Just when Zest lands his dream job at the candy factory, he finds the woman of his candied dreams inherits it. Chartreuse is beautiful and anything but sugary, sweet, and everything nice; however, he looks past all that, gets the dates up until he finds himself against another man who seeks her hand, and who she denied knowing all the while. This cut-throat’s intention for her and the factory is a perfect equal to her own sourness. Can Zest sweeten her up to his side before she loses everything?
Read this fantastic excerpt from the original fantasy-romance novel written by
I
“I’ve so many delicious dreams now
foreseeable as something I
can accomplish just seeing how
your family made this candy land. So sly
and ingenious you all were,” Zest remarks.
As she paddles the boat, her face dark
as they pass into a tunnel, she smiles.
“Your flattery can get you far-stretched miles
ahead in the real world but just
barely past this bend in our chocolate river.”
Their gazes meet, and her brows scrunch, a shiver
sent down his back as he starts to bust
up seeing how much she wants to throw
him overboard. He says, “what a cruel show.
II
Chartreuse, a cracked, candied sour apple
you've become.” She laughs, humor enjoyed.
“Even so, we can still kiss and dapple.
There’s no need to feel so annoyed.”
She stamps, saying, “stop getting sicker!
I’ll leave this place to avoid a sugar licker.”
“So you don’t want my kiss?” He frowns.
“You want to run away? Let me down.
Please don’t. Just stop because your home seems
too fantastical to abandon, too great.
Boys and girls, men and woman, early and late
in age would do anything to live this dream
you have behind the candy factory walls.”
She shrugs her shoulders as he half bawls.
III
“Humph! I don’t like you saying it’s
great like if I’m your ticket in... one kissable.
That’s all. I can’t leave. I wouldn’t forfeit
this factory for anything. Pitiable
I find the fact I’m not a blood relative.
It means the ancestral tree won’t forgive
me for being an orphan. I’m far less
inclined to inherit when she passes
because I’m not genetically related.”
“I see. I didn’t mean to hype it then.
Your want to separate and avoid chagrin
is totally natural, not belated.”
“I’ve prepared myself to have the will
to read and find out it’s disassembled by quill.”
Read this fantastic excerpt from the original fantasy-romance novel written by
IV
“Well, if a mortal wrote it, surely one can
change it to include you. It’s ridiculous
after all, to destroy it with a plan.”
She giggles. “Now that’s ludicrous.
My own mother wills it so. She wants
me to marry the best man, but it haunts
her how men and I can’t ever get along.”
“Surely, her bitter ways you know are wrong?”
“No, just a man who reaches my heart can
I accept wholeheartedly. She told me this
my entire life, and I agree. This biz
needs an overseer who’s a real man,
not servant, nor laborer, just a smarty
with brains and brawn and ability.”
V
The heart, once fluttering in his chest,
crashes on the rib cage, breaking apart,
and Zest cannot explain why the best
part of the day is being solely to dart
away from Chartreuse, not learn
more about her. I just want to return
to the old lady, he thinks. She’s too much
for any man to deal with. This rush
in my soul, this preemptive like,
is the most intimidating thing I’ve
experienced. Chartreuse only does strive
to assure a wedge grows, a spike
that draws blood, if disobeyed,
between us, and she has me afraid.
VI
“We’re now at candy island,” she decants,
the boat landing on shore of one
spot made of the same candy plants
as earlier, glowing green in the sun.
“There’s an office inside where
you’ll be stationed,” she says. “From there,
you’ll overwatch the workers. Any
questions they have are yours to answer. Many
come all the time. So don’t think you’ll
be napping and snacking when assigned here.”
“What? I wanted to work with paper, near
Ms. Candellaria,” he snaps. “I think she’ll
be irate when she learns how you’re confused.”
Her eyes beat at him, making him feel abused.
BELLA RARIORA 