Grandmother Left Half the Onsen Inn to the Chef novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: The Offer

The man from the hotel group arrived at three that afternoon.

It was as if he had been waiting outside for the bank's letter to land.

He wore a grey suit and carried a leather folder, and he bowed exactly as deep as courtesy required.

"Mizuno-san," he said to Sakura in the lobby. "My condolences on your grandmother. Might we speak about the future of Hoshinoyu?"

Genji hovered at the end of the desk with his handkerchief in his fist.

Sakura led the man to the sitting room by the garden and poured tea with hands that were steady only because she made them.

Yuzu came in from the kitchen without being asked and sat down beside her.

She was still in her chef's jacket, with her sleeves rolled to the elbow, and she smelled of grilled fish and smoke.

Sakura was sharply, stupidly aware of her thigh against her own.

"I understand the inn has a loan coming due," the man said.

"That is private," Sakura said.

"It is a matter of record at the bank, which my company also uses." He opened the folder. "We would pay ninety million yen for the whole of Hoshinoyu. That clears the debt, pays the staff a generous settlement, and leaves a great deal over for the two of you."

Ninety million.

Sakura felt the number land somewhere in her chest and sit there.

"The will does not allow a sale before the end of February," she said.

"I know. The offer stands until the first of March." He turned a card over on the lacquer table. "I only ask that you consider it."

"We won't," Sakura said.

"Speak for yourself," Yuzu said.

Sakura turned her head.

Yuzu was looking at the card, not at her.

Her face gave nothing away at all.

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