He looked over at the light burning in the Coffee Shop and knew it would soon open for business. That gave him the idea.

“What time does it open?” he asked.

“At seven,” she said, following his glance.

“What time is the coffee ready?”

“About a quarter of.” She sighed. “Which means it’s almost time for me to go to work.”

“You’ve got time for a swim,” he said. “Then we could have some of that coffee, couldn’t we?”

“Why not? You’re the boss.”

“The boss?” he said, and then realized that this was so. He was the boss and it was time to think about what he was going to do about the Seabeach Motel.

“Yes,” he said. “I’m the boss and you’re an heiress.”

(cf. Coxe, George Harmon. Never Bet Your Life.)