Page 45 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

Two days after the courtyard’s opening, there was an unwelcome visitor.

Holly was taking a brief respite from her studies and was helping out in the shop while Emma was up to her ears in the kitchen, getting the truffle order of mini boxes ready for The Seaview Hotel, as well as keeping up with all the café orders.

‘I hate to break the news, but The Eel’s here!’ Holly marched in, pulling a grimace, as she handed over the next order slip. They both knew full well who she was referring to. Em then spotted her landlord snooping around the new courtyard café area, where he pulled out a camera from his pocket and began taking photos. The girls stood and watched him through the kitchen window for a few moments.

‘Don’t trust him one bit.’ Holly was shaking her head.

‘Nor me.’ Emma let out a sigh as she tried to keep her mind off what this might mean.

He was soon in with his slick-backed black hair and slimy smile, loitering at the counter where Emma had positioned herself ready to catch and politely quiz him on his way past.

‘Can I help you with anything?’ She tried to sound calm, but her heart was already pounding in her chest. This man was like the harbinger of doom as far as The Chocolate Shop was concerned, and he held her future in his grubby little hands.

He said he didn’t want to order anything, though Emma did offer him a cup of tea or coffee on the house, trying to keep him sweet. He didn’t have much time apparently.

‘No thank you, Emma. I’m just here to take a look at the new developments I’ve heard about. Interesting.’ He dragged out the word. ‘You’ve made a nice job of them. The property is looking good, I must say.’

Why did something that should be a compliment sound so ominous coming from his lips?

‘Well, thank you.’ Emma thought she’d best be polite.

A customer appeared at the counter behind Mr Neil, looking to place an order; she gave them a nod of acknowledgement, hoping The Eel would get the idea and move on. She had a shop to run after all. He appeared slow to move, saying, ‘You don’t mind if I take a few photographs, do you? Just for my portfolio, it’s looking very nice now it’s all been done up.’

‘No, of course, that’s fine.’ She could hardly argue; he owned the place after all, and she needed to get on with serving her customers.

Off he slimed. She heard a click, then saw him take a picture of the interior of the shop. Suddenly Holly appeared, popping up at the shelf area where he next had his camera angled. She began shifting with her cloth and spray around the room, photobombing him at every opportunity, intent on ‘her cleaning’ and ultimately spoiling the shots.

Emma couldn’t help but smile to herself, but equally she knew it was a risky business upsetting the man. He tutted loudly, then started to frown.

‘Holly,’ she said tersely under her breath from behind the counter. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Well, he’s obviously up to mischief. Scheming something. We can’t make it easy for him.’

‘Well, that may be. But he does also own this place. And the last thing we want to do as tenants is upset him.’

Holly stopped her cleaning with a hmph.

Mr Neil wandered past them, back outside to the courtyard for a while.

He was soon on his way, with just a nod in farewell. Emma was busy serving a customer with a fudge and truffle order, so she nodded back, forcing a smile.

There was something about him that always made her skin prickle. She didn’t trust that man one bit.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Holly caught Emma’s eye and pretended to gag. Emma pursed her lips into a tight smile, trying her best to remain professional at the counter.

The next day, Thursday, trouble seemed to come in twos.

‘Have you seen what’s going on down by the harbour?’ Bev was striding in to The Chocolate Shop for her morning shift.

Emma, who was occupied filling up the refrigerated counter with some fresh cream pralines she’d just made, raised her head. ‘No.’

‘Well, it looks like someone’s doing up that old wooden fish shack. Not sure what into, mind. I haven’t heard anything about it on the village grapevine – surprisingly.’

‘Hmm. Oh well, it’ll tidy that area up a bit,’ Emma commented. The old shack had been empty ever since Emma had moved into the village eight years ago, and probably had been for many years before that too. It looked rather ramshackle and its wooden panels were starting to rot.

‘Yes, there’s new sheets of timber and all sorts there, laid out ready to use.’

‘Well, that sounds good. It’ll give the village a facelift.’