Chapter Five
TOMI
Xander’s upcoming arrival after work sends shockwaves of happiness through me. I had no idea I would become this stupidly giddy about him coming over.
What am I, a teenage girl all over again?
I can’t believe how pathetic I’m being.
Levi and I have finished with our dinner, and I sent Xander a text with my address, so he knows where to come when he’s done. Levi’s still playing with his video games in the family room while I sit at the dining table working on some drawings like we normally do each night.
I have my laptop open to help with reference pictures, but I’m mainly designing everything freehand when the email alert goes off.
Exhaling, I bring my laptop over and scroll through to see another ‘urgent’ marked email from Alex-asshole-Scott. Rolling my eyes, a heavy sinking feeling takes over my body, but I click to open, knowing I have to start reading.
Miss Beaufort,
Upon further discussions with your landlord, Mr. Jacob Redford, please find attached NOTICE OF LEASE TERMINATION concluding on April 19 for your immediate attention.
This documentation is final and must be met with assistance on your behalf by the deadline. The Scott Enterprises San Francisco megacomplex is moving forward, and with your cooperation, we would like to make this a smooth transition for all parties involved.
The remuneration for your departure from Hope & Faith Ink will be deposited into your account on April 19.
The offer of tenancy in the new megacomplex is still available in the new art deco area if you wish to discuss this further with us.
Furthermore, Scott Enterprises wishes you well in your new endeavors, and if you seek assistance in your departure from Hope & Faith Ink, we can designate helpers to support with your closure.
Best regards,
Alex Scott
My eyes widen as anger surges through every inch of my body. My breathing comes in hard and fast as I read over the last paragraph again, just to make sure I have read it correctly. I sigh as my palms sweat with pure, unadulterated rage.
How dare he?
“You’re nothing but an asshole, Alex Scott,” I scoff.
Swiping my cell from the table, I dial Jana’s number. It rings twice before her chirpy voice squeaks down the line. “Chica, I know you looove me, but calling for a late-night hook-up is a little beyond you, isn’t it?” she jokes.
“I got another email,” I grunt.
“Oh, shit! Hit me! How bad?”
“He offered support to help us basically pack up the place.” My tone conveys how utterly ludicrous that is.
“What the actual fuck? You’ve got to be joking. Is he trying to be the world’s biggest cock face?”
I scoff out a laugh. “I know, right? The guy actually thinks giving me a measly sum of stinking money for my trouble and offering me a place… one that I can’t possibly afford in the new megacomplex… is compensation enough for him taking my business, my livelihood, my life away from me, and he what? Offers me a helping hand to do it? Fuck me! Honestly, what an ass!”
“I can’t believe the nerve… these business-types thinking they’re all high and mighty when they’re just fucking up the world,” Jana grunts.
“Tell me about it.” I glance over at Levi. How is he going to take all this when shit goes down? I have no idea how he’s going to cope.
“You should write an email back,” Jana’s enthuses.
I like where she’s going with this.
My eyes widen as I sit up taller. “Hmm, but what to say?”
She giggles. “Just tell him how you feel… professionally, of course.”
I smirk, putting her on speaker. “Okay, I’m gonna type it… hang on.”
Mr. Scott,
I appreciate the remuneration for having to leave our beloved Hope & Faith Ink. However, my lack of response to your emails should have made my stance clear.
Generally, a code of silence is a condition in effect when a person opts to withhold what is believed to be vital or important information. This vitally important information in this instance is, that you, sir, are a pompous, arrogant jerk.
Thank you for your offer of support for the closure of Hope & Faith Ink, but you can kindly shove that right up your own ass and choke on it!
Without best regards,
Miss Beaufort
I giggle to myself as I type it out.
Damn! It started out so professional, and then I couldn’t help myself.
I shrug. Oh well. I may as well let him know how I truly feel because I have absolutely nothing to lose right now. I grin, reading it out loud to Jana, and she bursts out laughing.
“Holy shit! Yes, you have to send it, girl. Do it! Have you clicked send yet?” she gushes frantically.
I hover over the send button, knowing this isn’t a very professional way to conduct business, but to be honest, as of the nineteenth, I won’t have a business anyway. So, what the hell?
I click send and watch my email fly off to Alex Scott.
Finally, I’m able to tell him how I truly feel.
I can’t fight the slow grin that appears on my face as I slump in my seat. “Okay, sent.”
“Yes! You go, girl,” Jana practically screams over the loudspeaker.
“So loud!” Levi calls.
I glance over at him, blocking his ears, and I grimace, turning her off speaker and placing the phone up to my ear. “I can’t believe I just did that.”
She laughs. “I can, you’re a badass, Tomi. Alex Scott is no match for the likes of you.”
My mail program audibly lets me know another email has arrived. My eyes widen as I sit taller. “Shit, Jana, he’s written back.”
“Well, open it!”
I open it and read it out to her. “Message received, Miss Beaufort. Whether I’m a jerk or not, you have time to come back to me and ask for help. The lease termination will not be retracted, but the offers stand. Regards, Alex Scott.” I shrug. “Short and sweet, and only regards this time.” I laugh. “I must’ve pissed him off.”
Jana’s quiet for a pass, then she clears her throat. “This Alex guy is probably some old fatso with a receding hairline.”
I burst out laughing, making Levi groan, his hands racing to his ears as I stop myself and try to keep the noise level down a notch. “Anyway, I better go, I just needed to vent. Thank you for being there for me.”
Jana scoffs. “Girl, I’d walk through fire with you, you know that.”
My stomach flutters. Jana is one of those friends—the ones who will do anything for you. “You’re the best.”
“No, you are.”
I snort. “If you start this… no, you hang up first bullshit, I’m going to punch you tomorrow when I see you.”
She laughs—her angelic laugh always makes me feel better about the world. “You love me, you know you do. But anyway, I gotta go. Outlander’s coming on, and you know I gotta support my fellow redhead.”
Rolling my eyes, I grin. “Go watch your porn.”
“It’s not porn. It’s a tasteful show about time travelers, Scotsmen, and redheads.”
“Got it! Now off you go and watch your porn,” I reiterate, making her laugh.
“Fuck you! See you tomorrow.”
“Laters.” I end the call, glancing over at Levi. All of the humor from the moment before is now gone as I focus on the email Alex sent.
The eviction notice is final.
I have no choice but to leave.
I want to fight this, but I don’t see any possible way of doing so.
I don’t have the money to fight.
I don’t own the property, Jacob did, before he sold it to asshole Scott, and that’s where I’m screwed in all of this. My father knew Jacob from high school, and when Dad helped me get this place, and we built Hope & Faith Ink from the ground up, we believed we could trust Jacob to do right by me because he and Dad were practically best friends.
Since Dad died, Jacob’s been difficult to deal with.
When I think about it, I suppose I could take up a position in one of the new spaces in the megacomplex, but it’s so much more rent than I pay now, and ultimately, we’d end up with hardly anything to live on. Right now, we’re comfortable. Levi wants for nothing. He’s doing all right at school. I know he has a bit of trouble with some of the kids in the mainstream section, but in the special needs area, he does well. I need to keep him there, and I have to keep us here in this house—the one where we both grew up and the one that holds all the memories of our parents and Kaylie. Stability is so important for Levi. I don’t even know how he’d cope if it were all thrown into chaos by me losing this house and having to move into something smaller and in a different location.
I can’t even fathom it.
I have to face the fact that Hope & Faith Ink is closing down, and I need to find a way to support us. In the interim, I’ll have to find work as a checkout chick or something until I can find another shop that is more in my price range and open a new store. But everything has to be right—the location, the rent price, the vibe. It all has to fit and, more importantly, be right for Levi to feel safe there like he does at Hope & Faith Ink. I can’t just walk into any old place with low rent and start up again. It’s not that simple. It has to work for Levi—he’s my only consideration.
Everything I do is for him.
Sighing, my mind shifts to Xander. He’s coming over tonight, and now I’m in a crappy mood. I want to feel good for him. I want to look good for him. So, I figure I’ll do something to cheer me up and to pretty myself for a change. Xander’s never seen me in anything other than jeans and flannel, so I’m gonna wear a dress. Make an effort.
I check on Levi, and he’s fine. He’s playing his games as I pass him and stroll to my room to get changed. I want Xander to notice me. I want to feel good for the rest of the night and not worry about the shitty way Alex-asshole-Scott has made me feel.
He has the power to destroy me.
And he’s doing a damn fine job of it so far.
Let’s hope Xander can restore my mood.