Page 137 of Riding the Sugar High

My cheeks warm. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of, but of course, I feel none of the happiness I should be experiencing. “This is music to my ears.”

“We’ve already given it the green light, so we’ll get to work as soon as you start. We plan to launch it before the end of the year.”

“Wow, this is...incredible. I’m speechless.” Drying my sweaty hands against my thighs, I wiggle on the chair. It might just be my bad mood, but being in this tiny room makes me claustrophobic. I miss the fields, the fresh smell of grass and moss.

Only a handful of days ago, I missed home—the busy streets of Mayfield, my frenetic routine, the place where I always get smoothies when the city gets too warm in the summer. Now, the thought of going back only means getting farther away from Logan.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to work with Marisol. I’m so thankful for this opportunity.”

“We’re far more thrilled than you are, trust me,” Jessica says.

Chloe bobs her head, then turns to the camera. “Okay. Now, onto our only issue.”

As I swallow, my joy dampens. “Oh, uh...sure.”

“Not anissue,” Jessica scolds Chloe. “The sales marketing has reviewed your recipe and asked us to change a couple of ingredients.”

“Okay.” I don’t think I hide my shock well enough before I realize I need to look collected. I’m sure this is all part of the process. “Sure, let’s hear ’em.”

“We’d like to use refined sugar instead of brown sugar. We understand that the recipe will need adjustments, but...we’ve made some projections, and that’s the best way to ensure the highest revenue.”

I guess I can live with that. Many vegans close an eye on refined sugar anyway, and if they do, so can I.

“And gelatine instead of agar-agar.”

Gelatine?!“But that would...gelatine isn’t suitable for vegans.”

Chloe nods. “Yes, we understand that.”

I must really be stupid, because the first thought in my brain is that Logan will never get to eat my candy. He won’t be able to walk to the grocery store and buy a bag. Though the truth is, he probably wouldn’t anyway.

But this goes beyond Logan. “You know...you know my whole brand is about making candy for people who can’t typically eat it. And with gelatine, making it unsuitable for vegans, and white sugar, making it inaccessible for?—”

“We get it,” Jessica says, but her sweet smile feels awfully insincere now. “But we want to make this candy accessible to the masses, and we need to keep our costs low.”

I get that, but they’re talking about stripping my product of theonequality that makes it mine. I make candy for people who can’t have candy. That’s the one thing that I’ve never compromised on. Good god, I’ve been worrying about the recipe to submit when I should have been concerned about my whole brand being shoved aside.

“I’ll be honest,” I say as I fix them both with a cold look. “I’m a little surprised. I think I’ll need a moment to consider this and get back to you.”

“How about we send the contract over? I’m sure if you also look at the financial aspect, you’ll?—”

“The financial aspect doesn’t overly concern me,” I say softly. I’ve never been a very money-driven person, and I make a good living with my social media. “But please send the contract, and I’ll go through it.”

“All right. We hope you’ll consider?—”

“Thank you,” I say curtly. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

I snap the laptop shut, then breathe out.

Of course, this is how these two weeks would end. With me losing Logan and my opportunity with Marisol. I would have accepted anything—any freaking thing—but this.

A new recipe. More or less of whatever ingredient. But to strip my recipe of its value would be an insult to me and my audience.

It’s disrespectful they even suggested this.

Yes, my lack of the usual politeness might have something to do with what’s happening with Logan, but what I said stands. I willnotchange the heart of my recipes.

I slump back in bed and scroll mindlessly on my phone. I expected to miss this much more than I actually did while I was at Logan’s, and though it’s nice to connect with the world again, I quickly get bored of social media.