Chapter 5

Jake could be everything a woman want and more. He is charming, sweet and mostly loved by his female customers. Some female customers frequent the restaurant just so they could get a glimpse of him. The restaurant was doing well and it was supposed to be that way until an online review posted by a blogger portrayed the restaurant as being unclean and too pricey.

The reporter who came to the restaurant the previous day must have done this. Josie thought to herself. The reporter was quite serious about getting the best course meal they had. He was served the best and everything went well, so what could have prompted him to write such horrible reviews about the restaurant. Josie couldn't contain her anger so she took it personal. She picked up her phone immediately to call the reporter.

"Hello, am I speaking with Chris the reporter?

" Yes you are" the reporter responded.

"How could you do something like that after visiting our restaurant. You said our services were topnotch, so why the horrible reviews?

"Do you know what harm this could bring the restaurant?

Josie continued screaming at the reporter.

"Please calm down for a second, let me explain to you better, if you can come to my office tomorrow, I will explain everything to you"

Josie could feel herself calming down a little. What could be the reason he had to write such damaging reviews about the restaurant. One thing was certain, Jake was unbothered with the whole issue. Josie couldn't take the silence from Jake anymore. She needed to know what her was thinking.

"Hello sir, why don't you feel bothered about this whole review thing? Josie said to Jake.

Jake laughed before looking around to check if someone was watching.

"Why being so formal, is anyone watching?

"That wasn't my question, Sir". Josie said keeping a straight face.

Jake could now see how serious Josie was. She wasn't smiling and when that happens, she really meant serious business.

"Why should I feel bothered about it? Jake said to Josie.

"Don't you know the internet this day is what everyone uses to find restaurants to eat? The reviews are very important Jake, the restaurant could fail! Josie said with a quivering lips.

Jake saw how worried Josie was about the restaurant. His love for her increased, not just because she worries about the restaurant like it's her own, but because she worries what it could do to him if the restaurant fails.

"Are you worried about the restaurant or me? Jake asked Josie smiling.

"This isn't really funny Jake, of course I am worried about the restaurant and also worried about you. I know how much you value this place.

"okay, fine. what can we do to save the restaurant since it worries you so much"

"Are you really asking so you could fix it, or are you just asking because you want me to feel better"?

"It's more of both I will say, I want to save the restaurant because you care about us so much."

Josie couldn't get any other words from her mouth. Jake was going to solve the problem, he was going to take a step to solve the problem. Already their sales has been declining lately and even at that, Jake was still not bothered. Getting Jake to do something about feels like the best decision she took. She went straight into Jake's arm, hugging him so tight which made Jake unable to breathe properly.

"Josie, hey you are hugging me so tight" Jake said smiling.

Josie let him go a little, drawing back from the hug but Jake grabbed her hand, brought her close to his mouth lifted his mouth to her forehead then planted a kiss on it.

Josie always felt weak in the knees whenever Jake kissed her forehead. She felt a whole lot of emotions, she felt loved and cared for. Josie knew she had to inform Jake of her meeting with the reporter, but she was reluctant to tell him for fear of him refusing to let her meet him. She felt it was all her fault as she Introduced the reporter to the restaurant. She had to fix this and fix it fast.

Jake had initially seen Josie screaming at someone on the phone and he wondered who it could be. He had to call one of their waiters to know what could be the problem as he knows she won't give him the answer he seeks. The waiter told Jake it was the reporter who wrote the reviews about the restaurant. Jake wished Josie wouldn't take it so far.

He called her phone, but she didn't pick up. He became worried and tried looking for her in the restaurant. She was nowhere to be found. His curiosity intensified. He had to ask for the address of the company where the reporter worked. The restaurant manager gave Jake the address, bit before he left, he asked him a question..

"Where is Josie? he asked the manager.

"Oh , she stepped out sir, she will be back shortly"

"Stepped out to where Jake asked

"I want the truth, just tell me where exactly she is".

" She made me promise not to tell you but i have no choice"

"She is at a coffee shop across the street. She had planned to meet the reporter at his office but she changed her mind and decided the meeting be held at an open place where every could see her incase something were to happen" the manager said.

"Why does she think something might happen" Jake asked. feeling anxious now than ever.

Before the manager could respond to his questions, he was already at the door, heading to the coffee shop opposite his restaurant.

If anything were to happen to Josie, Jake couldn't forgive himself.

Jake got to the coffee shop, looked around and that when his eyes landed on Josie. He could see her sitting proudly while speaking with the reporter. He walked up to them and took a sit beside Josie.

"Heyyy Jake, what are you doing here, Josie asked.

"What about you Josie, what are you doing here? , Jake asked feeling angry at himself for not taking proper care of the whole issue. And now it could put Josie in harm's way. He loves her way too much to see her get hurt.

"I am just here to speak to the reporter" Josie said.

" You can leave that to me, I will speak with him and get back to you. Can you go back to restaurant now.?

Josie wasn't comfortable leaving Jake with the reporter for she knows how vicious they could be. They can do anything just to get exclusive stories and she wasn't going to let the reporter exploit Jake. Josie decided she wasn't leaving. Jake had no option than to let her be.

"Why did you write such review? Jake asked the reporter.

"I wrote was I asked to, my editor forced me to. He said if I didn't write what was damaging to the restaurant, he was going to make life a living hell for me in the office. I panicked!

" My editor said someone threatened him, he said they threatened to ruin our newspaper company if we didn't write a bad review about your restaurant".

Out of curiosity, I asked if he knew the person personally, he said no, he only got a call and after speaking to the person the call ended and that was it".

"I guess he panicked also" the reporter concluded.

"So you are telling me you had no issues with our restaurant other than what your boss asked you to do?

The reporter nodded affirmatively.

"Who could have done this? Josie said facing Jake.

"I really have no idea, but we shall find out later because nothing is hidden under the sun for long" Jake said.

The reporter bid them farewell and left the coffee shop.

Josie and Jake didn't leave immediately. They sat there for sometime staring at each other wondering how they came to be.

"I really don't feel we should let this thing bother us this much" Jake said.

As Josie was about to respond to Jake, they saw a waitress from the restaurant walk pass the coffee shop. Josie ran outside to see where she was going and Jake followed her. They saw the waitress running to meet up with the reporter. Could she be the one sabotaging the restaurant? .......

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