Page 5 of Cakewalk
Griffin mused, “I could have a cake flown in from the city. Really, I’m the one who ran into you, so I should be the one fixing this mess.”
“But wouldn’t that sort of be cake plagiarism? My sister won’t stand for that. No, I need to take responsibility for this. The fallout is unavoidable.”
Griffin stood, so I had to crane my head to look up at him. His expression was grave. “I don’t think so. It seems you and your sister have taken on more responsibility than is reasonable for anyone. I know running a business is hard enough, and to do so under these circumstances…”
He shook his head and held out a frosted hand. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow your phone and make a few calls. It won’t be the exact cake your client ordered as it’ll have to be pre-made, but it’ll be a pre-made cake from the most prestigious bakery I can find in Atlanta, and it’ll be delivered in the next two hours. I’ll also refund her the cost of the commissioned cake. I’m sure your client will find it to be an acceptable compensation.”
I could’ve melted right there. Sure, Courtney was still going to kill me, but at least now she might use a more humane method of execution. I also didn’t want Madison to be missing the centerpiece of her grand opening, as much as she ticked me off lately. “O-okay. If it’s no trouble for you—”
Griffin put a warm, reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Of course not.” I almost didn’t care that he was getting frosting all over my shirt sleeve.
Once he pulled his hand away, I pushed aside all the warm fuzzy feelings and put on my game face. “Okay. Go to the kitchen in the back. There’s a sink you can wash up in. Then make the calls.” I pulled out my phone and unlocked it, handing it to him. “I’ll hold off my sister as long as I can, and hopefully by the time she busts past me and into the kitchen, you’ll have already done the deed. Then she’ll just have to accept it.”
Griffin nodded seriously, starting his way toward the kitchen.
I remembered something and just about screamed out, “Oh, and don’t pull up my photo gallery, okay?”
He glanced back at me as a smile slowly grew on his face, but otherwise gave no indication whether he’d obey me on that matter.
I groaned and wrung my hands, turning to watch the front entrance. How was I going to break it to Courtney? Should I start off like, “So, something funny happened this morning!” Or maybe, “You wouldn’t believe who I ran into!” Or how about, “I’m your little sister and you love me, right? You wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt me… Right? So, anyway, I had a little accident.”
But when the beautiful rosy cheeks of my sister appeared at the front entrance, her dirty blonde hair done up in a bun, I realized my fate had already been sealed.
Because her eyes screamed murder.
And she had pink frosting all over her hands, as if she had tried to scoop up her poor, dead cake before realizing it was a loss.
You think that’s bad? Wait until she finds out fat cat Griffin is in her kitchen.
I gulped.
Chapter 2
Jade
“So, funny story!”I yelped as Courtney slowly opened the front door and closed it behind her.
She wasn’t saying anything, which somehow made things worse.
I glanced at the bistro table, seeing that the chair where Griffin had sat was covered in residual frosting. “Uh, so I ran into this guy.”
“Where is he?” my sister asked, her tone freakishly calm as she grabbed a few napkins off one table to wipe her hands.
Okay, so she didn’t want an explanation. She just wanted to sacrifice somebody, but I wouldn’t let it be him. I would fall on the sword. “I’m sorry,” I said, looking down at my sneakers. I had specifically worn my high-grip sneakers too, for what little good that did me. “I’m a ginormous klutz. I know this, and in the end, I still didn’t take enough precautions. It’s all my fault. I know how hard you worked on it.”
My sister sighed and took a seat—thankfully not on the frosted chair. “It’s all right, Jade. No business that hinges on the satisfaction of one customer really stands a chance, anyway. We’ve been fighting against fate, and I guess we need to accept that we have to cut our losses before we have no savings left.”
“Hang on.” I almost took the seat beside her, but opted to remain unfrosted. “I actually might be able to save this.” Well,Griffinmight. But I wasn’t about to reveal who he was just yet. “The guy I ran into, with the cake… He’s having a new one flown in. It won’t be your original, but at least Madison won’t be left high and dry.”
“What guy?”
“I don’t know. He’s just some businessman.”
Courtney’s eyes narrowed and her arms crossed above her big belly. “What’s a businessman who’s rich enough to fly in a replacement cake doing out here?”
I shrugged stupidly. “Business stuff? I don’t know. I’m just relieved I didn’t crack his head open. Imagine the lawsuit!” I straightened up. “Anyway, I’m going to run into the back real quick, clean this frosting off my shoulder, then go tell Madison what’s going on. I think she’ll get over it when she hears we’re having a ritzy cake brought in just for her. Why don’t you take the morning off? I can bake and frost the breakfast cupcakes.”
“Fat chance.”
