Chapter 4: Not So Sweet
As Angel stepped up to the counter, she browsed the trays of sweets in the bakery cases and she had to admit, they did look tasty. If she wasn't on a life-or-death mission, she would have thought Saltbaker was just an ordinary chef that loved to bake delicious treats. She looked around curiously and decided to try calling for the owner.
Gonna have to really play the part of a sweet-talking lady, she thought to herself before gently clearing her throat and putting on a sweet smile and making her eyes seem like she was flirting. "Hello?" She called out sweetly.
Someone popped up from behind the counter. He looked like he was made of glass and wore a chef's apron. He looked surprised to see her, but then smiled. "Well, hello there, milady," he said sweetly.
Angel deduced this had to be Saltbaker and she felt a bit nervous, but steeled herself, smiling again sweetly before batting her eyelashes at him, hoping her flirting act would fool him. "Are you the owner of this lovely establishment?" She asked. "It's so nice and everything smells so wonderful."
"I am the owner, yes," he said, blushing a bit. "And thank you. I am Chef Saltbaker. Would it be too bold of me to inquire your name, milady?"
Wow, he's laying it thick. If he's like this with me, I can only assume he used a similar act on Chalice. I hope she and the boys are okay, the young woman thought to herself before doing a curtsey before the chef. "My name is Angelica, Mr. Saltbaker," she said. "I have heard many good things about your bakery and had to come see it for myself. I must say, I'm not disappointed."
The owner grinned and blushed. "You flatter me, Lady Angelica," he said, his voice thick with respect. "Perhaps I can offer you some samples of any treats you'd like to try?"
"You would?" Angel asked in surprise before smiling. "Why, that would be delightful, thank you. They all look so delicious though. It's rather hard to choose."
"Then I shall give you a sample of them all," he said, quickly getting to work. "Please, have a seat at the table there."
She spotted a table nearby and sat down while watching him and she decided to play up the part a bit more. "I'm very grateful for your generosity, Mr. Saltbaker. You see, I'm looking to throw a party to introduce my future husband to my large circle of friends and I have been searching for the best baker to commission to make the desserts, but so far, I've had no luck and my party is happening quite soon," she said, putting on a distressed look and wringing her hands. "I just want to make sure my guests will have a good time and enjoy themselves, which is why having good food, especially good desserts, is so important to me. After all, good food means happy guests, correct?"
"I wholeheartedly agree, milady," Saltbaker said sweetly, placing a tray of some desserts in front of her with tags to give the names of the treats. "I have more trays like this one. Please, feel free to give your thoughts on them."
Angel gave him a sweet smile. "Thank you," she said sweetly as she began trying the desserts. She had to admit, if she didn't know any better, she would think he was simply a wonderful baker, because the treats she was enjoying were melting in her mouth and she knew anyone from high society would be absolutely ecstatic to have such delicious treats at a party. When she finished the tray, she smiled at the owner. "I must say, this is a difficult choice. These were absolutely delicious."
"I'm pleased that you enjoyed them," he said, looking absolutely giddy that a lady from high society had graced his bakery and was singing praises about his precious desserts that he make with great care. "Perhaps you'd like to try another tray of samples, milady?"
She smiled sweetly. "Actually, I believe I have come to a decision, one that I think you will be pleased to hear," she said.
"Really?" He asked, his eyes wide as he wondered what her decision was.
Angel was rather disgusted with herself that she was acting this part, but she knew it was necessary to get Saltbaker to drop his guard. She stood up and smiled at him. "Would it be too much to ask you if I could commission you to have all your wonderful treats at my party? That way my guests could have a variety of treats to enjoy. Some of them are very impressionable people who like to throw parties and I can guarantee once they try some of your delicious treats, they will seek you out to commission you to make treats for their parties."
Saltbaker's eyes widened at the prospect of that and he nodded. "I would be delighted to do so for you, Lady Angelica," he said. "May I ask when the party is?"
"Three weeks from now," she said to him. "I promise you will be paid handsomely for both your time and the treats."
"Thank you," he said.
"When shall I send someone with the payment?" Angel asked.
"I'll send the bill after the party," he said. "But I do promise I will give you a wonderful discount, milady."
"My, what a gentleman," she said sweetly. "It's difficult to come across such a gentleman nowadays."
Saltbaker blushed and Angel, with a silent apology to her husband, kissed the baker on the cheek, making him blush again. "Thank you so much, Mr. Saltbaker. I look forward to having your wonderful desserts at my party. Not only that, I will personally put you on the guest list to attend the party."
He bowed to her. "I am most humbled, milady," he said.
Angel decided to take a risk right then. "By the way, I've heard rumors of something called a Wondertart and that a couple young boys were looking for ingredients to create it," she said. "I must admit curiosity as to what the Wondertart is. It sounds delicious."
"It is a delectable treat that is rather difficult to make," Saltbaker said. "The ingredients are held by some greedy people. I have a desire to make the Wondertart for my darling niece but the owners of the ingredients wouldn't sell the items I needed to me. When two boys came in and offered to help, I was a bit worried, but they were insisted on helping out, which was really nice of them."
The young woman knew he was talking about the boys and Chalice and worry set in her gut again, but she smiled as she didn't want to alert him that she was onto him. "That was nice of them," she said, her voice still sweet. "Well then, I best get going to let my parents know about you coming to the party and bringing desserts. You have a wonderful day, Mr. Saltbaker. I'll be sure to recommend my friends to you."
"You have a wonderful day as well, Lady Angelica," he said.
She giggled as she headed for the door, turning and blowing the chef a kiss before winking at him. He blushed and rubbed the back of his head shyly as Angel left, going around the corner and out of sight down the road just in time as the potion wore off and she felt horror fill her before she wiped at her mouth in disgust.
"Ugh!" She said, popping a peppermint candy into her mouth. "I hope I never have to do that again. He was laying that syrup on so thick."
She quickly called Specter and told him what she found out and how she had chosen to put on an act. "I'm so disgusted that I had to do that, but I didn't know how else to get him to possibly lower his guard."
"I know it wasn't easy, my love," the ghost said understandingly. "And I know you would never cheat on me. You were undercover to get information. I'd say you did an outstanding job, one worthy of a gold trophy."
Angel smiled, feeling a bit better with her husband's words. "Oh, honey," she said. "How'd I get so lucky to have such a great man in my life?"
"You flew into my life, sweetheart," he said sweetly, making her giggle.
"Well, I best go meet the inhabitants here and hope I'm not too late to stop the boys and Chalice, because Saltbaker lied big time to them. He even lied to me, but I saw through that as fast as Mad Train can run down the tracks."
Specter grew worried. "Hurry, my love, but be careful," he said. "If our nephews and Chalice have already gotten to some of the inhabitants and battled them, they may not be willing to listen to you right away."
Angel remembered her necklace and took it out. "Maybe and maybe not," she said. "The boatman recognized me because of my necklace, so I think that's how the others will recognize me. I hid it while talking to Saltbaker. Oh, by the way, please tell Cagney I say 'thank you' for the disguise potions and the scarf. I'll make his favorite dessert when me, Chalice, and the boys return."
"I'll let him know," the ghost said. "I'll see you soon."
"I'll see you soon, Handsome."
With that, Angel hung up the phone and began to move fast, knowing time was quickly running out. Not only that, she wasn't sure if Saltbaker already had one of the boys or Chalice captive.
"I guess I'll find out when talking to the inhabitants," she said to herself before taking a deep breath and gripping her necklace in her hand, swearing that if Saltbaker did have one of her nephews or her sister-in-law captive, she would teach him a lesson.
After all, she was not just a pretty face.
Looks like Angel wasn't fooled by Saltbaker, but what awaits her on the rest of the Isle? We shall soon seen.
Also, rest assured, Angel did not like having to be sweet like that to Saltbaker. She is loyal to her husband through and through and only did that to get Saltbaker to drop his guard around her.
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GoldGuardian2418
