fancy doors. Her damp clothes clung to her skin, but s

in expensive clothes that probably cost mor

e is around back," a waite

ercer waving from a corner table. Three serious

iel called out. The

the room. Nathan and Celeste sat with an older man,

Elena whispered to Daniel.

kies are what matter, not your

divorce, she'd forgotten to gra

admitted, her cheek

ed. One checked his

ing her spine, "I can make them right

ise. "The Plaza's kitch

She was done letting men tell her what she

leaned forward. "I like her spi

grumpy chef to the back kitchen. As she passed Nathan's table,

in white coats shouted orders. Pots cl

chef growled, pointing to a small co

dients than she'd ever worked with before. She grabbed dar

ng, folding. She didn't need to check her r

n her. The kitchen staff had stopped to watch. The way s

d chef called, but his

filled the air. Even the snooty

d mysterious on the outside, soft and gooey inside. She arranged

a young kitchen helper who could

replied. "Because they're dark but

thought she wasn't looking. Hi

table again, and this time, the smell of her cookies made him look up. The

lass froze half

sweetly and

n silence. Then the woman with sharp

ant to invest in you,

ary. The heat builds slowly, then the chocolat

oudly. "Told you

book. "Let's talk numbers. Ho

far. "I-I need a place to

an eyebrow. "L

ked me out," Elena admitted. "I have nowhere

ave an empty apartment above my office in Brooklyn. I

eve her ears. "Why woul

Let's just say I recognize a fighter when I

Celeste followed his gaze, her perfect smile f

ment key, a $50,000 investment check, and her first business

om with a kitchenette and bathroom. The furniture was basic: a fold-out couch,

na whispered, tears

oney will be in your account tomorrow. Tonight, bake. Take

or the first time all day, she let herself cry. N

shed her face and tied her hai

er grandmother's mixing bowl. The familiar

kies. When dawn broke, sixty perfect cookies cooled on every available su

e morning light. She used her phone to take photos, tr

with coffee and a social

crolling through Elena's phone. "With filters a

acebook pages for Golden Crumb Bakery. Jami

ie said. "Social m

okies in paper bags Victoria brought

hop owner. "If your customers like th

cookies immediately. Elena rushed back to bake another

cked her phone one last time. Her Instagr

her cookie photo with the caption: "Who is @GoldenCrumbBakery and why are these the best

top. Followers jumping by hundreds

"Ship to California pleas

en another notification popped

wer: @Natha

er. And he w

message appeared from Nathan: "Cute ho

the keyboard. She could i

. Would you like to place an order? I give disc

then turned

w day. A day for build

old-out couch, another message came thro

lly are, Elena from Golden Crumb. And I'm comi