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I look over at her and smile back. I’ve never been good at playing pretend, fantasizing without any action, with no plan. I don't want to ruin things for her so I just listen. In my mind, I've estimated how much each of her dreams would cost. I've considered the risks, the liabilities and calculated the probability of success.
When Cassidy says factory, I think about marketing and sales, logistics and wonder how far a cupcake can travel in a refrigerated truck before the icing is ruined. I doubt Cassidy has considered any of these things, if this forms part of her dreams.
I guess it's what made us work so well together. Balance. She has the creativity, the passion I was missing to bring the resort together.
I had the science, but something crucial and unquantifiable was missing. Until Cassidy became a part of it. She understands things on a level I simply couldn't. It defies logic, this love. It’s a lot like Cassidy herself.
Cassidy has big dreams, she wants a bigger bakery with a balcony for her customers to have their tea and their coffee in the morning. She wants views, she wants state of the art equipment and gadgets I've never even heard of.
"I couldn't afford much in the way of help, but with 'a couple of million' I could have staff, like proper staff. I'd bake, develop recipes… I could do so much," Cassidy gushes.
I sigh and tentatively join the conversation, "Or you could start small, learn how to market your business, reach more customers and let it grow organically," I say gently. "You don’t have to wait for a couple of million, you could start small now."
Cassidy shakes her head, "Why would I start small?"
She looks at me as if I’ve sprouted another head.
"Because you don't have a couple of million?" I ask.
I immediately move to judgment, this is exactly how small businesses fail. Cassidy has not even considered the basics, but she’s already planning large scale expansion. I admit it is adorable to watch, but in practice, Cassidy’s business plan is a disaster wait to happen.
Cassidy laughs, I've missed something. "I could have it," she says. "But I'm going to need your help."
I sit up, leaning on my elbow and listen. Cassidy speaks like she has given this more thought than I imagined.
"Does your friend know that I know about the whole bet situation?" She asks.
"No, I wasn't really up to detailing everything last time we spoke. Why?"
Cassidy is giddy and excited, grinning broadly. "Because if he doesn't know then it's as simple as putting the bet back on," she cheers.
Cassidy really is full of surprises. I could’ve imagined Ed coming up with a scheme like this, but never Cassidy. Even in the short time I have known her, it’s been clear. She doesn’t have a cutthroat bone in her body.
I laugh in disbelief, she can't possibly be serious. Cassidy wants to wrangle twenty million dollars from Ed to reopen her bakery and God knows what else. It can't be real.
"Think about it, you and I are both in on it with everything to gain and nothing to lose," she says. "I could be Mrs Knight, for the right price."
A spark of excitement. I don’t know where it comes from and I don't have the time to figure it out. Cassidy has already caught me off guard once by bringing up the bet and more by wanting to become a part of it. I can't let her surprise me again.
I fall back on my pillow laughing, "Only for the right price?" I ask in a low seductive voice.
Cassidy shoots me an admonishing look,"This is purely a business proposition," she says. "I help you get your love resort going and you help me get my bakery back," she says.
I think about it for a moment. I would be helping Cassidy, spending more time with her and figuring out what this thing between us actually is.
But at the same time it would be a huge betrayal of Ed. Cassidy might not see it, but I would shatter the trust between us. A few million wouldn't dent his bank balance but the lie could destroy our friendship.
"He wouldn't know," Cassidy says as if reading my mind.
"I mean you guys had agreed on your bet, and if you hadn’t told me about it then you probably would have succeeded," she shrugs.
She’s right. I could’ve succeeded, I could’ve secured all the funding through Ed. Technically, my relationship with Cassidy was still a test. Ed would get what he wants, as would I and even Cassidy. Everyone kind of wins.
"I know I have a lot to learn and you could teach me while I teach you," Cassidy smiles. "By the time we go our separate ways, we'll both get successful businesses out of this," she squeals.
19
Cassidy
