Page 12 of Cloud Storm

Despite everything, I was going to have my dream.

Take that one, Suit.

From: Arthur

To: California Girl

Date: September 18, 2019 3:45

Subject: Your evil plans

I must admit that I was surprised by the tone of your email.

If you want to kill that poor bastard, tell me when and where, I will learn some corpse disposal techniques.

I wouldn’t mind going to jail for you, but I want to be with you more than that, so I better do a good job with the body.

If we’re going to be accomplices, does that mean we’ll see each other soon?

That’s one reason why it’s worth removing anyone from the middle.

Tell me the day and time, I’ll be there.

Your partner in crime,

A x

P.S. What other incentive will you offer me as a reward for my hard work?

Chapter 4

From where I’m standing I can see His-Smug-Highness’ house as I think back to a few months ago, how he judged me, treated me with such disdain and lack of professionalism. Maybe it’s time I listened to Roselynn and shut that idiot up, although I’d rather a shoe did the dirty work.

No, sir, I am not going to move house, I’m going to stay here, and I’m going to prove to him with facts rather than words, that everything I put in my credit application was true. Even better, my bakery has become very successful, quite an achievement considering we had to start from scratch, completely unknown and new to the market.

Roselynn’s idea resounds more and more in my mind as I make my way to the bakery, and by the time I get there, I’m so excited I have a goofy smile on my face and a plan in mind.

They say revenge is a dish best served cold and that is precisely what I’m going to give to His Highness.

I love my little shop, the welcoming smell of the little slices of heaven fresh from the oven. The hum of people chatting, the sound of laughter and the ping of the bell over the door announcing a new customer has arrived. The mismatched chairs Roselynn and I found at a flea market and restored ourselves. Everything here speaks volumes about our personalities. But mostly this place tells a story about my dreams becoming a reality.

I really love The Sweet Tooth.

I find Katie, my assistant baker, behind the counter and after checking we have all the necessary ingredients, we put ourselves to work.

We have two weddings over the weekend and that means cakes to bake and decorate.

“Ready to work, boss?” Katie asks as a greeting.

“I was born ready.” She hands me my favorite apron—made in a purple fabric with little cupcakes and rainbows printed all over—and without wasting time we wash our hands and start with the preparations.

We aren’t baking today, but we need to make the apricot jam for the filling in one of the cakes the bride requested. After the filling is prepped, I have to mold the gum paste flowers, pink and burgundy dahlias, a technique I’m so familiar with, I can do it in my sleep.

The second bride asked for something elaborate and fancy. I’m pretty sure I’ll be here working long hours this week, but what the heck, this is what I dreamed about for so long, I’m not going to complain now.

Be careful what you ask for… they said, right?

We get busy preparing the apricots, first putting them in hot water and then in an icy bath, removing the skins carefully but fast. Then into the pot, with a squirt of lemon juice and a splash of sugar.

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