Chapter 175: A Rumor
"Even though it was a mistake that brought you here, it was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Melanie. And I hope we will be able to have more business in the future."
Melanie shook hands with Mr. Peterson as she stepped out of the large timber holdings office, a small smile tugging at her lips. It was odd. She had come here because she’d been told there would be an auction. But Mr. Peterson—the man supposedly retiring—was in perfectly good spirits and clearly in no mood to step away from his business.
So it seemed someone had tried to sabotage him. And in the process, she’d been caught in the middle of it.
Thankfully, even though there had been no auction, she’d managed to strike a deal that would solve her oak and walnut wood problems for the foreseeable future. High quality, steady supply, reasonable terms—better than she’d hoped for, really. So, all in all, it had been worth the trip to Maniwa.
But now... with her business concluded, no auction to attend, and her return ticket set for tomorrow, she was left wondering what to do with the rest of her day.
She paused on the steps outside, glancing up at the sky. It was still early afternoon. The sun hung low but warm, the quiet hum of the small town carrying on around her.
She hadn’t planned for free time. But maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. For a moment she thought of calling Adam. She’d barely had time yesterday with the sudden travel plans that she’d simply messaged him that she would be here for the next two days. But he hadn’t called which was unlike him. So, should she call him or just roam around Maniwa? She sighed.
She really had no interest in playing tourist. She rubbed her empty stomach for a moment and sighed. Why did she come here on an empty stomach? Oh yes! Because she’d been worried that she would be late! Now her stomach was growling and making it almost impossible for her to think. It was better to eat something and then maybe check if she could change her return tickets to today.
Spotting a small café across the street with wide windows and wooden chairs scattered outside, she crossed over. The Forest Table, the sign read—charming enough, and it smelled like fresh bread and roasted garlic, which was more than enough to draw her in.