Now, I’m trying to process how I’ll handle the next steps, and I’m wishing I had brought Becks to the meeting. She would know what to ask, or at least could have been my voice so I could sit here and hide my emotions silently.
I swallow and clear my throat. “Thank you for your time,” I say as I stand up and rush toward the door.
“Ms. Caldwell?” I pause with my hand on the doorknob. “It was a pleasure having you as tenants. Your dad was a lovely man. I’m sorry to have heard of his passing.”
This man does not deserve my voice any longer or to speak of my father, so I whip open the door and stroll out with my head held high.
The sudden mention of my dad has given me a burst of resilience, along with a jolt of anger. Larry’s company is taking away Le Petit Boulanger, my mother’s pride and joy, and the gift my dad was so proud to give her.
I fucking hate Larry and his dumb company.
I stride down 57thStreet on a mission to get to Becks’ office, not caring that my feet are burning from a newly formed blister or that I’m bumping into half the suits rushing to lunch.
“Hi. How’d it go?” she answers on the first ring.
“Not one bit good.” I grit out. “I’m so angry, I could burst.”
She chuckles at me, losing it.
“It’s not funny, Rebecca!” I raise my voice, causing some heads to turn my way, but who the hell cares? It’s one of the good things about living in New York.
Nothing fazes anyone.
“There she is, my little fart.”
“Um, excuse me?”Did I hear her right?
She laughs again. “Yeah, you’re silent but deadly.”
“Oh my god. I hate you, and I can’t even laugh right now because I’m so furious.” I pause and take a deep breath, suddenly overwhelmed. “And so incredibly sad, Becks. Can you imagine how Mom will feel when she finds out? She said if she loses the bakery, it’d be like losing Dad all over again.”
She sighs, hiding her emotions better than I am, although I know she’s feeling this just as much. Becks grew up in that bakery, too. “Did he say who was buying the property?”
“No. It’s confidential for now.” I use air quotes even though she can’t see me. “Please tell me you can grab lunch with me before I lose my mind. I’m only a few blocks away.”
“Yeah, I need to finish one thing. Can you give me fifteen? You can come up and wait in the lounge area if you want.”
Yeah, no thanks. I’m never stepping foot in that company and risking a run-in with her CEO after the other day.
“Honestly, I’m going to keep walking around the area. I have too much pent-up anger to get rid of before I explode.”
“All right. Please do me a favor, take a deep breath and calm down. You’re being a bit extreme and scaring me. Oh shit, I have to go.” She says, then hangs up.
Calm down?
How the hell am I supposed to do that?
Ugh. I hate when people tell me to calm down; it makes me feel the exact opposite. Like, does she think I want to be so worked up?
My phone dings, and I almost drop it from my shaky hands.
Willa: Hey, girl! So, I’m not sure what happened, and I’m trying to get to the bottom of it. Unfortunately, Claud can no longer attend baking classes.
What?I stop dead in my tracks.
“Watch it!” someone yells from behind me
Willa: I’m so bummed, but between you and me, her dad was being an asshole. He’s super protective. But I have no clue what this was about.
