The sweet scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the cozy bakery, mingling with the hum of friendly chatter. At the counter, a line of customers waited to place their orders. Behind the display case, the bakery owner, a stout man with a kind face and flour-dusted apron, efficiently wrapped pastries and loaded them into paper bags. "I heard the mayor's been in here every morning this week." "Buying his usual chocolate croissants, I suppose?" "Always. He's got a sweet tooth, that one. Probably why he's put on so much weight lately." The bakery owner glanced up from his task, catching the speaker's eye. "Now, now, we don't gossip about our customers here." "I'm just stating facts! Did you hear about the town hall meeting last night?" "I missed it. How did it go?" "The mayor tried to push through that new development plan, but the council shot it down. Again. I don't think he'll ever give up on it, though." "Hmm, that's good to hear. We don't need any more big box stores ruining our town's charm." The bell above the door jingled as the next customer entered. The bakery owner's attention was pulled away by a call for a custom cake order. As he moved to the back to consult with the customer, he couldn't help but wonder if there was truth to the rumors about the mayor's motives. But that was a mystery for another time. He had cakes to bake.