Consider the following scenario: a chef notices a pattern in dessert orders at his restaurant. which event probably has the strongest correlation with the dessert orders? the fruit that is currently in season the number of patrons in a nearby coffee shop the number of times a dessert was offered at a special price the number of male versus female diners

There is a strong negative correlation with the number of times a dessert was offered at a special price and the number of desserts sold.  Either the lower the special price the more of that dessert is sold or the higher the price, the fewer number of those deserts are sold.

The are negative because in the first  - the lower $ - the higher # of dessert
and the higher $, the lower.  It is negative because lower and higher are opposites.

If it were a positive correlation the more they charged, the more are sold and the less they charge the less are sold (That of course, makes no sense).