Chapter 66

*Jayden*

I almost ran out of the door leaving a flummoxed Frankie at the table. I wanted to call out her name but by the time I got to the entrance of the door she was no longer in sight. However just to be sure I walked first up the street and down the street but sure enough she had disappeared.

I went back to the café lost in thought and questioning whether I really saw her.

"I thought I saw Sierra," I told her after a minute of silence."Before you say it, maybe I didn't."

Frankie looked at me with a strange look plastered on her face but she kept quiet. Did I really want to meet up with Sierra that badly to the point that I was now mistaking any woman who even slightly resembled her? My food was placed before me and usually a rare steak would have me sinking my teeth into it but at the moment I had no hunger.

"Sorry to disturb you, would you please pack this for takeaway?" I heard Frankie say. The waiter nodded and took the food before me away.

"IS everything okay sir? I see you returned the food," a young well-dressed manager said looking at first me and then Frankie.

"Yes the food is lovely, but because of time constraints we have to hurry," she explained. She had just finished eating her quinoa salad. I nodded at the lady in agreement. Having heard our words she walked away relieved on her face that there hadn't been any screw-up.

As we left the restaurant she came over and wished us a lovely day hoping to see us again under less busy circumstances. The car took us to the harbor offices where a representative was awaiting us at the door. He shook my hand and then Frankie's before leading us inside to the top floor where the boardroom was.

The wooden sign at the road pointed down the street. According to recommendations from locals, the bakery is located on a busy street near the harbor, where one could see the boats and ships coming and going.

After the successful closing of the deal and having a tour of the place, we celebrated into the night and staggered to the penthouse suite very late at night. Within six months, the first of my fleet would be plying this shipping lane though out of responsible competition, what I had suggested during the first meeting would be implemented.

It was now Saturday and I had walked out on my own down the small thoroughfare that was lined with palm trees on both sides. The air was fresh but had a salty smell to it. I had left Frankie asleep in her room. Breakfast at the hotel would be ready in about an hour's time and as I was hungry I decided to check out the bakery that was highly recommended.

I was finally standing outside the bakery and I saw it had a charming exterior, with a blue and white striped awning, a wooden sign with the name Cowries and Croissants Bakery. There was a display window showcasing a variety of tempting treats.

AT the door hung a little bell that I assumed rang when someone walked in. I stood outside looking at the pastries on display before I pushed the door open and walked inside. The bell above the door tinkled in an almost fairy-tale appeal.

The inside of the bakery had a few tables and chairs stacked on one corner and I assumed they were to be set outside. The scents of all the tantalizing treats wafted up my nostrils and assailed my senses in a good way. Not even the pastry section at The Enchanted Gardens smelled this good.

The bakery looked cozy and inviting inside, with a warm and rustic decor. The floor was made of wood and it looked well-polished. I could see the brick walls and exposed beams that added to the charm. There was a large counter, from where one would order a variety of breads, cakes, pies, cookies, muffins, croissants, and more. There was also an espresso coffee machine that was currently switched off due to the lack of noise coming from it.

"Good morning sir, how may I assist you," a voice said just behind me. I turned around and came face to face with an elderly lady watching me.

"I am new to this particular area and this bakery was recommended by so many people. So I wanted to try it out."

"You are welcome both to Seasbury as well as Cowries and Croissants. I was in the process of opening up, usually my son is the one who opens the bakery and Valerie will be coming in an hour."

"Do you need some help?" I asked and before she replied I had gone to the three tables and carried two taking them outside. I helped set up the outside seating area and then immediately went inside to put on the coffee machine.

"Are you done with the baking?" I asked her once we had finished setting up. There were two tables on the inside for patrons to enjoy the ambience as well as the pastries.

"Usually my son bakes the pastries for sale here. I am done though, just waiting for the baguettes to defrost then do the final baking. I take it you have knowledge of the kitchen."

I nodded shyly, "I love cooking at home and I own a hotel too. That's why I know a few things here and there. That pumpkin bread looks delicious, I would ask you for the recipe but that is not good sportsmanship."

We both laughed. "I never got your name."

"I am Springer Wango." She said introducing herself. "Part owner and founder of this humble bakery."

"I am-"

"I know who you are, Mr. Grey," she interrupted, smiling. "I have a relative living in Selspur City. Are you here on vacation or business?"

"Both, but the business part is finished, I am now on the vacation part. Well if you knew who I was, why did you let me help you?"

"It is very rare for a billionaire to help you open a shop, no one will believe me even if I tell them," she said but I saw a cheeky smile on her lips.

"I will ask you why did you help me?"

"Sometimes a little menial work is good not just for the body but the soul too. Besides, if any of my staff saw me doing physical work they will be afraid that I am calling them incompetent."

The espresso machine made a noise alerting it was ready to be used.

"Will you like some coffee?" I asked.

She shook her head stating her heart was too fragile for such copious amounts of caffeine. Instead she just wanted some hot water and a slice of lemon in it. I made her drink and then served her. I extracted the first espresso shot, discarded it and then extracted a double.

"Well Mr. Grey, what pastry did you want to try? I take it you haven't had breakfast yet."

"Yesterday I didn't pay attention to the information I was given at the desk. Apparently breakfast is served from nine am. But I guess it will be a weekend."

She shook her head, "That is the daily breakfast time on these sides. I will recommend you try the madeleines."

I had been here to Seasbury a few times but had never slept over so this was news to me. I accepted her offer and she got up and disappeared behind the counter coming back a few minutes later with a collection of six madeleines on a plate.

She then served me those madeleines with a milky coffee.

"Sorry, I don't have a full breakfast option yet," she said smiling. The madeleines were soft and delicious. She wanted to know what business I had come to do at Seasbury. Her eyes lit up a little when I mentioned the shipping lanes.

"It is about time the monopoly of things was broken up here," she muttered when she saw my inquisitive look.

"In terms of money flow around here. This town doesn't need more business, it needs the proper circulation of money. Honestly I find this place turning into a business port rather than the tourist destination it is supposed to be.

"You may have noticed we only have one luxury hotel, only one. Try walking in the business district of this town and it looks like just a big inner-city district. I know it is much to ask but if you can transform the city back into this seaside resort, many of the residents around would be forever grateful to you."

I listened to her appeal in silence. This was far from what I had heard in the boardroom meeting yesterday. Reports had shown that business was very high in the area. As a shrewd businessman I would be stupid to try and change things.

However, my other side that loved fine things in life saw that she made some sense. If the money flowed from the locals and tourists and I brought about this change, I would gain social credit.

"You have made some valid points but you know I am all about the money," I finally said.

"I know you are, but you already have so much money that you really don't have to make more," she said, looking at me holding my gaze. "I know you will make the right choice. After all, I know that you care a lot about nature considering your track records."

So she knew about that.

"Look you don't have to come and overhaul everything but at the least, try not to change the place more than it already is."

I will have to have a talk with Frankie as she would be more objective minded than I would be. I threw a glance at my wristwatch and saw it was a quarter past nine. I had left my phone in the room and I don't want to worry Frankie.

"I will be back later on in the evening to sample more of the goods," I told her, getting to my feet. "How much do I owe you?"

She shook her head saying it was on the house after all I had helped her. I saw the tip jar beside the cash register and I pulled out a few hundred bills and put them inside.

"That was for the exceptional service I received," and left before she could protest.

"I will be here around six," she shouted after me. I nodded and jogged back to the hotel.

I found Frankie getting ready for breakfast so I quickly showered and we both went down. It was almost ten but the dining area was only half full and the buffet was only slightly touched.

"I never knew that the residents here are this lazy," I whispered as I took my seat.

"They are enjoying life," Frankie told me and I was surprised those words came from her mouth.

We were given our drink options by the hostess and waiter who took our orders before we helped ourselves to the buffet. Frankie noticed I gave a disdainful look at the pastry section though she herself took a hazelnut-filled pain au chocolat.

"You always sample pastries but today you avoided them, can I guess your morning jog was to that local bakery?"

That woman was very sharp. Had she been my wife and I a philandering idiot nothing would be hidden from her.

"How was it?" she prodded.

I went on to tell her my experience as well as the discussions I had had with Mrs. Wango. I wanted her thoughts and let her know too.

"It is possible," Frankie said, "Yesterday we both noticed that a few of the council members weren't too happy about us getting the shipping lanes. We can find a specialized niche for the lanes that wouldn't take away their business, but at the same time offer luxury and affordable cruise ship services. That way we can still make money while opening the area more to tourists.

"The last I checked, many of the cruises in the country only stopped at the four major coastal cities. You can offer attractive packages to Seasbury and knowing you, I guess you have already decided to either buy this hotel or have one built here real soon.

"I think having good social credits with the residents of Seasbury will do you good in the long-term unlike the others. Yes I agree with Mrs. Wango."

After breakfast, Frankie went to the spa for a full day treatment and I chartered a small sailboat. I spent the afternoon sailing in the smooth waters around a few of the islands just off the coast. One of them was a bird paradise and I spent some time there just enjoying the birds as they went on with their activities. The marine life was also abundant at this spot and I regretted not renting out any scuba diving equipment.

Six pm found me outside the small bakery though this time I found a couple seated outside having an animated discussion.

I stepped in and was welcomed by a smile from a lady with the name tag Valerie. I told her I was waiting for Mrs. Wango.

"Yes she is in the back, she will be with you shortly, as you wait would you like to try our special café Cubano?"

I nodded and watched as she made me the drink, towards the end I saw her pour some Havana Rum into the coffee and then served me at the table.

I took a sip of the coffee and was surprised not to taste the alcohol though I felt the buzz later on as I continued drinking it.

The doorbell tinkled as two people walked in and my heart almost stopped beating.

In walked a fairly tall yet slim built man. He looked like a skinny version of a surfboard model and would have passed off as one except for the fact that he also looked like a high school nerd. But that wasn't what shocked me.

What had shocked me was who he was with. He was talking and laughing with a woman I knew very well. I couldn't believe I was seeing Sierra.

The two entered and walked up to the counter not seeing me.