I was up to my eyeballs in sawdust and debris when I looked up to see Lucinda Barnes standing in front of me in my future bakery wearing a hard hat and a big smile.

“Lucinda! I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Well that’s something you’ll just have to get used to. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m full of surprises.”

“Where’d you get that?” I pointed at her hard hat which was exactly like mine.

“This hot guy out there gave it to me. The one with the abs. I mean, damn, he’s hot. Do you happen to know his name?”

I giggled. “I’m not sure, but maybe Ty?”

Lucinda gave me a knowing look. “Hey, you may be newly married, but I’m a single girl. I notice these things.”

We both laughed.

“Welcome to the future home of Chloe’s. I wanted to keep the name simple. We still have a long way to go with all the construction, but it’s starting to take shape.”

Lucinda shook her head. “I have to tell you, Chloe, this looks great, but this is a lot of demo. It looks expensive, like you’re going to have to sell a lot of croissants to pay for all this.”

My hopes fell. I had expected that. I thought she was going to say something a little more supportive.

She must have noticed my disappointment because she immediately reached out and touched my arm. “I’m sorry, Chloe. I didn’t mean to upset you. It just seems like a business like this might be a tough road. I know mom-and-pop shops can be difficult to keep running.

“The world is so overgrown with chains and big business . . . Don’t get me wrong, I support you one hundred percent and I wish you all the best. I’m sure you’ve done all the market research and have a sound business plan with financial projections and all that. I know you’re a bright girl.”

I had thought this through, and I had prepared some of the things she was talking about, but I never actually sat down with someone to review that like I had expected I would. I’d thought someone at the bank would want to see these and make their assessment as to whether my business was a good risk for a loan or not. But instead Eduardo had handled all of that and simply put the funds into an account for me so I was suddenly feeling like I’d skipped a step and I was walking a tightrope without a net.

Lucinda walked around the room stepping over a few stray pieces of wood and plastic sheeting. One thing about the woman—she looked as at home on a construction site as she did on a red carpet. It was something you had to admire.

“So, tell me what it’s going to be like once it’s completed and ready to be opened.” Her enthusiasm buoyed my spirits a bit, and my energy level rose as I gave her a tour.

“This is where the ovens will go. Here’s where we will have big counters for rolling out dough and mixing things. The bakery racks are scheduled to come sometime this week, and I have the most beautiful display counters picked out for the front.”

Lucinda lifted her shoulders with a smile like she’d just taken a bite of the most delicious thing she ever eaten. “Chloe, it sounds scrumptious. It makes me wish that you wanted to be on TV.”

“Wait. What?” I asked, thrown.

“It’s just that I can totally see you starring in a TV show.”

“What kind of TV show?”

“A cooking one, silly. Baking to be more specific.”

I eyed her suspiciously. This was the first I’d heard of that. I knew she was in the TV business, but I didn’t know she did anything with food TV. “I’m confused.”

“Just now, hearing you talk about your dream bakery, the way you’re making it happen—it just conjures up images for me of a set where you could cook on television and teach people how to bake. Or maybe you’d rather do a reality type show. I’ve seen some of those holiday bake-offs, and they’re fantastic.”

“Me on television? That’s something I’ve never really thought of. Honestly I just always wanted to have a bakery.”

“Of course you did. How would you have ever dreamed of being on television all the way down here in New Orleans? I mean, I guess you can get a spot with the local news where you can bring them some of your goodies and give some tips, but I’m talking about something much bigger than that.”

“So, I’m sorry, I’m so confused. Are you talking about me having a TV show like with your company?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t give my competitors my brilliant idea would I? For my new star to be.”

“So, if I was interested what would that involve?”

“Well, the first thing we would do is take our ideas to our development department. Mark is the head. He’s one of my favorites at Barnes Media. We’d see what he came up with—with your input of course.”

I nodded. Of course, echoed in my head.

Then we’d write up a contract, and after that was signed you’d come to Los Angeles, and we’d work on filming a pilot.”

“In Los Angeles?”

“Yes, dear. That’s where the magic happens.”

“I guess it is.” I was starting to feel numb. No, I hadn’t ever dreamed of cooking on television, but when someone offered you an opportunity like this one, you’d be a fool to turn it down, I thought, my heart racing.

So, what are your thoughts?” Lucinda asked.

“I’m not sure. Can I think about it?” I stalled.

She flipped a hand in the air. “Sure, but don’t take too long. These offers have a way of disappearing if I don’t think the talent has the passion and the interest in the project that I do. I’m sure you understand. I mean, I would be investing a lot of my money and my own resources into it, so I certainly can’t be more invested than my star.”

“What about the money? I mean I hate to ask, but . . .”

Well we have to see what my development team comes up with in the first place, but the minimum I can imagine would be for about three hundred thousand. To start.”

I felt my eyes bugging out of my head, and I did everything I could to try to draw them back in, but it felt impossible. That was more money than I’d probably made in my entire lifetime, maybe double that. It would take me years working in a bakery before I could make that much money, and I might never make that in one year.

My knees felt weak, and I started searching for somewhere to sit down. Not finding one, I planted a palm on the nearest counter and leaned against it

“Are you all right?” Lucinda’s brow furrowed.

“Yes, I’m okay,” I lied.

“Of course, we’d have to see how the audience responds and based on that we will know more about what type of show we should make. It’s possible that it could crap out after a couple of seasons, but we’ve never had a show be picked up for only one season. With our track record, the networks actually clamor for me to develop new programming, and I’m sure they will love a member of the Barnes family with culinary gifts.”

A member of the Barnes family? Disappointment coursed through my veins. This was all because I was married to Eduardo who was now the son of the famous Ziggy Barnes. I wouldn’t be getting this job based on my own merit or anything to do with me. This was just another body to fill a void in the TV Empire media.

My heart sank.

“What’s the matter?” Lucinda asked.

“It’s just . . . it feels weird . . . never mind.” I couldn’t very well tell Lucinda that my marriage was something of a business arrangement. That only made it more obvious that I needed to say yes to her.

“I just need to think about it a little.”

“I understand, sweetie. Don’t take too long,” she said, then leaned over to give me a kiss on the cheek.

For the rest of the day I was unable to keep my mind off Lucinda’s offer.

And I wasn’t sure which concerned me more—how my husband was going to react or how I could possibly turn down an offer for three hundred thousand dollars.