Page 15 of Double Daddies (Dirty Daddies Anthologies #8)

Chapter Two

Two days later

Elle

“The building has been sold? When? Why… and to whom?” Elle stared at Liam Butler, the legal department head of the Texas Tower.

“It’s been in discussion for about a year. The current owners are retiring. Double D Acquisitions made them an amazing offer.” He ran a hand through his curly hair, which was in contradiction to his usual confident demeanor.

Elle cringed as she recognized the name of one of the most ruthless and successful acquisition and merger corporations.

According to articles she’d read, they bought properties, changed their management, gutted their character, and turned them into playgrounds for the wealthy.

They didn’t care about small businesses or the people who worked there.

Everything and everyone else was collateral damage in their quest to line their already gold pockets.

Elle conveniently blocked out the part about how they saved just as many struggling firms and offered them expert assistance in a mutually beneficial merger.

“Since you requested a meeting with me, I assume this acquisition somehow affects Elle’s Delicacies?” She watched him unblinkingly, but her fingers curled into fists as she waited for the ax to fall.

“We were instructed to vacate a certain amount of office space. Unfortunately, that includes?—”

“Elle Delicacies isn’t taking up office space, Liam. It’s a dedicated storefront space,” she quickly cut in.

“I misspoke. I apologize, Elle, but they want floor space, and the owners personally indicated they wanted the area where your shop is situated.” He sighed heavily.

“You know you’re leasing the space, and since Le Chic Bistro is the more popular, I suppose they feel they could better utilize that storefront. ”

“Le Chic is doing better because they’re at the front of the building. A space I initially wanted, but you weren’t prepared to open to an eatery—your words at the time.”

“The bottom line is that your shop isn’t drawing the number of customers as it did in the past. I’m sorry, Elle, it’s out of my hands.”

“What about my contract? There’s still two years left.”

A sharp ache settled in her chest. At thirty-one, she had finally created something truly her own, only to now have it ripped away without warning. The bakery represented more than just a business—it was the culmination of a lifetime of struggle and sacrifice.

It had been seventeen years of achieving her dream.

One she had been working toward ever since losing her parents.

The car accident that had claimed them when she was fourteen had derailed her entire life.

Shuffled between three different foster homes until she aged out, Elle had learned early that nobody would hand her anything.

That Liam had hit the nail on the head about the bakery struggling hurt.

Le Chic Bistro opened with fanfare two years ago.

Within weeks, her lunch crowd disappeared.

The business executives who once lined up for her savory specialty croissants suddenly preferred proper sit-down meals with wine.

Her staff of eight people had dwindled down to three, which included herself.

“Not everyone wants high carbs for lunch anymore, Elle,” a former regular, Marc, from the fourteenth floor, had explained sheepishly. “Living a healthy lifestyle is the thing nowadays. Sometimes, we need to impress clients with something more... substantial.”

But it had been more than that. They had a prime location.

On the corner, right next to the main entrance into the Texas Tower.

She was still smarting at how she had been shut down the day she had complained about not being offered first choice to the store when they decided to make it available to an eatery.

“You need to read your contract again, Elle.” Liam offered her a sympathetic look.

Although she knew he was only the messenger, she couldn’t curb her anger and resentment. She had believed they had surpassed a business relationship years ago and had become friends. It seemed she had been naive.

“There is a clause pertaining to acquisitions and mergers of the property. We hold no power over the new owners, which means all current lease contracts become void upon the sale of the building.”

“When?” Her voice broke as she struggled to keep her tears at bay.

He handed her an envelope. “This is the notice issued by Double D Acquisitions. They are the new owners as of yesterday.”

Elle stared at the envelope in his outstretched hand as if it were poison. Her fingers trembled as she snatched it from him, crumpling the edges in her grip without even opening it.

“Just tell me when, Liam! How long do we have to vacate the store?”

“Thirty days.”

The words hit her like a physical blow. Her knees buckled slightly under her, and she grabbed the back of a chair for support.

“Th-Thirty… oh, my God,” she whispered, pressing a hand to her mouth as if to hold back a scream.

Her vision blurred as she thought of the seven years she had poured into the bakery, the sleepless nights, the sacrifices, the dreams she had built brick by brick—now reduced to a deadline.

If it hadn’t been for Le Chic Bistro… If only she hadn’t had to spend two years clawing her way out of debt just to keep the lights on.

Her savings were gone and her lifeline severed.

There wouldn’t be another shop. There wouldn’t be another chance.

She would have no other choice but to join the workforce again.

She slammed the envelope onto the desk and rounded on Liam. Her voice rose in anger.

“This isn’t… I’m not going to accept this, Liam!

I remember the clause about acquisitions, and I sure as hell remember something about an adequate lead time to vacate.

Thirty days isn’t lead time; it’s an eviction notice!

I won’t even have time to properly thank my staff, let alone provide them severance! ”

“First, read the letter, Elle, and if it doesn’t cover your concerns, you will have to take it up with Double D directly, I’m afraid.

It’s out of my hands.” He smiled grimly.

“The one concession they made was that you get to keep all the equipment. The ovens, display cases, fridges… everything in the store. Surely, that would help with opening another store? It would only mean finding rental space.”

“Am I supposed to curtsy before them and thank them for that?” she sneered angrily.

Liam held up his hands, his expression pained but resolute. “Elle, I understand?—”

“No, you don’t understand!” she interrupted, her voice shaking with rage.

“You don’t understand what it took to build this place.

You don’t understand the blood, sweat, and tears I’ve poured into it.

And now you’re standing here telling me I have thirty days to pack up my entire life and smile about it because they’re letting me keep the damn ovens? ”

“Look, Elle, I?—”

“Who’s going to pay for the installations, Liam?

” she spat, her voice dripping with venom.

“Who’s going to pay for the permits, the setup, the marketing?

It’s not just about shoving an oven into a room and calling it a bakery!

” Her chest heaved as she glared at him with her hands balled into fists at her sides.

“Elle, you’re angry at the wrong person,” Liam said quietly. “I feel terrible about this, believe me. But you’re not the only one getting this news today. There are eighteen other renters?—”

“And you think that makes me feel better?” she snapped. Her laugh was bitter, almost feral. “Do you think I give a damn about the other renters right now, Liam? This is my life you’re talking about. My dreams. My future. My staff’s only source of income! And now… it’s gone. Just like that.”

She exhaled shakily as the fight drained out of her as quickly as it had come. Her shoulders slumped, and she buried her face in her hands. When she spoke again, her voice was a broken whisper.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re just the messenger, but this… this is devastating. After my parents’ accident, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to face.”

The silence between them hung heavy in the air, with the envelope sitting on the table like a paperweight. The message it carried was one of unspoken finality that she didn’t have the courage to open and read.