“My bedroom activities?” Is this really what they think of my store? “It helps women feel empowered. That no matter your shape or size, you can feel beautiful. Because you are.”
“And that’s a reason to showcasebrasin your window?” She says it like it’s a dirty word.
“Among other things.” I don’t lie. It wouldn’t do me any good right now. “I also support other small businesses by selling their pieces in my store. I believe in lifting everyone up.”
“Except not everyone can shop in your store,” Brad pipes up.
“Who can’t shop there?” I cross my arms, starting to get defensive. It seems that no matter what I do, no one here is going to listen to me.
“Men.”
Don’t roll your eyes, Layla.
“Men make up almost forty percent of my customers.”
“And how do you know this?” Mrs. Bush asks.
“I track business patterns to know what my customers want.”
“More like they can’t control themselves and have to come in and ogle your store.”
There are whispers and murmurs around the room now. I try to steer the meeting back to safer ground. “I know the percentage of my customers because men come in and shop for their wives and girlfriends. I like knowing what they want to buy and catering my business to them.”
“So you can sell them lingerie,” she clips out, shaking her head.
My patience snaps. “It’s not a strip club!”
“That’s enough!” Brad intervenes.
You could hear a pin drop in the room it’s so quiet. Everyone looks horrified at my words. Why does this woman have the power to stoke the anger simmering inside of me?
I know what my business means to people in this town. I only hope the rest of them do.
“Layla. You are excused from the meeting.”
“I’m sorry?” I didn’t hear her right.
“We’ve noted the reasons why you would like your store to remain in town. But we do not need you here to stir everyone up.”
“Stir them up? You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mumble to myself. “If you’re making a decision about my business, I have a right to be here.”
“You do not need to be present for the vote. Now,”—Mrs. Bush stands, trying to show her assumed power—“you can leave or we can have you escorted out.”
I have no doubt that it would be the highlight of her life to throw me out of the meeting.
What a hag.
“Fine. I’ll leave. But I hope the council will see the good I do for Dixon when making their decision.”
I spin on my heel and walk out of the hall.
I was hoping reason would win out tonight, but I guess not. Tears wet my cheeks as I walk home.
People are spilling out of the Dixon Bar and Grill on this beautiful night. My entire future is on the line as the moon hangs high in the sky.
God, how did it even come down to this?
I wish Simon were here. I need his strength more than I care to admit. If it weren’t for him, I don’t think we’d have even gotten to this point tonight.
