“Next week?” I ask in complete shock as my mind starts racing with everything I have to do to open.
I still have to stock the entire store, sort out the register, and finish up the wallpaper in the bathroom, not to mention all the other little things like marketing and whatnot that go into opening a store. And some of my stock hasn’t even come in or been ordered yet. I could open but not have anything for people to purchase.
Marjorie shrugs her shoulders. “Unfortunately, that’s what they decided. They thought they’ve given you ample time to try to open. They want to make an impact on tourist season and let people know what store is coming, so that leaves you until next week.”
“That’s five days.”
Marjorie nods. “That would be correct.”
“You can’t do that,” Tilly says, stepping in, but I hold her back, because I don’t need her picking my fight.
“It’s fine,” I say to Tilly.
“It’s not fine. You just put a great deal of effort and time into this store, only for them to just take it away from you? That is not going to happen.”
“Unfortunately, there is a clause in the contract that Renley signed that allows that very thing to happen.” She clasps her hands together. “Well, that’s all I had to say. I would say good luck, but I think it would take a miracle to pull off the impossible. Either way, you will be reimbursed for the money you spent. Your time, though, that’s a loss you’re going to have to eat. Have a nice evening, ladies.”
Marjorie takes off with a wave and heads back down the steep stairs to the main floor while I lean against the wall in total shock.
“I can’t…I can’t believe they’re going to just take the store from me.”
“They’re not going to take it,” Tilly says. “We’re not going to let them.”
I shake my head. “I can’t have the store open and ready in five days. There’s no way. I don’t have everything I need. The bathroom isn’t done, not to mention I haven’t gotten anything approved by the county. There’s just no way.” Tears well in my eyes as I stare up at the ceiling, my dreams washing away in an instant.
“Well, maybe we can rally the town or something, get them to change the mind of the business society.”
I shake my head. “Most of the business society is made up of people who probably don’t want the candy shop in their high-end town anyway. No one is going to rally with me.” I lean my head against the wall. “I think I just need to face the fact that this was all a giant waste of my time.”
“You can’t give up, Renley.”
“Then why does it feel like I already have?”
Chapter Fifty
THEO
Walinda.
Walinda Williams.
Mrs. Walinda Williams.
Nope, whichever way I say it, I hate it.
I hate that her name is Walinda.
I hate that she was frothing to see me.
And I hate that I’m apparently supposed to be marrying this woman who I’ve only met a handful of times.
Then again, what’s the alternative? I know Elizabeth can handle herself, but what if he decides to hurt her because I say no? I can’t live with that.
But Renley…
Fuck.
I drag both hands over my face before going back to staring up at the ceiling.
