Chapter 16

16 16- Alexander Catering

“Who could be MSin Industries? Never heard of them!” Marissa said while folding the laundry and placing it in the kids‘ cupboard.

“I know what you are thinking!” Sophia placed the dress in front of her image, standing in front of the mirror, “You think it’s related to Sinclair but come to think of it. The letter M doesn’t make sense. If it was THAT Sinclair, then it would be Rafael Sinclair… RSin. Not MSin.”

Marissa was still confused about accepting this contract. There was something that was not sitting well with her. –

“How do I look in this dress?” Sophia asked for her opinion, still examining herself in the mirror. Now she was holding a red gown.

“Uh. It looks too desperate. Why don’t you wear that royal blue one,” Marissa placed the last laundry piece inside the closet and plopped back on Alexander’s bunk.

“Is Gerald in contact with you?” Sophia eyed her through the mirror, “He was on a business trip, and I need to know if he spared any time for you.”

Marissa closed her eyes and placed the small pillow on her face. She didn’t want to talk about any man. Gerald might be a good friend, but he could never be more than that.

However, she sat straight when heard a tap on the door. Akari’s. face appeared in the doorway.

“Chilling?” she tiptoed inside as if she was there for some kind of mischief or robbery.

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“Look at her!” Sophia pointed towards her, “She tiptoed because we all think it’s kids‘ room and they must be sleeping. While they are

not even here.”

Marissa laughed and slapped the space beside her, “Sit down and relax, Akar. Kids just left for the park with Flint and Citra.”

Marissa had her commercial kitchen in the basement while she used to reside along with kids, Flint and Sophia in the upper portion of the small house. She borrowed a small amount of money from someone to get this space.

“Have you come up with any decision regarding MSin?” Akari asked her, taking the space on the bed.

Marissa turned her head to have a good look at Akari’s face, “What’s the catch in it for you?”

Sophia chuckled and tilted her head, “I was about to ask the same thing, Akari. You seem a little too interested in this industry order. Care to explain?”

Akari felt nervous when felt the eyes of both the women on her face, “I… I… it’s a million dollar… order so…”

“So?” both the ladies cocked up a brow when saw Akari blushing profusely, “Their manager… Dean. He is the cutest!”

“What?”

“What?”

Sophia and Marissa screamed at the top of their lungs. Thankfully the kids were not home to witness this craziness.

“When did you meet him?” Sophia placed a hand on her hip and

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poor Akari avoided the eye contact

“Never. We just exchanged numbers and I saw his profile picture. He looked cute in those glasses and chubby cheeks.”

Marissa face palmed and laid back on the bed, “Akari is in love!”

This was the best thing about her. She might had a failed relationship in the past but she always celebrated her employees‘ happiness. This was the reason her employees not only respected her but felt at home with her.

As a boss, she never imposed her orders but always took suggestions from them. Most of the learning and applying these tricks were due to the company of Rafael. He was the one who used to teach her how to run a good business.

“Every discussion, every happiness, and every sadness remind me of you. I miss you in every celebration and I miss you when I look at Alexander and then I miss you again when I take Abi to hospital. visits without you…”

“Hey! Marissa! Back to earth!” she almost jumped when Akari snapped her fingers before her eyes.

Marissa’s head snapped up and found Sophia looking at her. She had a knowing look on her face.

“I don’t know about this MSin order. This is such a big risk. We don’t have enough staff for such a big party.”

Sophia slapped Akari’s shoulder to make space for her on the small

mattress.

“I need to go down and clean the kitchen, I guess,” Akari said

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good–naturedly to provide them some privacy.

“Take this risk.” Sophia threw her arm over Marissa’s shoulders when Akari left the room, “A small business becomes big when it takes risks, Marissa. What are you scared of? You are blessed with the best team. Think of the mortgage you have to pay to Mr. Amir. Your kids‘ future education… their future. There is a lot you can do with this money.” As always, her true friend wanted her to expand her wings.

“I don’t know,” she held Sophia’s hand, “there is some strange feeling in the pit of my stomach… Something deep inside is stopping me from going ahead with it yet it also wants me to push forward and accept the offer.”

Sophia started rubbing her friend’s cold hands to offer some comfort, “You need to be financially stable, Marissa. We can’t hide forever. Rafael is not a threat to these kids. Valerie and Nina are.”

Sophia had a point. She couldn’t hide in a cocoon forever. She needed to face the world at some point.

“Once that TV channel approached you for your business coverage. They are still after your interview as an upcoming businesswoman, but you are not ready to face the cameras. Just because you don’t want those evil women to know about your whereabouts. Let me tell you this, the more popular you’ll be, the more benefits you’ll

get.”

Marissa had even cut ties with her family. She didn’t want any kind of relationship from her past but now maybe it was time to show everyone who was Marissa Aaron.

She picked up her phone from the small study table and dialed a

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number, “Akari. Hmm. Please say yes to your cutie Dean. I think we should take this risk and show everyone around, who we are.”

Rafael and Joseph were discussing an upcoming meeting when Dean came inside with a flushed face, “Sir, the twenty caterers have agreed to come along with their best dishes.”

“Have you got the list of the owners?” Joseph asked him, taking off his reading glasses. He couldn’t understand why Dean looked so excited.

“Yes, sir. Here it is!” he fumbled with some papers in his file and took out a sheet that had a printed list.

Rafael was quick to grab it from him and ran his gaze across the

paper.

“I have asked the owners to come with their best. By the way, the owner of Alexander’s is … Akari. Yeah. Her name is Akari.”

is…

Rafael’s eyes remained glued to the paper and then he gestured

Dean to leave.

“What? You don’t look convinced!” Joseph said with concern. Rafael offered him a tightlipped smile and started thinking.

Marissa was found in a superstore, shopping for a bulk quantity of cans, she knew Alexander was his favorite name, and she was a pro

chef.

What if Dean is ill–informed about the owner’s name?

“Hey,” he spoke on the phone, “Have you seen anyone around that superstore?”

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“No, yet.” The investigator replied in a clipped tone.

“Look for Alexander’s Homestyle Catering. It’s a home–based business. Find each and everything about them. Can you do it till evening? I can pay you double.”

Rafael looked relaxed when he disconnected the call.

“We’ll know by the evening if this business is really owned by this Akari girl or Marissa,” He informed his friend and got back to the file they were discussing.

He could hardly wait for the evening. He was a businessman since. a young age and his intuition was telling him there was something more to this Alexander catering business.

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