Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 77663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I hung around for another half an hour, then made my excuses and left, but not before Millie introduced me to a few more women who were interested in my desserts. I didn’t have a card, which made me feel inept for some reason, but I made excuses while reminding myself to look into it as soon as possible.
I spent the rest of the weekend on pins and needles because I’d looked up Evelyn and her husband, and Millie had not exaggerated; the woman seems to throw parties at least twice a week and more during the winter season.
I’m pretty sure she works with professional caterers with a more sophisticated setup than my kitchen. What the hell did I get myself into?
Monday morning, I woke up an hour early and got to work right away so that I could spare the time for the phone call since I didn’t know how long it was going to last. By the time I called her, I had flop sweat beneath my arms and was more nervous than when I went for my job interview.
“Millie tells me you work out of your home. That won’t do. Meet me at this place at noon; I’ll forward you the address.”
“What place?” She’d jumped right in after exchanging pleasantries, and I was beginning to think I was in way over my head.
“Did Millie tell you anything about me?”
“Not really, no, just that you’re a wonderful person.”
“That’s right, but one of the things about this wonderful person is she does not like to be questioned. See you at noon.” She hung up the phone.
Now I was even more nervous but there was nothing for it unless I planned on not going, which I got the feeling would be the biggest mistake after my wedding day. And I was right.
The place turned out to be an old storefront. I say old because the building had been in existence since before I was born, but it was a beauty. “Come on in.” Inside was wide and spacious, with an even more spacious back room.
“I could’ve found a bakery that was going under or something, but this location is perfect. If you agree, we can have the kitchen outfitted in two weeks.”
“Agree to what exactly?”
“My business proposition. I’m bored, Amanda. All I do all day is shop, and it’s getting on my nerves.”
“Every year, my husband and I take on a large project where we find a deserving cause and sink a boatload of money into it. Consider it our good deed for the year. I did some research on you. I know you have a passion for baking but went the financial route because, well, people need to eat and put a roof over their heads. I also know about your messy divorce; sorry, when I make up my mind to work with someone, I have to go to these lengths.”
“I understand if you’re not interested, there’s no pressure, but I like you. I watched you at the party and well, you remind me of someone that I could be friends with. But more importantly, these baked goods of yours are going to make you a very rich woman. Here’s what I propose.”
“Victor and I will foot the bill to get this place up to code as well as buy all the products you need to get started. We’ll take care of the business end of things. Do you have a lawyer?”
“Uh, no, just the one I used in my divorce.”
“Get one. I’ll have the papers drawn up sometime tomorrow. I’ll give you a week to decide; if you need more time, just let me know.”
“I… I’m sorry; what are we talking about here?”
“We’re talking about opening a bakery slash catering or whatever you choose to do. I imagine you’d want to do online business as well. Like I said, I’ll take care of the business side of things; you just take care of your baking. That’s why you need the lawyer to look over the contracts.”
“What contracts?”
“Like I said, I had you investigated, so I know that if I handed this place over to you free of charge, you wouldn’t accept it. You’re not a charity case, and this is a little different from the norm, but I feel it in my gut. There’s something about you.”
“Now, what I propose is you’ll pay me five hundred per month for the space.”
“Five…. But you can probably get ten times that much for this place.”
“I know, and to think, I would’ve given it to you for free.”
“But why? You don’t know me.”
“Sweetheart, any woman who was willing to stay with her cheating ex after what he did for the sake of a child is someone worth saving.” Well damn, I guess she really had me investigated. No one here knew about my past.