Novels2Search
The Last Crumb Cake
Chapter 9 : Going Into Business

Chapter 9 : Going Into Business

Leaving the meeting, Zach decides to go into business for himself. He didn't expect that Brendan wouldn't want to budge. Zach figures he can watch a few videos to learn how to make Crumb Cake. And the business end can be done by an intern. Where would he find an intern?

He can find one on the forum that he created. Or have a member recommend someone. He really didn't want to go into competition. Zach felt that Brendan forced his hand. Now he, has to take his customers. Zach wanted to take the recipe, but he couldn't since he wasn't hired and he can't go back and ask for it.

And if he was hired, how could he have gotten his hands on the plans. That's something that's not just laying around. And more than likely he would have to sign a contract that prevents theft and the stealing of secrets well at least that's what he thinks.

Ideas are worth money and he knows Brendan's not taking any chances. Why would he? He probably invested his whole life savings and borrowed money from family and investors.

"Sinking Brendan, that's what I'll do, my crumb cakes will be so fantastic and he's not gonna wish that he hired me, Brendan's gonna wish that he'd listened.

Zach gets to his phone and checks the number of people in the forums. He can get people to support him, but, the product has to be excellent. Hopefully, there are actual people in the forum this time. And the real people aren't spamming their events and products.

When Zach opens one of the forums, he finds people posting pictures and videos and starting their own topics and forums. For a moment, he forgot that he added this feature. Zach's mind floats to the crumb cakes. What videos to watch. What ingredients to use besides those on the packaging.

Most of them, he can't afford or don't know where to access it. Oh yes, he can purchase over the counter supplements and place them inside the food to make sure people are eating a healthy product.

Zach opens a video platform and types the word 'crumb cake'. 50 videos pull up. Most by amateurs. Some by professionals. Deciding on what video to watch flutters Zach because he doesn't want to waste time watching something that's poorly made and gives bogus or out of date advice.

The videos are unrated and comments aren't allowed. He chooses the one entitled, 'Seven Ways To Make The Best Crumb Cake'.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

When clicking on the video, he's prompted to select an answer to an advertisement asking, 'What's the best video on horses?'. Zach hits the 'skip the ad button' and is taken directly to the video.

In the video, a woman is studying physics at the dining room table. Her children are reading library books and asking their mother 'when are the books due?' The kids are comparing books and stories.

"Mines teaches how to make waffles and crumb cake pies and there's a monster at the end", says the three-year-old.

"Buildings are more important than waffles and crumb cake pies, you can't even reach the counter", says the four-year-old.

"I'll bet you twenty dollars that you can't".

"Where are you getting twenty dollars and no one in this house is permitted to gamble. Gambling is a sin," says Anastasia.

Zach closes out the video and peruses more videos and titles.

"How to make crumb cake in one second", he reads.

He plays the video. At the start of it, is a man sleeping in the bed. He awakes. A woman wearing a red and white apron serves a tray of crumb cakes. The man chews one and the video cuts off. Zach examines the other videos. His cursor lands on, "Homemade Crumb Cake pies made from double scratch", then he drags it to "The best crumb cakes on the planet" and finally, "How to use only juice and cinnamon to make crumb cake meringue pie."

"Making crumb cake, that's all I need, I'm finding everything else but that, these homemade videos are a trip."

He returns to the forums and watches the user-created videos and doesn't find anything that matches what he's searching for. It dawns on him to create a thread. 'Post your best 'how to make crumb cake videos', and 'I'm looking for someone to help me market my own crumb cakes'. He determines that this is too wordy. He develops a new thread and labels it 'marketing'.

Zach gets a message in his inbox. He's hesitant at first, but he rationalizes checking the mail. How can he go about being an administrator and running a site if he's too scared and worried to check email. Yes there will be some spam and yes there will be some authentic messages. If his computer goes down because of spam, he can handle it. Just get one of the forum members or look up an individual whose expertise is fighting spam. How can he trust a forum member? What if it's an undercover agent working for Brendan? It doesn't matter, he still can't be afraid. Zach came into the game being bold. Calling out Brendan. Offering suggestions. Setting up this platform. 'Why doesn't he hire someone to help him with the site? He doesn't have much money. He reasons that forum members would do it for the love or for an unpaid internship, at least they're gathering experience that can take them places and prove invaluable to a company. but, what if the person steals ideas for their own site. All these questions to keep him stuck in place and to never move forward. Zach opens the mail. The subject heading reads, 'Boycott Brendan's Crumb Cake until he brings back the original crumb cake that started it all'.

"Hi, Sir I'm all for the original crumb cake making a comeback, let's team up and stage a protest at their headquarters. And you're right the lemon flavor sucks even though it's the most popular. It's his family and friends who's making it popular", reads the email.