Granny tried to get the goods but Red refused to divulge anything. Being Gran, the only way Red could punish her, was to hold out on the information she wanted.

The next morning Goldie came into the living room surprised to see Red asleep on the couch. "Why didn't you wake me?"

Red stretched and stood up to go make some coffee.

"Are you mad at me?" It wasn't like Red not to talk to her.

"No, I was mad at you. Now, I'm too tired to care."

Goldie knew immediately why. "Gran outlasted me didn't she?"

"Yep."

"Sorry."

"It's fine really." However, Red sighed thinking of the kiss she had missed.

Gran came into the room. "You talking to me yet?"

"Yes. We have something we need to discuss."

"What's that?" Gran asked as Red set a glass of water and her pill case in front of her.

"Hunter told me the producer of the show wants to offer us a chance to compete for the T.V. spot, endorsements, everything?"

"Why would he do that?"

"Because the winner takes it all and he thinks our stuff is better than Wolf's."

"Takes all as in the loser gets nothing?" Gran inquired.

"As in the loser, loses everything," Red amended.

"Not interested," Gran stated flatly.

"Come on, Gran. With Wolf getting a show on cable we are going to lose everything as soon as it hits the air."

"You don't know that."

"Are we suppose to wait until it happens?"

"IF it happens, we'll deal with it then, Red. I know I'm old but I have several good years in me yet and I don't plan on wasting a minute of them. But if this is something YOU feel strongly about, then go for it. I could use an early retirement," Gran said getting up from the table and walking down to the bakery.

"AUGH!!!!! Why does she have to make everything so difficult!"

"Because she wants you to choose," Goldie said.

"Choose what? Listen to her or close up shop?"

"No, what path to take. She wants you to choose your own way."

"My way! That's a joke. I've always done what others expected of me my whole life. The one time I didn't, it was a disaster, and she's never let me live it down."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to tell Hunter to inform the producer, 'Thanks but no thanks.' What other choice do I have?"

Red calls Hunter and hears a sleepy, "Hello?"

"Oh geez, I'm sorry. I forget not everyone gets up this early."

"Red? No, no that's okay. What time is it?"

Red cringed. "4 a.m."

"4 a.m. I'm not sure I have ever been up this early." Hunter chuckled.

"Sorry, I just talked to Gran and so wanted to give you our answer."

This got Hunter's undivided attention. "And?"

"Thank you, but no."

Hunter knew this would be the answer but still felt disappointed believing it to be the only way he could help her and Granny. "Okay, I'll tell Humphrey."

"Thanks, Hunter."

"What for?"

"Trying."

Humphrey did not take the news well. "This isn't good. Not good at all. Okay, time for plan B."

"Plan B? Humphrey what are you talking about."

"My advertisers went ballistic when they found out Wolf lied. I have to make this happen or they are all pulling out."

"Why not let Wolf get what he deserves? Why not let him lose it all?" Hunter wanted to know.

"Because it's not about Wolf. I can't let him spoil my reputation. Not to mention, how do I pay my crews if Wolf goes belly up?"

Hunter hadn't thought of that. "What are you planning?"

"You're going to hate me but I'm going to sic Wolf on Red," Humphrey said.

"You can't!"

"Oh, yes I can! And he'll be all too eager to do it once he knows it means Red loses everything. In his mind, I'd be handing her to him on a silver platter and with his overconfident ego, he won't even consider what would happen if he lost."

"I understand your predicament here, Humphrey but I'm out. I can't be a part of this. Especially knowing it's not what they want."

"Understood, I'll find another judge."

"Good." Hunter got up and walked away. "What a mess." He hoped Red didn't do anything foolish.

At noon, Red decided to take a basket of goodies to the local nursing home, like she has every Friday for some time now. Turning the corner, Elias suddenly appears next to her.

"Hello Red, whatcha got in the basket?" he asks, trying to take a peek.

Red slapped his hand.

"Ow!"

"Get your paws off my basket! These aren't for you and why are you stalking me?"

"Stalking you? That's harsh, Red. I just happened along and..."

"Save it, Elias. That may have worked years ago, but I'm much smarter now."

"Really? Then why did you turn down the only offer you received to save Granny's business? Oh, that's right. You knew the truth. That there is no way you could compete with me."

"Please, you don't know the difference between a crumpet and a trumpet," Red said. "You hire your skill because you have none of your own."

"Big words, from such a little lady," Wolf laughed. "Too bad you won't be able to prove them. It will be such a great day when I see that FOR SALE sign go up in your window."

Red lost it, she pulled Wolf's phone from his pocket.

"Hey, what the..."

She swiped to Humphrey's number to connect. "Humphrey? Red here. I'm in." She hung up the phone and tossed it back to Wolf, who fumbled it for a second before getting a hold of it.

"I'm so going to make you eat those words," she said before storming off.

"Well, you'll try." Wolf smiled.

Hunter was sitting in the bakery with Granny when Red returned. They both looked at her concerned when she entered. She still couldn't believe she let Elias get the better of her, maybe she should back out, but a large part of her knew she didn't want to.

"He got to you didn't he?" Granny said shaking her head. "Well Hunter, your warning came a bit too late, I'm afraid."

To Red, she added, "You do this, you're on your own. I'm going out." She turned the shop's sign from open to closed, grabbed her purse, and walked out the door.

Red looked down at the empty basket and felt the urge to throw it across the room. Instead, she settled for a large piece of triple chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing. She threw it on a plate and joined Hunter at the table.

"I had hoped to warn you. You know you may want to slow down a bit..." Hunter added, watching her take bite after bite.

"I'm stress eating, okay. Leave me alone," Red said purposely shoveling another piece in.

Hunter went behind the counter and pulled some milk from the fridge. He poured Red a large glass and set it on the table. "I don't care how moist your cakes are, you're going to need something to wash that down."

Red wanted to laugh but it came out a muffled cry.

"Oh, Red. You don't have to do this."

She swallowed and said, "Yes, I do. We can win this. I want to take him down. I want it in the worst possible way."

"Then let's get out of here and make you a plan," Hunter said offering her his hand.

She smiled a grateful smile, wiped her hands and face with a napkin, and left her cake behind.

A few hours later, they returned to the bakery. Red feeling much more confident knowing what the contest would consist of, having talked with Humphrey, and making the proper choices for each selection.

"You ready for this?"

"I am so ..." Red's words stopped when she saw a police car outside the shop. She went running, pushing the door open and yelling for Gran.

"I'm here, Red!" she announced from the kitchen.

"Okay, I think we have all we need," the patrolmen said shutting his report book.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Red felt the panic welling up in her throat.

"We were robbed."

"Robbed? Oh! I didn't lock up the register. How much did we lose?"

"They only went through our personal things, in the apartment, nothing was taken from the bakery."

"That's odd," Hunter said coming up behind Red, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"What did they take?" Red knew their personal belongings wouldn't amount to much, they would have done better with the register.

"Nothing, they riffled through some clothes but must have been scared off when they heard sirens."

Red hugged her Grandmother. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Gran held on to her granddaughter. She loved her so much. "I'm sorry for arguing, Red. I just don't want to see you hurt again."

"Well Hunter and I have come up with a really great plan and with luck, this time tomorrow we can say good-bye to Big Bad's Bakery."