Chapter 24 #2
"Then we'll mitigate the damage and repair that building next. I have two crews set up and ready to go. One will work on any damaged buildings; the other will do preventative maintenance. If there aren't any more breaks, then we'll have two crews on repairs."
Eve stepped forward. "We realize not everyone will be happy with this plan. But we had to come up with something that would work, and this is what we decided."
"I think mine should be done first. I'm one of the original owners," Bill said.
"You're certainly the loudest," Clara mumbled next to me, and the other women covered their laughs with their hands. I couldn't find amusement in any of this.
"I understand that you'd like to be first, but this is the solution that we came up with—" Hudson began, but Eve stepped forward.
"We welcome your feedback, but at the end of the day, this is my town, and I'm responsible for the buildings. This is the plan I created with Hudson, and this schedule is our best option."
Bill slapped the paper down on his thigh. "If you've already made your mind up, then why have a meeting at all?"
"We're here to answer your questions and alleviate any concerns. We know that everyone is worried about another pipe bursting, and we wanted to assure everyone that we're doing our best to mitigate that risk."
At the end of the day, she owned the town and the buildings. The decision was ultimately hers. I hoped Bill accepted that and didn't do something crazy like threaten a lawsuit.
Bill stood. "What about my other concern?"
And the wind rushed out of my diaphragm in one whoosh. This was it. The moment when he attempted to blow up my livelihood and everything I'd built.
The women next to me straightened their spines. I had to remember I wasn't alone in this. I had these women and, hopefully, Hudson at my back.
I couldn't shake the feeling that he had his own position in all of this and that was maintaining his contract with Eve.
"And what was that?" Eve asked, her brows raised.
Bill turned and pointed at me, and everyone turned to look. "Her lingerie store's lease is up in a couple of weeks. No one wants her shop here. Her shop is already closed, so it's a no-brainer to keep it that way. Then you can use two crews for repairs and leave her building the way it is for now."
I felt like he'd punched me in the stomach, and I couldn't seem to breathe as everyone began talking at once.
"The lease on another store isn't any of your concern," Eve said.
"You promised you'd sign a temporary lease with Angela and reevaluate the value of the shop once it was done. Well, time's up, and the store is closed. It's the perfect time to address it. I don’t think you should renew the lease. Tempting Dreams should remain closed."
My vision blurred, and my heart pounded as I leaned over, trying to suck in a breath.
Clara elbowed me. "You have to say something."
I shook my head, unable to think.
"We're here for you," Clara said softly.
Then Reina said, "All of us are here for you."
I nodded, slowly getting to my feet, and braced my hands on the metal chair in front of me. "I don't think this is the appropriate time and place to discuss the extension of my lease. I entered into a contract with Natasha and Eve Palmer, not Bill Paxton."
Hudson met my gaze from across the room and gave me a slight nod. Hopefully, that was his way of saying he was on my side. I just didn't want to be alone.
"You said you'd consider our opinions about new businesses. No one wants a lingerie shop on our street. Christmas Town is supposed to be family friendly—"
Before I could process his response, Eve said, "Yet you don't have an issue with Belle's Bookshop."
"Belle sells books." Bill waved wildly at me. "Angela sells—sexy stuff.”
Clara scoffed.
Belle stood. "Mr. Paxton, are you aware that I've been selling Angela's “sexy stuff” in my bookshop for the last few weeks, and it's been continually selling out?"
He sputtered. "Why was that allowed? Why was I not notified?"
"It doesn't seem like anyone has a problem with purchasing lingerie. We've been pairing panties with blind books. The customers love it." Belle's voice rang clear through the room, and several shop owners nodded.
Bill growled. "I didn't want to bring this up, but I have no choice—"
What could he be talking about? He'd accused me of selling sex toys, but Hudson had told him that wasn't true.
"It's come to my attention that she hosted a sexy photo shoot in her shop and posted her pictures online.
" Bill moved toward the projector that was always present in the hall for meetings.
Someone dimmed the lights, and he turned it on.
A picture of me in that red teddy posed on the chaise lounge showed brightly on the wall in the front of the room.
I felt sick. It wasn't the picture that I'd posted online; it looked more like the one I shot with Hudson. My cleavage was on display, and my legs were spread lewdly. It looked dirty and not special like I'd remembered it.
How had he gotten a picture that Hudson had taken with my camera? Then I remembered that he'd taken a few with his phone. He'd even asked permission, promising not to share them with anyone else, and I'd trusted him.
I gripped the chair in front of me so hard that my knuckles were white. I wanted to flee, but at the same time, I needed to stay and fight for my business. Was there anything worth fighting for anymore?
My relationship with Hudson was in full color on the wall in front of me.
Cooper who'd been standing off to the side, moved toward the projector and turned it off.
I was grateful he’d stepped in, but the damage was done. My reputation was in tatters. There was no way Eve would ever support my lease renewal.
The room erupted into talking and arguing. My head ached, and I couldn't see straight. I might have been crying. I wasn't sure.
I swayed, then moved toward the aisle, needing to get out of the room. Surely, I could draw in a deep breath if I was outside. All I could think about was getting to Ayla and taking her home.
I shouldn't have trusted Hudson with something as intimate as those pictures. Now everyone had seen them and drawn their own conclusions. No one would want my business to reopen now. Everything was ruined. And what if Ayla found out, or kids started talking about her mother in school?
We'd have to move. This was worse than I imagined. I never in a million years thought that those pictures would fall into the hands of someone who wanted to ruin me.
I felt like I was in a trance as I moved.
Clara reached for me. "Angela, wait—"
"I've got her," Cooper said, grabbing my elbow.
"I just need to get Ayla."
"I've got you." He guided me outside and into the cool night air.
They were comforting words but not coming from the man I needed to hear them from. He walked me to the bookstore in silence. When we reached the door, he paused. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I always am."
He ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know what happened in there, or why Bill posted that picture—"
"The question is, how did he get it? Hudson was the only one who had those pictures. He promised me he would never share them."
Cooper looked stricken. "Hudson would never share pictures of a woman."
I threw a hand in the air. "We both saw what happened."
"I don't know what's going on, but my brother loves you."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "He has an odd way of showing it."
"I'm sure there's a good explanation—"
"One I have no interest in hearing." I opened the door and stepped inside.
Thankfully, Cooper didn't follow me. I gathered Ayla's things and rushed her to the car.
I didn't want anyone confronting us on the sidewalk or in the parking lot.
I had to protect Ayla. I'd worry about myself later, when I was alone in my room.
I was an idiot for ever trusting Hudson or falling for him.