25. Serena
25
SERENA
I stand in the middle of my shop, surrounded by half-empty shelves and the faint smell of caramel lingering in the air. This place is my heart, my dream, and I’m packing it all away into cardboard boxes like it’s nothing. The pastel colors that once made this place feel magical now taunt me with thoughts of everything I’m losing.
I grab a stack of boxes, struggling to fold one open, and my fingers are trembling so much that the tape won’t even stick. The eviction notice looms over me like a dark cloud, and the words “Final Warning” burn into my mind. I’m trying to hold it together, but every time I look around, I think, “I’m running out of time.”
The inventory list in my hand is a blur of numbers and items: chocolates, gummy bears, truffles, lollipops. My eyes sting as I count, trying to keep track of everything while feeling like I’m unraveling inside.
I shove another handful of sweets into a box, the reality of losing this shop hitting me harder. I’ve poured everything I have into this place—money, time, love—and now, it’s being ripped away, all because of some greedy deal I never saw coming.
I pause to take a deep breath, my hands gripping the counter to steady myself. If only there was something I could do. Anything. I’ve already called the landlord, begged for more time, and even offered to pay extra rent, but Donald Levy doesn’t care.
He sent another letter yesterday, threatening to change the locks if I’m not out by the end of the week. The tightness in my chest grows, and I swallow hard, feeling the burn of frustration and helplessness.
The bell above the door chimes, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turn to see a customer, a middle-aged woman with a small child tugging at her sleeve. I force a smile, shoving all my worries down as I greet them. I go through the motions, helping them pick out a few candies and ringing them up at the register.
The little girl’s eyes light up as she takes her small bag of gummy bears, and for a moment, I remember why I started this shop in the first place. Moments like this. Moments that are slipping through my fingers.
As the door swings shut behind them, I glimpse someone else coming in, and my heart sinks. It’s Chaz. Logan’s brother. His smug face, slicked-back hair, and perpetual sneer that always seems plastered across his features look nothing like Logan.
He saunters in, his eyes scanning the shop with disinterest before landing on me. I brace myself, knowing that nothing good can come from this visit.
“Nice place you got here,” he says, wandering over to the candy display. He picks up a jar of truffles, inspecting them like he’s appraising something worthless. “Shame, it’s all going to waste.”
I try to keep my tone neutral. “Can I help you with something, Chaz? A lollipop, perhaps?”
He chuckles, setting the jar down with a clink. “Actually, I’m here to help you.” His gaze settles on the packed boxes. “But it seems like you’re not taking this whole eviction thing seriously. You’re still boxing things up when you should be selling them off. Planning on opening a store somewhere else?”
I grit my teeth. He’s fishing. “I’m doing the best I can.”
He shrugs, leaning against the counter. “Doesn’t look like it. You’re running out of time, Serena. Keep this up, and you’ll lose everything. I’d hate to see that happen.”
“How do you know about the eviction?” I ask tightly. I’d received the notice in the mail. It wasn’t on the front door yet, thankfully.
Chaz grins, that slimy, knowing smile that makes my skin crawl. “Logan told me.”
I know that’s a lie. They aren’t even speaking.
“He’s worried about you,” Chaz continues. “Thought you’d have a little more fight in you, but I guess he overestimated.”
I stare at him, biting back the urge to call him out. Logan hasn’t mentioned a word to his family since the last blowout. Chaz is showing his hand, and he’s enjoying every second of this. “I’m doing everything I can,” I repeat, forcing my voice to stay remain steady. “I don’t need your help.”
“Oh, that’s right. You ran to my brother to get him to buy you a new place, isn’t that right? Little gold digger.”
“Your brother hasn’t bought me a new place. I’m not a gold digger. And I don’t need anyone’s help.”
His expression darkens, and he closes the distance between us. “Actually, you do. You see, I’m the one in charge of your final date. I can make things a lot easier for you if you play nice.”
I back away, but he follows, his presence suffocating in the small shop. “What do you want, Chaz?”
His eyes gleam as they trail up and down my body. “I can extend your deadline. Give you more time to get things in order. All you have to do is one little favor for me.”
“I’m not doing any favors for you.”
“Such a shame. I hear you’re really good on your knees.”
I feel my stomach churn. I shouldn’t be surprised, but hearing it out loud makes my skin crawl. “Get out,” I hiss.
His laugh is short and cruel. “Oh, come on. I’m just trying to help. I know how much this place means to you. And it’s a shame… Logan’s the golden boy, but you’re the one that really shines.” He steps closer, his hand reaching out to brush against my arm, and I flinch, stepping back until I hit the counter.
He still advances. “If you do for me what you do for him, I can make sure you have plenty of time to get out of this shop.”
I put my hand in his face, pushing him back with every ounce of strength I have. “Don’t touch me.”
His smirk only grows as he stumbles back a step, straightening his jacket like I’ve inconvenienced him. “Relax. It’s just business, Serena. You scratch my back. I scratch your?—”
“Leave,” I order, my voice shaking but firm. “Or I’ll call the police.”
“The police?” He mocks, moving back in close enough that I can smell his cologne—overpowering, expensive, suffocating. “I own the police. They won’t do a damn thing to me.” He looks down into the gap of my blouse. “You know, you could end all this. Dump Logan, stay away from him, and I’ll make sure you keep this place. Otherwise, you’re just setting yourself up to lose everything.”
His words hang in the air like poison. I don’t respond. I turn my face away from his seedy glare.
I’m trying to keep my breathing steady, but the panic clawing at my chest is overwhelming. His hand is heavy on my arm, pinning me against the wall of my own shop like I’m some kind of prize to claim.
His touch makes my skin crawl, his arrogant smirk so close I can smell the mint on his breath. My heart races and every muscle in my body tenses as I try to shove him off, but he just leans in closer, his lips brushing against my ear as he speaks in a jeering whisper.
I try to twist away, but he’s stronger, and the wall is unyielding at my back. My mind spins, desperate for a way out, but all I can see is his smug face and his cold eyes, enjoying every second of my discomfort. “Get off me, Chaz.”
He laughs, a sound that makes my stomach turn. “You’ve got some fight in you—I like that. But it’s wasted, Serena. You’re not going to win this. You can’t. Not unless you?—”
The bell above the shop door rings, cutting him off, and we both turn to see Logan standing in the doorway. Relief floods through me, but it’s mixed with dread. Logan’s eyes are locked on us, his expression going from confusion to pure fury in seconds.
“Chaz,” Logan’s voice is cold, edged with anger I’ve never seen in him before. He steps forward, closing the distance in three long strides. Chaz finally lets go of me, his grip loosening as Logan grabs his shoulder and yanks him back.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Logan growls, his voice deadly. He’s standing between us now, blocking Chaz from me like a shield, and for the first time since Chaz walked in, I feel like I can breathe again.
Chaz straightens, brushing off his suit jacket. “Relax, Logan. We were just having a conversation.”
Logan moves in, his face inches from Chaz’s. “A conversation?” Logan’s voice is tight, barely controlled. “I don’t think pinning a woman against a wall qualifies as a conversation.”
“You’re overreacting. Serena knows what this is—just a little negotiation. I was offering her a way to keep this sad little shop of hers.”
Logan’s jaw tightens, and I can see the rage simmering beneath the surface. “I’m not going to tell you again, Chaz. Get the hell out of here. And pull the eviction notice. Now.”
Chaz scoffs, crossing his arms. “Or what? You gonna punch me, little brother? You really want to make this worse?”
Logan doesn’t flinch. He’s calm, too calm, and that scares me more than anything. “No, I’m not going to punch you,” Logan says evenly. “But I do have something better. You see, Serena has security cameras in this shop.” He gestures to the corners of the room, and my eyes follow, landing on the small cameras mounted near the ceiling. “And guess what? They caught everything. Your little ‘negotiation’ included.”
Chaz’s face pales, his smug confidence slipping for the first time. “You’re bluffing.”
“Try me. I’m sure the media would love to see how the great Chaz Morelli conducts business. And it won’t stop there. You think you can keep bullying women without consequences? Once this footage goes public, every other woman you’ve done this to will come forward. You’re not as untouchable as you think.”
Chaz’s expression twists in anger, and he takes a threatening step forward, but Logan doesn’t budge. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You release that footage, and you’re going down with me. Our parents won’t cover for you when they see what you’ve done.”
Logan’s eyes narrow. “I’m not the one who needs their help. But you? This would be the umpteenth time they’ve had to cover up one of your scandals, and they told you the last time, didn’t they? One more slip-up, and you’re out. No inheritance, no business, nothing. You’ll lose everything, Chaz. And this deal you’ve got going? It’ll die faster than you can blink.”
Chaz’s composure cracks, and for a moment, his fear is plain as day. He clenches his fists, his eyes darting between me and Logan. I can see the reality of his plight register behind his narrowed eyes.
“You think you’re so smart,” Chaz spits furiously. “But this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”
Logan doesn’t back down. “Get out, Chaz. And pull the eviction, or I’ll make sure everyone sees exactly who you are.”
Chaz glares at him, seething, but he knows he’s lost this round. He takes a step back, his anger boiling over as he points a finger at Logan. “You’re going to regret this,” his voice shakes with barely contained rage. “You’re throwing everything away for some nobody.”
Logan just stands there, blocking me from view, and doesn’t respond. Chaz storms out of the shop, slamming the door behind him so hard that the bell above it shatters, sending tiny shards of ceramic scattering to the floor. The sound echoes in the silence that follows, and I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Logan turns to me, his face softening instantly, and the concern in his eyes makes my chest tighten. “Serena, I’m so sorry,” he says, his voice laced with guilt. “I didn’t know he would do this. I swear, I didn’t?—”
I hold up a hand, trying to compose myself. I can feel the adrenaline still coursing through me, but the panic is slowly ebbing away. “It’s not your fault, Logan. You got here just in time. Thank you.”
He approaches me—slowly—like approaching an injured deer. “I should’ve done more. I should’ve stopped him sooner.”
“You did stop him,” I say, forcing a shaky smile. “And that’s what matters.” I reach out and touch his arm. His warm skin grounds me. “If you hadn’t come in when you did...”
Logan’s expression hardens, his jaw clenching as he glances at the door. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t come near you again. I promise. And I’m going to get this whole eviction thing sorted. He won’t get away with this.”
I nod, letting his words sink in, and for the first time, the weight of everything that’s happened feels slightly lighter. It’s still there, the threat of losing my shop, the uncertainty of what comes next, but with Logan here, standing beside me, it doesn’t feel quite as impossible.
I’ve spent so long fighting alone, pushing everyone away, thinking I had to handle everything by myself. But maybe having someone in my corner willing to stand up for me isn’t such a bad thing after all.
“Thank you,” I say again, my voice barely above a whisper. “Really.”
Logan’s hand finds mine, squeezing gently, his touch reassuring. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m just glad I was here.”
I look around the shop at the half-packed boxes and the broken bell on the floor. There’s still so much to do—so many battles left to fight, but right now, I’m just grateful that I don’t have to face them alone. For the first time in a long time, I feel this is a battle I can win.
I don’t need a white knight, but having one makes me feel stronger.