Pastry Mystery: Cheesecake Mistake

Chapter Five

At six p.m. sharp Russell came to Pastry Mystery with his European sedan car to pick up Libby for their, according to her, not-a-date. He came with a casual navy blue chinos, grey slim fit turtleneck sweatshirt, with a brown leather belt that matched with his Chelsea boots. He styled his slick back hair neatly. He carried an umbrella since it was raining hard outside. He greeted Toby friendlily who was standing behind the cash register. Toby welcomed him unenthusiastically, he still didn’t like Russell who was interested to take over Pastry Mystery. Also, he thought Russell was a bad influence for Libby, he wasn’t sure why he thought so for Toby didn’t really know about him. If Libby would ever sell this place to Russell than Toby would fail his promise to Jimmy and he wouldn’t like it. Toby was a man of his words.

In a split second, Libby came downstairs with very casual outfits. She put on blue skinny jeans, oversized grey knitted sweatshirt and black biker boots. She didn’t even bother putting some makeup and any jewelry besides her tiny silver push back earrings. She styled her hair in a messy high bun but it looked elegant on her. Libby tried to look as effortless as possible. She wanted to prove Toby and Jessica that two adult man and woman could simply go out to the cinema and dinner without engaging in a romantic affair.

“You look gorgeous,” complimented Russell when he opened the door of Libby’s deli. “Bye, Toby.”

Toby just waved at them without even looking. And so did Libby, she didn’t feel any urge to say anything to him. Russell released his umbrella for Libby and himself. They walked together to his car and he even opened the car door for her.

They arrived at the cinema in less than twenty minutes. They were right on time since the movie was almost started. The tickets were sold out since it was Butterfly Droids premier released in Amaranth Creek Theatre but Russell had booked ones for them. After grabbing some popcorns and soft drinks, they headed to the cinema auditorium that was fully packed with visitors already. Libby tried to check their seat numbers but the light was dimmed. Russell grabbed her hand all of the sudden and pointed at their chairs in the dark—it was the VIP lounge.

“Tommy Olsen is a great actor, don’t you think so?” asked Russell as soon as he sat down. “I have a high expectation on this movie.”

“Me too. I’m like a huge fan of Tommy. I’m sure this going to be good,” replied Libby. She was a fan of Tommy Olsen since her teenage years. She even had a big poster of him as an alien cowboy on her wall back then. They and everybody became quiet as soon as the film started.

The movie was about a scientist who did an experiment on butterflies and they mutated to half butterfly half robot species, in a world where the insect almost extinct. He called it butterfly droids and they supposed to help to restore the ecosystems. Instead, the insects began to attack the human and destroy almost the entire ecosystem. A young and hot scientist, the main character played by Tommy Olsen of course, was supposed to save the world. There were many scenes where the main character was topless and showed off his marvelous abs and biceps in the movie. All ladies were in awe anytime Olsen flexed his muscles. When the hot scientist had to sacrifice himself and die together with all the butterfly droids, many female audiences of the movie were sobbing, including Libby. They were all absorbed into Olsen’s amazing act. Even without Tommy Olsen having to seduce all the women with his body, the movie would actually still be good. But it was only part of a marketing strategy from the filmmaker to gain more viewers.

As always, Libby was satisfied with Tommy Olsen’s movie. She couldn’t stop talking about it with Russell when they headed to their next destination—dinner at a sushi restaurant. Russell had made a reservation, technically Jessica did, for them at Saito Sushi restaurant in Honeydew Bay. Libby wasn’t expecting this at all. Saito Sushi was a fancy Japanese restaurant owned by the best sushi chef on the West Coast, Chef Jonathan Saito. Libby thought they would grab some food somewhere in Amaranth Creek, but instead, they drove all the way to Honeydew Bay to enjoy a candlelight dinner with one of the most popular Japanese dishes.

“How did you get a table for us here?” Libby amazed since it would normally take at least two weeks in advance to make an RSVP at this place, even on weeknights.

“Jonathan is an old friend of mine,” answered Russell casually. A waitress soon came to their table. Russell recommended a chef’s special menu and Libby agreed with his suggestion. She had been here long ago with her father when they celebrated Libby’s high school graduation and that she received a full scholarship to a law school in New York.

“Have you ever been here before?” asked Russell while enjoying their appetizer—it was mango and avocado wrapped inside slices of raw salmon with fresh fish roe and drizzled with spicy yuzu sauce on top.

“Yes, I've been here before like five years ago with my dad,” Libby halted as an exotic taste of the sweet salmon combined with the sauce exploded heavenly in her mouth. She couldn't help herself not to feel in awe as her face said it all. She took a picture of the dish to post it on her social media account.

“It's really good, isn't it?”

Libby nodded, “This is fantastic. Thank you for taking me here. I didn't know that you have a friend here in the States.”

“I knew Jonathan back when he visited Italy a few years ago. He promised to get me a table if I ever come to his restaurant with someone special.”

Libby coughed to hear the words someone special that made Russell laughed really hard.

“Sorry,” Libby gulped down a glass of water nervously.

“You're cute. I was just teasing you. Otherwise, Toby would kill me.”

“Why would Toby do that?” Libby was curious what made him think that way.

“He doesn't have a crush on you? I thought he does and that he was jealous when I picked you up earlier,” he said.

“Toby Pettigrew? Of course not. He hates me, as much as I hate him. He didn't say a word when you came because. Because he was just being a jerk, like always. I fired him already but he still stays around. He's determined to fulfill his promise to my dad,” explained Libby. Russell nodded his head.

“What was his words to your old man then?”

“He's going to help me running the business and teach me baking, but I don't know.”

“But you want to sell the deli instead?” Libby nodded lightly. “Are you sure Libby? I think your old man would be pissed too if he knows.”

“I know, but it was never been my dream to run his legacy. On the other hand, Pastry Mystery is what's left of him and I want to keep it that way,” told Libby doubtfully.

“I knew your dad,” said Russell while munching the fresh sushi on the table.

“How come? I mean, I thought you just moved,” said Libby surprised.

Russell guffawed, “I mean I went to Pastry Mystery when I just moved and I met your dad there. He was a really nice guy, he gave me his popular Danish as a welcome gift. He even offered his help when I was still busy with moving. I was pretty surprised that he passed away shortly after that.”

Libby smiled wryly, deep down she was proud of her father's kindness and she missed him too. “That sounds like what my father would do.”

“If you sell your bakery to me, I will keep the name that way. Even I'll keep Toby as my main baker,” promised Russell. “But think about it again, Libby. I don't want you to regret it later.”

The rest of the dinner went surprisingly quite romantic for them. They got to know better about themselves. Russell couldn't take his eyes off of Libby. He seemed to chuckle at every word that came out of Libby’s mouth. Chef Jonathan also personally served a plate of fresh salmon, tuna and octopus sashimi in a heart shape for them. Libby and Russell then took a selfie together and he posted it on his social media. ‘Candlelight dinner with the sweetest girl I've ever met’ was the caption that Russell wrote. He even tagged Libby on the photo which meant everybody that followed her on Scrapalbum could see that.

At ten thirty p.m. Libby was finally home. She thanked Russell for the good time they had today.

“No, Libby. Thank you. I'm looking forward to going on another date with you,” said Russell waving her goodbye. Libby was blushed as she couldn't help giggling when she opened the door. She didn't know that Russell considered it as a dare, but maybe it really was. Her happiness yet faded away as she was startled looking at Toby who was still not leaving Pastry Mystery.

“You shocked the living hell out of me!“ she cried. Toby ignored her and kept making dough and batter for the bread and cakes he was going to make tomorrow morning. Libby saw a big sack of cornstarch laying on the table in front of him, she could make cotton cheesecake again tomorrow.

“You went all the way to Honeydew Bay for dinner, huh?” asked Toby while kneading a dough.

“Yeah and it was worthy,” bragged Libby. Did he see it on Scrapalbum? Did he stalk me?

“I thought you said it wasn't a date.”

“It really wasn't. Even if it was, it's none of your business. Why? Jealous?” Is he really jealous?

Toby scoffed cockily, “It's none of my business indeed, but tomorrow Jessica Medley will make a ruckus here again. It's not good if she comes when the store is busy.” He was right, Jessica might have misunderstood about it, Libby thought. But she didn't care about it. Jessica wasn't his girlfriend anyway. Libby didn’t want to worry about it now, she finally had a good time since moving back to Amaranth City.

As predicted, Toby’s prophecy came true. It wasn’t even nine o’clock in the morning but Jessica once again barged in Pastry Mystery already. Libby, who was slicing her deflated cotton cheesecakes, came out as soon as she heard the angry woman calling out her name.

“Hey! What’s your problem?” asked Libby in righteous indignation while putting her cotton cheesecakes next to her father’s urn in the storefront.

“You’re my problem! I’ve told you to stay away from Russell,” said Jessica firmly. Libby sneered,

“Who are you telling me what to do? I’ve told you it wasn’t a date.”

“Then why did he post such a picture on Scrapalbum?”

“Beats me! Why don’t you ask him? For me, it wasn’t a date, if Russell thought differently that it’s up to him,” answered Libby cockily.

“You! Why do you always ruin everything for me?” Jessica screamed at the top of her lungs. “You stole Jerry from me in high school. I was supposed to be the prom queen that time and he was my prom king, but you ruined it.”

“Oh my god, Jess! What are you talking about? Do you hate me because of that?”

“Way more than that. You ruined everything back then and now again. You made my high school life a living hell. Why did you even move back to Amaranth Creek? Why don’t you stay in New York, a place you always talked about since long time ago? You stole that scholarship from me…”

“I moved back because my father died!” cried Libby interrupting her. Jessica was getting out of the line, it wasn’t like Libby planned it to return here. “I didn’t steal Jerry from you. You guys didn’t even date, Jess. You created the rumor yourself and even your fake breakup with Jerry. And about the scholarship? I won it fair and square, I had higher grades than you. And I made your high school life a living hell you said? Did you even hear yourself? A half of the school once ghosted me because of a nasty rumor that you spread, Jess! But you know what, I let go of it since long ago. If it was all high school craps all over again, then you definitely are childish. Grow up, Jess!”

Jessica was about to slapped Libby but Toby held her arm.

“Let go of me, you jerk! It’s none of your business,” she pushed him away.

“Get out of here,” said Toby in a cold tone.

“If you want to date Russell, just do it. I don’t care. I bet you are just after his money,” quipped Libby. She still remembered very clearly that her old mate was known as a materialistic girl. Pete's parents, one of her ex-boyfriends in high school, were also one of the richest family in Amaranth City. Jessica didn’t respond to that verbally this time. Instead, she grabbed a plate full of Libby’s sliced cotton cheesecakes and threw it on the ground. Unfortunately, she nudged Jimmy’s urn and the ashes were all scattered everywhere on the floor, some even on top of the thrown cakes. Jessica stormed off after doing that malicious act.

“I’ll kill you!” screamed Libby almost attacking her rival but Toby stopped her. She cried in Toby’s arms while trying to gather the remaining ashes of her father.

The following morning, Libby was still sad with happened to her father’s urn yesterday. She didn’t talk to Toby, like always, while whisking her cotton cheesecake mixture in the kitchen. The store phone rang but she didn’t feel like picking it up, so Toby did.

“Okay. I’ll let her know. Bye,” said Toby hanging up the call.

“What do I have to know?” asked Libby.

“Jessica,” he paused, “Jessica is dead.”

Libby smiled lightly, “Very funny Toby. I’d be glad to hear it if it was true.”

“It is true, Libby. Jessica was found dead earlier today.”

Libby dropped her balloon whisk out of shock. Of course, she meant it figuratively when she said that she’d be glad if Jessica died.

“What? How?” she tried to grasp the situation. In less than two weeks, three citizens of Amaranth Creek died shortly after each other.

“Food poisoned. She died after eating your cotton cheesecake, Libby.”