The next morning Claire woke up early to get ready to rush to the bakery. It might be a weekend for others but for her there was no holiday. With a huge loan amount on her head, she couldn’t afford to take a single day off. She started having second thoughts about Chris's offer now. If his family didn’t hand over the reins of the company to him, she would have to continue with the drama to get her payment. But Chris seemed to have completely disappeared from her life for the last few days. She wondered what was going on at his end. Quickly making coffee and sandwiches, she tucked in quickly. Bring short on staff, she needed to reach the bakery before time so that she could handle the day’s work effectively. 

Taking a quick shower, she got ready in a light blue sundress and rushed out of her apartment. It was just 6 o’clock in the morning and it seemed that her neighbor was still asleep. Lucky indeed! She drove to her bakery and opened it, rushing inside to make preparations for the day. Suzy, who helped in the kitchen, rushed in with her. Rosetta and Francis, her main chefs, arrived a few minutes later. Karla who worked as a waiter as well as handled the counter sales too came in early to clean the place up. Claire managed everything, baking, sales, the cash counter and as such she didn’t have a moment of respite till the shop closed down. She didn’t have the funds to employ more people. 

“Claire, could you help me with Mrs. Kristoff’s order?” asked Rosetta. Claire rushed in to help her while Francis made the regular store goodies to be sold. 

“Claire, you’re breaking my heart, love. I thought we made a deal that you’d be only helping me,” said Francis with a wink. He was the same age as Claire, having freshly graduated in Culinary Arts, with simultaneous degrees in baking. He was very good and needed some experience to make it big. Claire knew that he wouldn’t stick around for long but then he was the backbone of the bakery as the goodies he churned out always sold out instantly. The only drawback was that he was an impossible flirt and everyday, Claire just laughed and took him lightly to ward off his advances. 

“I made no such deal, Francis. Why don’t you start? Maybe I’ll join you in a while,” she said to pacify him. 

“I have a better idea. Why don’t I handle Mrs. Kristoff's orders? That way you can be closer to me,” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at her. The guy was too good-looking for his own good but why he was after someone as boring as her, she had no idea. 

“No, Francis. We need to boost our daily sales. You know your items are a craze here,” said Claire. Francis grinned. 

“Then admit that you can’t do without me. I’m waiting,” he said with his hands folded on his chest. Claire rolled her eyes at him. 

“Francis,  do we have time for this?” she asked him. Rosetta, who was a married woman of thirty with two little children, smiled at their interactions.  She was used to this everyday! 

“You know I won’t start the work unless you tell me what I want to hear,” said Francis stubbornly. Claire sighed, giving in already.  Did she have a choice?

“Okay Francis , you win,” said Claire. He fist pumped in the air with a victorious grin on his face. 

“I always do,” he said smugly. “I’m waiting!” he reminded her. 

“I really can’t do without your culinary skills, Francis,” said Claire with a grin making Francis’s face fall with disappointment. Rosetta and Claire laughed at the melodrama. 

“That’s not what I asked you to say, “ protested Francis. Claire grinned and went to help Rosetta. 

“That’s all you’ll get out of me,” said Claire, getting busy with her Rosetta. 

“By evening I’ll get it out of you, love,” persisted Francis. They just ignored him and got on with the task at hand. Francis continued with his flirting while getting batches and batches of goodies ready in no time. How he did it, he only knew. He made it seem so easy! 

“Soon, we’ll get married and run this bakery as a couple!” said Francis, making Claire choke on her own spit. 

“In your dreams!” said Claire, going outside to check up on Suzy and Karla who were busy arranging the goodies before they opened the shop up for the first rush of customers.

“Suzy, get the coffee makers ready. We’ll open up in ten minutes,” said Claire. Finally everything was done and giving it a once over, Claire and Karla pulled up the shutters and hung the sign that read, ‘Open'. It was just 8 o’clock in the morning and soon the shop filled up. Claire helped Karla with the counter sales as well at the cash counter. It was a mad rush till 1 o’clock after which they could relax a little and prepare for the evening rush. The sales were good but they weren’t enough to pay off the loan amount. 

It was nearly 1:20 in the afternoon and Claire's stomach was rumbling for food. She just didn’t get any break to have her lunch although she gave breaks to each of her employees, covering up for them. She just sipped some water to control her stomach when her eyes fell on the front door. There stood her hot neighbor, Nate, scanning the place for her. Claire rolled her eyes at her bad luck. She was just thinking of taking a ten minute break after all. 

His eyes lit up when he saw her. A lazy grin spread over his face. “Hey, SN!” he drawled, his eyes twinkling playfully.

“What are you doing here, Nate?” she asked him with dread. 

“I overslept and now I’m hungry. I came here in search of you and food,” be informed her. 

“Me? Why do you need me? Buy what you want to eat. Do you need me to feed it to you?” she snapped at him. Nate lifted an eyebrow at her as if contemplating upon the idea. 

“I wouldn’t mind that. I’m feeling extra lazy today,” said Nate with a laugh seeing the horrified expression on her face. 

“Nate I’m in the mood to waste my ten minute break with you. I need to eat something to survive till night,” said Claire with displeasure. 

“Fine, I know just the place,” he said, striding forward and grabbing her hand. He pulled her along with him out of the shop. 

“I don’t have much time to go anywhere. I’ll just grab a sandwich, Nate,” protested Claire but he was in a world of his own and didn’t pay any heed to her protests. His lazy world! It was the weekend for him after all! 

“Nate, are you even listening?” she said feeling pissed off at him. He was behaving as if he owned her completely. He led her to a small corner café and led her to a table. 

“Shhh, quiet. Sit down and eat. I’m hungry and I’ve decided that I’d eat only with you,” said Nate, picking up the menu card. Claire gaped at him with shock. What was up with him? 

“You’re wasting your time now by checking me out. I mean, I know that I’m good looking and all but it’d do you good to order quickly. You can stare at me all night,” he said, making Claire roll her eyes at him. 

“Shut up, Nate,” she said, picking up the menu card and hiding inside it, a deep blush creeping up her neck. Was he nuts? Why would she stare at him all night? The waiter arrived and they ordered. Nate wanted a burger, chicken wings and a corn salad. Claire just ordered salad. 

“You’ll evaporate into the atmosphere in a few days,” he scolded and ordered a pita pocket stuffed with the juiciest meatballs for her. 

“I have to get back to the shop. I don’t have the time to have a lavish lunch,” said Claire. 

“If you don’t eat well, how will you manage your bakery, huh?” pointed out Nate. Claire knew that he was right. She needed to take out time and eat if she had to survive. “Then how will you teach me to cook after returning home?” asked Nate. Claire stated at him with her mouth hanging open. She didn’t remember that she had agreed to it last night. 

“I didn’t say that I would,” said Claire looking confused.

“Of course, you did. You promised that we’d make dinner together and I’ll get to learn as well as eat it with you,” said Nate, making Claire look confused. She didn’t remember anything! 

“Oh, I did?” she asked with surprise. 

“Yeah, I’ll be waiting for you at home or better still, I’ll wait for you at your shop. I’ll be your slave,” said Nate. “Oui m’dame Fischer, à votre service madame,” he continued, curtseying melodramatically. Everyone turned to look at them as if a movie was going on. 

“Stop it, Nate. Please wait at home. I’ll come back and we can cook together. Okay?” she said to make him stop. He nodded, grinned and sat down as their food arrived, relieved, happy and excitedly looking forward to the evening.