machine."<br/>
<br/>
Valerie and Nathan were the only staff Jacob had at the moment.  <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lookfabulousforever.com%2Fmedia%2FMy_Eyelids_are_Crepey.jpg&amp;hash=a852a37f18304dad32ac95e3c6d22a26" href="https://www.lookfabulousforever.com/media/My_Eyelids_are_Crepey.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Ms McCarthy</a> had passed away a month ago and he hadn't found anyone to replace her.<br/>
<br/>
The Books and Brew was becoming a popular hang-out with the book crowd, coffee crowd and Internet crowd.  And the new pastry shop next door were adding their wares to Jacob's coffee bar, for those with a sweet tooth.  So he desperately needed at least two more staff.<br/>
<br/>
"Maybe you can find some summer hires at that party," Valerie suggested with a smirk.  "Maybe among the catering staff," she added, amending her response.<br/>
<br/>
"Not likely.  Well, I'm off.  Tell Nathan a box of the new Ann Rice novel is on my desk in back and needs to be displayed on the center table."<br/>
<br/>
"Will do, boss.  Now go," she replied with a shooing motion.<br/>
<br/>
He was almost to the door when he turned and added, "Could you feed <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fvetstreet-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7b%2F0526609e8c11e0a2380050568d634f%2Ffile%2FBeagle-3-645mk062311.jpg&amp;hash=742187776925f7ffe3c7d950eedacd10" href="https://vetstreet-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com/7b/0526609e8c11e0a2380050568d634f/file/Beagle-3-645mk062311.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Charlie</a> for me?"  Charlie was his beagle.<br/>
<br/>
"I'll take care of him.  Now GO!"<br/>
<br/>
Jacob wasn't exactly sure why he'd been invited to Nick and Kim's engagement party.  Sure, he had known them in high school, but not that well.  He was the nerdy oddball that they all tolerated.  Especially if they needed help with their classes. The only thing he could figure was that his parents legal work for the rich and famous of Yonders had paved a path for him to receive an invitation.  And his mother had insisted that he attend.<br/>
<br/>
The house was huge.  And a bit over the top for Jacob's tastes.  But it would need to be huge to accommodate all the people who were filing in the front door.  He felt a little under-dressed compared to the people around him, but he wasn't trying to impress anyone.<br/>
<br/>
"Let's get this over with as quickly as possible," Jacob muttered, as he heard a woman call his name.  He scanned the crowd, but couldn't tell where the voice had come from.  In the process of turning to look around, he accidentally bumped into the woman next to him.<br/>
<br/>
"My apologies," he muttered.​</div>