‘No, no problem. Just an idea I’ve had. Something to put forward. I’ve come to see if the hotel might be interested in me supplying them with turndown chocolates, actually.’

‘Oh yum. Now that is a good idea. Give me a second and I’ll just try and locate Adam, our assistant manager. Take a seat if you like.’

‘Thanks.’ As she sat down she realised her heart was racing. This order might just help to save The Chocolate Shop, or at least be a major step in the right direction. She still had to answer Mr Neil’s letter, but if she secured some new business she’d have more hope of managing to pay the increased rent.

After a minute or two, who should arrive but the young man who’d been calling in lately. Of course, he’d said he had started working here recently!

‘Adam, this is Emma from the gorgeous chocolate shop down the road.’ Laura was obviously keen to help.

‘Hi, yes, hello, Emma, of course we’ve already met.’ He offered an outstretched hand to shake hers.

‘Hello.’

His handshake was warm and friendly, and though he was evidently young he seemed more assured here in the hotel than he had in the shop.

‘So, you have an idea for our hotel, I hear. Come on through and we can have a chat about it.’

‘Thanks.’

Emma followed him to the hotel’s lounge area – all duck-egg blue and cream sofas, some stripy, some plain – where he had organised coffee to be served for them.

‘Well, I’m open to new ideas, so what are you thinking?’

‘Obviously, I run a local chocolate shop, and I was thinking that a chocolate gift at turndown for your valued guests might prove popular. It could improve things like your hotel reviews on TripAdvisor and the like, and also make that difference between you and your competitors so as to draw repeat bookings and recommendations.’

‘Hmm, sounds interesting.’ Adam was nodding.

Emma began to relax a little. ‘I’ve brought along a selection of mini boxes filled with two high quality truffles – they aren’t too expensive and they would look lovely popped on a bedside table at turndown. These are just suggestions and you could choose what flavours you felt worked best for your clients.’ She lifted out all the boxes and the samples of fudge and chocolate hearts. ‘With Valentine’s Day coming up soon too we could theme the gifts – say raspberry chocolate love hearts with a champagne truffle.’

Adam smiled as he picked up one of the filled boxes in white.

‘I have tried to colour theme the ribbon to your logo too,’ Emma added chirpily. This wasn’t as difficult as she had feared, though actually getting a yes would be the hard bit.

‘So, how much are we actually talking price-wise?’ Adam asked.