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Liam’s business was still wildly successful, of course. His trendy cookies were exactly what the island wanted, and they showed up for him day in and day out. And I just sat and watched them walk down the street with theirMidnightboxes and cookies.
I held onto the tiniest sliver of hope that one day, things would change, and I wouldn’t have to worry about competing with Liam, and instead, I could just be successful regardless of his business.
But I couldn’t think about him. The more I did, the more I allowed past hurts to well up inside of me and remind me of the love I’d lost. And the betrayal I’d felt from not only him, but from our families.
It was two in the afternoon and I’d pretty much given up today. Anne was in the back decorating the only custom cake order we’d had in three weeks, and I didn’t want to stop her from finishing it, so I decided I would leave and have her finish the day.
I picked up my purse from the cubby behind the register, and as I turned to walk out through the back, the doorbell rang.
A tall man carrying a large black bag and wearing a backpack strode in with a huge grin on his face. He was holding a camera in some kind of fancy rig that I couldn’t even begin to describe and he approached me as if we knew each other.
“Emma?” He asked, holding out his free hand for me to shake. Apparently, he did know me.
“Yes?” I answered, shaking his hand.
“Name’s Grady. My boss sent me down here to work on your social media!” He told me, looking around the bakery and taking photos already with his very expensive-looking camera.
“Oh, my ganache! I can’t believe you’re here! Thank you so much for coming!” My heart literally felt like it was trying to leap out of my chest at the excitement and relief I was feeling. He looked like he knew what he was doing as he zipped around the lobby of the bakery taking videos and photos.
“I’m excited to get to work,” He said as he straightened and finished up a shot. He walked over to me and looked into the case at the desserts and breads perfectly arranged. It was sad that only a few had sold, but it was good for his footage.
“What do you need me to do?” I asked, barely able to contain my excitement.
“Today, I don’t think I need anything from you. When do you start baking in the mornings?” He continued getting footage and photos of literally every corner of the bakery.
“We usually get started at five.” I couldn’t stop the grin on my face and was convinced that it would stay there for the foreseeable future. This was so exciting and I could only hope that it would help my business. Perhaps I could have consistent sales every week and not have to send Anne home early or tell her not to come in the next day.
Grady pushed through the swinging doors, saw Anne decorating, and quickly started getting different angles, and her face lit up with as much joy as mine probably had. This was going to be amazing.
#
Over the next few days, Grady and I worked together to give him enough video and photo content. I didn’t ask many questions, just did everything that he told me so that he could do his job. I gave him the social media passwords that he needed, and he created more social media for me because, apparently, I’d missed some vital ones.
He brought different equipment for lighting and backgrounds so that he could make “clean” content that looked cohesive—whatever that meant. I could barely contain my excitement each day when we finished. It probably annoyed him that I thanked him over and over throughout the day, but I just knew that still wasn’t enough thanks. I also gave him so many pastries, cookies, and breads that he said he’d have to go to the gym extra. I told him that the calories didn’t count.
He also had me dress up for some of the content, and of course, I wore pink dresses and had my hair styled in more than the usual ponytail I wore to the bakery. Grady said that I needed to let viewers get to know me as the owner, and I loved it. And also insisted that Anne be a part of that too, which she happily did.
After about a week, Grady left and flew back to New York, promising to have content edited and scheduled. Apparently, he could schedule all of the content on each of my pages all at once. Then the pieces would automatically upload with cute captions, and I wouldn’t even have to do anything. Meaning that I couldn’t mess it up. Or forget.
It was the perfect solution to my problems, and I was so thankful that Landon was owed a favor by his friend, whoever it was. Because that friend sent me an angel by the name of Grady. And hopefully, it could turn my business around.
And maybe—just maybe, because I didn’t want to jinx myself by wishing harm upon my enemy—it would make my business more successful than Liam’s.
14
Liam
Ever since I walked into Emma’s store, saw her tear-filled eyes, and heard the hurt in her tone as she yelled at me, I have felt an immense amount of guilt. And I couldn’t stop myself from thinking that I was a terrible person.
Though unknowingly, I’d opened a rival business of one owned by the only girl I’d ever loved. And instead of letting that be the worst of my crimes, I did everything in my power to make mine more successful than hers. Which was what happened in any business, but it was justwrongbecause of my particular circumstance.
I spent a few days reviewing my business and looking into others. What could I change my business into so that it wasn’t in competition with hers? Was there a business that I could turnMidnightinto that helped hers?
Maybe a coffee shop? There were a few on the island, but none on this particular street, and everyone loved coffee. My store was already set up for food service, so it wouldn’t be too hard to convert it. Then, I could perhaps set up an arrangement between Emma and me and her baked goods could be sold in my coffee shop, which could drive more business to her store. Or better yet, we could knock down the wall between our stores and patrons could pass between them easily, getting their coffee at my store and their food at hers.
I spent hours in front of my computer at home trying to learn the efficiency of coffee shops. It was still a business and I wasn’t trying to throw my money down the drain. So I needed to know that it would be fruitful for me.
But who was I kidding. At this point, I think I would do anything if it wiped Emma’s tears away and got her to look at me with something other than hatred in her eyes. I yearned for that more than my next breath.
