Chapter 17: Free Offer

Max woke up before dawn, eyes still heavy with sleep, but heart beating with a sense of purpose. Today was the first test—the launch of his secret recipe.

By 4:30 AM, he was already at the restaurant. The morning air was still cool, the streets quiet. Moments later, two delivery trucks arrived—one carrying fresh, high-quality chicken, the other stacked with crates of herbs, spices, and cooking supplies.

He signed the papers, checked every box himself, and helped unload. The chicken looked good—clean, plump, and just right for his marinade. The herbs were fresh, and the pressure cookers gleamed under the kitchen lights.

Tommy arrived not long after, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "Damn, Max. What's all this? ?"

Max smiled, lifting a box. "New recipe ."

The rest of the team followed, curious about the early start. Emily came in, hair tied back, notebook in hand. "Hi Max, I came to help you today. In return, I would like some grilled chicken. ?" she asked, her voice low with excitement.

Max nodded. "You'll taste it soon."

In a quiet corner of the kitchen, Max started mixing the marinade. He carefully combined 49 specific herbs and spices, just as he'd practiced. The measurements were exact, the order precise. He made sure to do it alone—away from curious eyes.

He'd ordered 55 herbs in total, using only 49 of them, just in case anyone tried to replicate the mix. A trick to protect the recipe. He thought to himself, *Even if someone watches, they'll never guess which ones matter.*

Tommy approached, sniffing the air. "Man, what *is* that smell?"

Emily leaned closer. "Is that cinnamon? No—something deeper. Max, this is amazing."

"Just wait," Max said, already brushing the marinade over the first batch of chicken.

As the meat cooked in the pressure ovens, a warm, rich aroma filled the kitchen, then drifted out to the dining area. Within an hour, customers were poking their heads into the kitchen.

"What's that smell?"

"Something new on the menu?"

Max stepped out front with a tray of small, bite-sized chicken pieces.

"Free tasting today," he announced. "New roasted chicken coming tomorrow—today, enjoy a preview."

People were skeptical at first, but the moment they tasted it, their eyes lit up.

"This is *unreal*."

"Are you *sure* this is free?"

"I'll buy a full plate right now!"

Max laughed. "Tomorrow. For now, just enjoy."

Throughout the day, the team worked like clockwork. The smell drew in more people than usual. Customers smiled, whispered, and even took pictures.

Behind the scenes, Max kept a close eye on everything. He watched how people reacted, how many asked for more, and which comments repeated.

By the end of the day, Max gathered the team.

"You all did great today," he said. "I know it's just the beginning, but we're on to something."

Tommy nodded. "You're not kidding. I've never seen people react like that."

Emily grinned. "Tomorrow's going to be crazy."

They checked the register. Sales were up thanks to regular orders, but not enough to fully cover today's spending—between the new cookware, the herbs, and the chicken, the costs were still ahead of profits.

But Max wasn't worried.

He looked at the numbers and smiled. "Today we planted the seed. The harvest starts tomorrow."

Emily stayed back as the others left, helping him clean up. "You know," she said, "this was smart. Free samples, word of mouth, and that aroma? Perfect."

He glanced at her, tired but proud. "Thanks. I just hope it keeps going."

"It will," she said. "And... Max? I'm glad I'm here to see it."

They shared a brief silence, a glance, a smile—simple, not dramatic, but real.

After she left, Max locked up and stood alone in the kitchen, taking one last look at the place.

Not a dream. Not luck. Just effort, timing, and one good recipe.

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Author's Note: Friends, support is very low. I hope you leave a comment, review, or energy stone and add it to your library. The topic does not take anything from you, but it helps me a lot. 

I also released my new novel called The Blind Date System which I'm sure you'll like.