The Billionaire’s Burden(6)

"You're doing a wonderful job here." I insisted, holding up my hands. The last thing I wanted was to discourage an employee, who on paper, was doing fantastic work, "We're lucky to have you on board."

"Thank you." He said back, slight frown on his face as he watched me.

For a few moments we were quiet, and then he leaned forward towards me and pressed his warm palm against my arm. I almost shrank away from his touch in surprise, but it was such a sincere and gentle effort that I leaned into his touch instead.

"You don't have to just let this spin out of your control, you know." He said, letting his notebook flop back onto the desk. HIs pen rolled, almost dipping off the end.

I laughed again, confused by his words, "What do you mean?" I asked.

"This place belonged to you before it belonged to Mr. Davis, right?" He questioned.

My heart tumbled sharply into my stomach at his words. It belonged to Sebastian? I'd certainly felt less and less like it belonged to me lately, but to hear it said aloud was almost heartrending.

"Yes." I managed to whisper, unable to force more words out of my lips. My hands balled up, trying to stay calm.

This wasn't right, none of this was right.

I'd started this impossible journey with Sebastian in order to retain the bakery, but not just the building. No, it was more than simple walls that made up this place.

It lacked heart, it lacked soul, it lacked the very essence of my parents that it once had.

"I'm sure Mr. Davis would listen to you if you told him you were unhappy with the direction." Lewis offered, shrugging, his hand moved up and down my arm, soothing me.

Screw that.

I didn't need 'Mr. Davis's' permission to do anything with my own bakery.

It was time for a change. It was time for me to stop laying down and letting whatever happen, happen.

Oh, no. I was done with that. I was done with letting my days slip away from me, I was done with the waves of apathy that clung to me day after day. I was done spending all of my time just hoping for another hour to pass by.

I had to reclaim what was mine, I had to reclaim the joy that my parents infused this place with. This bakery didn’t belong to Sebastian, it didn't belong to Alissa. It belonged to me and it was going to stay with me.

Thankfully, I grabbed suddenly at Lewis's hand, his green eyes widening just slightly.

"You’re right." I finally said, brain working too fast for my words to follow, "You are so right!"

I shot to my feet, hands clapping together as thoughts raced around like wild birds inside my skull. Where would I start? How would I manage this? There had to be someone I could talk to about this, but who?

My thoughts loped at a million miles per hour, soaring faster and faster over the different options.

I certainly couldn't fire all the workers, that was a lawsuit waiting to happen. The constricting walls would have to be changed. The colors, too fanciful and strange would need to be toned down just a bit. I didn’t even know how to do that though, or which colors to choose.

What I could do, however, was take charge. No more tweaking of the recipes that my mother and father worked so diligently to perfect, no more taking the customer for granted.

It was time to turn this boat around.

Suddenly aware of Lewis's warm hand still held tight between my fingers, I dropped his grasp.

He continued to stare at me, rosy hue just barely grazing his cheeks.

"So, you're okay then?" He managed to whisper, eyes shifting away, "You got this?"

I nodded happily, starting back towards the door, "I do. Thank you, Lewis. You don't know how much you helped me out today."

"Anytime." He whispered back, following me towards the door.

I waved goodbye, darting back towards my car.

I couldn't be sure how I was going to get this done, but the new resolution I felt inside of me wasn't going to fade.

It was time to take back my bakery.





Chapter Four





The next few days passed in a blur of phone calls, insane amounts of time in front of a computer doing research, and a lack of sleep.

"Macy, you need to eat." Harry said as he frowned at me, nudging a bagel closer to where I sat at the dining room table.

With a nod, I managed to tear my eyes away from the laptop for a second and take a large bite of bagel.

Harry's homemade chive cream cheese was like heaven in my mouth.

"What's going on with you lately?" He asked curiously, glancing towards the door to see if Karina had slunk in before settling down beside me in a chair and crossing his arms.

My mother in law would not have stood for ‘the help’ being so informal with a Davis, even if that Davis was just me.

The older man leaned back in his chair, gray hair dusting into his eyes as his thick eyebrow arched, "You've been a ghost for the past few days. Is it Karina again?"