Chapter 5 Elliot
The only silver lining of being in Cinnamon Springs is that Manhattan is a two-hour drive away.
My hands grip the motorcycle’s handlebars as the journey is met with a refreshing breeze.
Cinnamon Springs is known for its rolling hills, which provide a picturesque backdrop for the quaint small town.
When I reach the south end of Peppermint Lake, the familiar “Thanks for visiting Cinnamon Springs. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later” sign appears at the crossroad.
I take the sharp right, then slam my foot on the pedal to experience the open road and all its glory. It’s not long before the fields are built up with sprawling homes, and soon, suburban life surrounds me.
My sister texted me just after nine with what she deemed a crisis.
The kitchen appliances appointment had to be rescheduled for today, and Eva is counting on my culinary knowledge to select kitchen equipment for the new store opening in the city.
It means Billie and Chloe have to cover my shift at the café so I can get to Brooklyn before the store closes at four.
Thankfully, Billie was already on shift, given that she works full-time.
As for Chloe, the casual employee, she had to forgo her plans with friends at the lake.
Chloe wasn’t exactly happy to bail on her friends.
It’s hardly shocking, considering Chloe belongs to Gen Z, and my interactions with her have been challenging at the best of times.
She’s friendly, cute, and does a good job when she’s working.
I just don’t understand how or why this generation repels work as a whole.
Eva mentioned she’d previously had conversations with Chloe about taking on more responsibility and becoming permanent, but it was met with a shoulder shrug.
And silence.
Then, a “We’ll see.”
My sister also likes to remind me we are Gen Z so I shouldn’t bad-mouth our generation.
Eva is standing at the front of the store, tapping her foot impatiently. The moment she casts her gaze on me, the corners of her mouth lift slightly as she subtly exhales.
“You’re my saving grace,” she greets me with relief.
I tousle my hair, then unzip my jacket to cool down. The city isn’t as warm as the country, but the humidity feels extra stagnant today. I wore my jeans and tee—nothing special—and the ride over here took longer than expected.
“I’ll remember that the next time I need a favor.”
Eva laces her hand in my arm. “Anything for you, big brother.”
My eyes wander to the absurd tank top she’s wearing, which reads, “Save a horse, ride a cowboy.” I perish the thought.
“Did you have to wear that top?” I complain.
She glances down. “I stole it from Maddy’s suitcase this morning.”
My head angles in confusion. “Who?”
Eva presses her lips together in a grimace. “Maddy. Madelina. Aston’s sister. She’s back in the States after spending a few months in Europe. Actually, she was in Paris, so you guys should have a lot to talk about.”
We enter the store, and I immediately welcome the air-conditioning. The cool air spreads across my skin as we’re greeted by the owner, Edgar. He politely shakes both our hands, then leads us to the main showroom.
“Is this your fiancé, Miss Woods?”
Eva quickly shoves me in the opposite direction as we both shudder in unison. We don’t look alike, so people tend to make this ridiculous assumption when they see us together.
“Oh God, no. Elliot is my brother. He’s a Michelin-star chef from Paris,” she rushes to inform him.
Edgar raises his brows. “Well, isn’t that something?”
I force a smile, then nod. “Yep, it’s something. So, let’s get straight into it, shall we?”
There’s a wide range of commercial stoves and ovens, fryers and grills, and then a section for smaller items such as mixers, slicers, and processors—row after row of stainless steel. Edgar’s voice flows over us, his polished spiel a calculated sales tactic designed to convince us to spend big.
I listen attentively, interested in learning about each brand, but I’m mindful that he’s also talking out of his ass with these prices.
In the back of my mind, I try to remember that the Manhattan store will experience a surge of customers that could easily overwhelm it.
The equipment we choose needs to withstand the pressures of a bustling kitchen.
If all goes well, Eva has projected that this store will have three times the traffic, if not more, compared to the store in Cinnamon Springs.
And once these New Yorkers get a taste of perfection, I guarantee it will be just the beginning of Donuts Ever After. As Aston intelligently put it, global domination is around the corner. Eva, of course, spiraled after that.
As Edgar continues his repetitive monologue, he turns his back to us momentarily. Eva leans in, her eyes squinting with exhaustion, and whispers, “I could fall asleep right here.”
I stifle a laugh, leaning closer to her. “Snap out of it. We want the crème de la crème. These appliances don’t come cheap, and you don’t have the biggest of budgets to work with.”
“You’re preaching to the choir,” she retorts, her voice heavy with exasperation. “Aston tells me there’s no budget, but with the house construction in full swing, I’m worried we’re spreading our finances too thin. A lot is going on and so quickly.”
I can’t help but smirk at her concern. “Your fiancé is a billionaire. I doubt forty thousand dollars is going to make a significant dent in his wallet.”
Eva rolls her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitch upward. “We can’t just buy one commercial fryer,” she counters, glancing sideways at the now-perked-up salesman, whose eyes gleam with opportunity.
Fantastic! Now we’ve handed him an advantage in negotiation.
“Why don’t you check out the refrigerators while I try to get us the best deal?” I suggest, keeping my voice low enough so Edgar doesn’t get all excited again.
Eva opens the door to the stainless-steel refrigerator, then purposely sticks her head in it while pretending not to be listening.
“We only sell the best,” Edgar pitches, then continues with, “You’ve come to the right place.”
“Listen, Edgar. Let’s get straight to the point.
” Like a predator stalking its prey, Edgar observes me closely.
I keep my tone strong and authoritative, knowing it’s time to play hardball.
“We want the best of the best. I can give you a list of exactly what we need. This will include our delivery schedules and the dates by which we need the equipment installed. Our timeline is tight, so give us your best deal because Carmen’s Catering has a storewide sale and we’re happy to walk the three blocks over. ”
I’ve already done my homework, and Carmen’s pricing isn’t worth getting excited about.
At the mention of Carmen, Edgar’s expression falters, his pride evident through clenched teeth—a long-standing rivalry, it appears, which may work in our advantage. I’d spoken to a few people in the industry, and almost all of them pointed me to Edgar and Carmen.
“All right, all right,” he concedes, his demeanor shifting as he pats my shoulder with a forced acceptance of the situation. “Let’s make this deal happen.”
Edgar escorts me and Eva into his small office. We peruse the catalog, then settle on the appliances needed. When I’m satisfied with the final costing, Eva tries her best not to appear elated by the great deal I negotiated.
As we step out into the vibrant rush of the street, Eva pats my back. “You absolutely crushed it in there. Are you really going to pass up the chance to shop with me for some chairs? I could use your hustle.” She beams with excitement.
I usher her to the coffee bar next door, in desperate need of a caffeine hit.
It’s small, with no chairs or tables, just a counter to serve and a small refrigerator for cold beverages.
I’ve been up since the crack of dawn, trying to get everything done so I could be here.
Already, the aroma of coffee beans is fueling my addiction.
“I can’t stay. You do remember I’m back home, running your store in Cinnamon Springs?” I state with a hint of irritation creeping into my voice.
“Yes, yes, I’m ever so grateful for that.
Another favor I owe you, adding to the growing list,” she drags out dramatically, but then her face lights up with a mischievous grin.
“But hey, you’re my big brother. Who really needs a list anyway?
It’s all part of the sibling contract. It’s what we signed up for. ”
“I’d like to emphasize that I never actually signed anything. I’m quite certain you could ask Mom and Dad about how much I begged them to pack you up in a basket and send you back where you came from,” I retort, trying to suppress a smile.
Eva snorts. “You mean Mom’s vagina?”
“Didn’t need that visual…”
“Join us for drinks tonight. I promise my fiancé will behave. Plus, you can finally meet Maddy,” she insists with a plea in her tone.
“Right. Your bestie,” I exaggerate, rolling my eyes playfully.
“Speaking of Maddy, I offered her a job at the café. She’s going through a tough time, and a little extra cash could help her out,” Eva adds, her expression shifting to one of concern.
I move toward the counter, then place our orders. Eva always orders a mocha latte with extra sweetener, but she shakes her head and orders a peppermint tea instead.
We move to the side to wait while inhaling the fresh-brewed coffee lingering in the air.
“Isn’t she the daughter of a billionaire?” I ask, trying to remember what Eva has mentioned in the past. “And what kind of tough time? I don’t want to be stuck working with someone who’s going to bring her emotional baggage to work. Billie and I already have everything running smoothly.”
Eva raises her brows with a teasing glint in her eye. “Billie and I?”
“Get your mind out of the gutter. Besides, you made it clear that I shouldn’t get involved where I work,” I defend myself, crossing my arms. “Sorry, I ‘shouldn’t shit where I eat’ were your exact words.”