15. Serena
15
SERENA
H ow dare he?
How dare he think that I need to be saved?
I’ve lived this long without a man saving me, and I’ll go the rest of my life doing it on my own, too.
I load the last of my things into the rental car and leave the party. I already said bye to Abby and Dee. I don’t really feel like speaking to Logan right now.
First, lying to his parents, and now this.
What in the hell did I get myself into?
As soon as I’m out of the driveway and leaving the wealthy subdivision, I dial my sister’s number.
“Hey, Serena,” she says into the phone. “How was the party?”
“It was incredible. It went great.”
“How was Logan’s family? The giant assholes of the world?”
“More than that,” I hiss.
“Uh oh,” she laughs. “I’m at home, do you want to come over, and we can drink some wine and order pizza?”
“Ooof, that would be heavenly. I’ll be there in twenty.”
I hang up the phone and drive toward my sister’s house. Unloading all of this and dropping off the rental car can wait until the morning.
I pull into Emily’s driveway, the familiar sight of her cozy little house bringing an immediate sense of comfort. I can already see the glow of the kitchen lights spilling out onto the lawn, a warm invitation on this chilly evening.
As I walk up the steps and push open the door, I’m greeted by the sight of Emily standing in the kitchen, her back to me as she pours a second glass of wine. The pizza box is already on the counter, the lid propped open, revealing a large pepperoni and mushroom pizza.
"That was fast," I laugh, kicking off my shoes and dropping my bag on the floor.
Emily turns around, glass in hand, a grin on her face. "It’s been one of those days," she says, sliding the glass across the counter to me.
I take the wine and lean against the counter, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? You want to go first, or should I?"
She waves a hand, her smile softening with concern. "You go first. I need a good story to distract me."
I take a deep breath and a long sip of wine, the cool liquid helping to steady the swirling thoughts in my head.
"Well, I had an interesting encounter with Logan’s mom today," I start, setting my glass down on the counter.
Emily’s eyebrows hike up. "This already sounds like it's going to be good. What happened?"
I roll my eyes. "She pulled me aside at the party and basically told me I wasn’t good enough to ‘fraternize’ with her son and that I should steer clear of him because he’s already engaged."
Her eyes nearly pop out of her head, and she lets out a bark of laughter. "Fraternize with her son? What does that even mean? You planned his niece’s party; it’s not like the two of you are hooking up."
I take another long drink of my wine, and Emily’s laughter dies off as she studies me more closely. Her mouth drops open, and she gasps, leaning forward. "Serena, you didn’t... Oh my God, spill it!"
"We’ve decided to start dating," I admit, trying to keep my voice casual, but hiding the mixture of excitement and anxiety underneath is impossible.
Emily’s expression shifts from shock to something more serious. "Is that really a good idea? I mean, his family... they’re some of the biggest jerks in the world."
I shake my head, remembering the awful things they said to Logan. "That’s the thing, Em. They were being total assholes to him, and I overheard Logan telling them we were engaged."
Emily gasps again, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Say again?"
"That’s what I thought, too," I laugh, but it’s tinged with frustration. "It’s like... I don’t know, now Logan’s just using me to piss off his family, and I’m not about that life. I won’t be a pawn in his game—not when I already stand to lose so much."
She sets down her wine glass and looks at me with that big-sister wisdom she’s always had. "You know, it might be a beneficial partnership if you can keep your feelings closed off. Use the situation to your advantage, maybe?"
I shake my head. "That’s not possible, Em. I can’t just turn off my feelings, especially not now." I let out a sigh. "And anyway, he didn’t hold up his end of the bargain when I told him I’d do the party. Now, the building owner is working to evict me sooner than expected."
She reaches over and squeezes my hand, her eyes soft with understanding. "We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen, Serena. You’re not in this alone."
I look at her, my frustration bubbling up to the surface. "You know what irritated me the most? Logan swooped in, trying to play the hero, trying to buy the building so I could keep my shop. I don’t need to be saved, Em. I can handle my own problems."
She gives me a gentle smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear in that comforting way she always does. "I know you don’t need saving, Serena. You’ve always been strong, independent, and determined. But sometimes, it’s okay to let someone help you, especially when they care about you. Maybe Logan isn’t trying to control you; maybe he just wants to be there for you, to support you in his way."
I sigh, the fight slowly draining out of me. "Maybe," I admit, looking down at my wine glass. "But how do I know he’s not just using me to get back at his family?"
She shrugs, taking a sip of her wine. "You won’t know unless you talk to him. Really talk to him. And if it turns out he is using you? Then you walk away with your head held high, knowing you did everything you could."
I nod, appreciating her advice more than she’ll ever know. "Thanks, Em. I just... I’m scared. Scared of losing my shop, of getting hurt, of everything."
"You’re going to be okay, sis. You’re one of the strongest people I know. And whatever happens with Logan, we’ll figure it out together."
I smile back at her, feeling a little more optimistic. "I don’t know what I’d do without you."
"Luckily, you don’t have to find out," she says with a grin, raising her glass. "Now, let’s eat this pizza before it gets cold."
I laugh, clinking my glass against hers. "To sisterly love and surviving impossible situations."
"To that," she agrees, and we dig into the pizza.
Pizza, wine, and the warmth of my sister’s presence makes everything feel slightly more manageable.
Emily sets her empty plate aside and looks at me with that determined glint in her eye—the one that means she’s about to go into full lawyer mode. "Alright, Serena," she says, leaning forward, "we need a game plan."
I nod, taking a deep breath. "I know. I’ve been thinking about it, but everything feels so overwhelming right now."
"That’s why you have me. We’re going to fight this. If that landlord thinks he can just waltz in and kick you out, he’s got another thing coming."
I can’t help but smile at her confidence. "You sound like you’re ready to go to war."
"Oh, I am. But first, we need to figure out our strategy. So, let’s start with the basics. What do we know about this guy? What’s his angle?"
"His name is Donald Levy," I begin, thinking back to what little I know about him. "He owns the building and apparently, he’s been getting offers from some big developers who want to turn it into executive studio apartments. He told Logan that he couldn’t renege on the deal because the people involved are...well, not people you can say no to."
Emily raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Not people you can say no to? What is this, a bad mafia movie?"
I laugh, shaking my head. "I don’t know. That’s just what he said. But it sounded pretty final—like there’s no way he’s backing down."
"Well, we’ll see about that. First things first, we need to make sure he’s following the law to the letter. Most of these guys get greedy and try to cut corners. If he did anything wrong, we’re going to find it."
"So, where do we start?"
She leans forward, her mind already working a mile a minute. "We start by filing a motion to delay the eviction. We’ll need to buy some time to gather evidence and build our case. I can file enough motions to keep you in there longer, even if it’s just to make his life miserable in the meantime."
I chuckle, appreciating her tenacity. "You’re really going to make him work for it, aren’t you?"
"Damn right I am," she replies with a broad grin. "No one messes with my sister and gets away with it. Besides, it’ll be fun to watch him squirm."
"Do you ever get tired of being this ruthless?" I ask, only half-joking.
"Never," she says, laughing. "It’s my job, and I’m good at it. Now, let’s think about possible scenarios. If we file these motions, he might try to get aggressive. What if he offers you a buyout to leave quietly?"
I consider it for a moment. "I guess it would depend on the offer, but I really don’t want to give up my shop, Em. It’s my dream, my livelihood."
Emily nods thoughtfully. "I know, and I’m not saying you should. But we need to be prepared for all possibilities. If he tries to buy you out, we’ll negotiate the hell out of him. We can use the threat of dragging this out to get more favorable terms. You might end up with enough to open a new shop somewhere even better."
"Somewhere better? That’s a tall order," I say, raising an eyebrow. "I love that spot, Em. It’s perfect."
"I know," she says softly. "And I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you don’t lose it. But we have to be smart. If push comes to shove, we need to be ready to pivot."
I nod, appreciating her pragmatism. "Alright. So, we delay the eviction and start digging for dirt. What else?"
"We’ll also look into the legality of the eviction notice itself," Emily says, her voice turning serious. "Sometimes, these landlords get sloppy. They might not have followed the proper procedures or given you the right amount of notice. If we find anything even slightly off, we can challenge the eviction in court."
"That would buy us more time, right?" I ask, already feeling a bit more in control.
"Exactly," she replies. "And time is our friend. The longer we drag this out, the more likely it is that Levy will make a mistake or lose patience. We just need to keep the pressure on him."
"Okay, so what’s next?" I ask, feeling the gears in my brain start to turn.
Emily leans back in her chair, taking a sip of wine as she thinks. "We should also get Logan involved. I know you don’t want to rely on him, but he’s got connections and resources we can use. If he’s serious about helping, we should take advantage of that."
I sigh, feeling conflicted. "I don’t know, Em. I feel weird about it. Like, I don’t want to owe him anything."
Emily gives me a sympathetic look. "I get that, Serena, but this isn’t just about pride. It’s about keeping your business—your dream. If Logan can help, let him. You don’t have to see it as owing him anything. See it as a partnership. You scratch his back. He scratches yours."
"Is that what you call it? A partnership?" I ask, smirking at her choice of words.
Emily laughs, nearly spilling her wine. "Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best metaphor, but you know what I mean. Use him if you can, especially if he’s willing."
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but smile. "Fine. I’ll talk to him—see if there’s anything he can do. But I’m not letting him take over."
"Good," Emily says, nodding approvingly. "Now, back to Levy. We need to gather evidence on this guy. Do you know if he’s pulled this kind of thing before with other tenants?"
"I’m not sure," I admit, "but I wouldn’t be surprised. The other tenants have been quiet, but I haven’t really talked to them much about it."
"Then it’s time to start," Emily says decisively. "Talk to the other tenants, see if anyone else is being pushed out or if they’ve had any issues with him. If we can find a pattern, that could help our case. And I’ll do some digging on Levy’s past. If he’s got skeletons in his closet, I’ll find them."
I feel a wave of gratitude wash over me. "Em, I don’t know what I’d do without you. Seriously."
"You’d be fine," she says with a smile, "but I’m happy to help. We’re in this together, Serena. We’ve always had each other’s backs, and that won’t change now."
I reach over and squeeze her hand, our bond stronger than ever. "Thank you. I don’t say it enough, but thank you."
"Don’t mention it," she says, squeezing back. "Now, let’s brainstorm some scenarios. What if Levy tries to go around us, like offering the other tenants buyouts before we can talk to them?"
I grin, feeling a bit of mischief creeping in. "Then we beat him to the punch. We start a tenant union or something, getting everyone on the same page. Strength in numbers, right?"
"Exactly. And if he tries to intimidate anyone, we’ll have them file complaints. If we flood him with enough legal and bureaucratic headaches, he’ll have no choice but to back off."
"Wow, I love ruthless lawyer, Emily," I tease, lifting my glass to her.
She clinks her glass against mine. "I learned from the best. Mom would be proud."
"She would. Okay, what about worst-case scenario? What if we can’t stop the eviction, and I have to move?"
"If that happens, we’ll make sure you’re compensated fairly. We won’t let Levy shortchange you. And we’ll find you a new location, somewhere even better than your current spot."
"Somewhere better..." I echo, trying to imagine it. "It’s hard to think about leaving, though. I’ve put so much into that shop."
"I know," she says softly. "But if it comes to that, you’ll make a new place just as special. You have a talent for it, Serena. Wherever you go, people will follow. Your customers love you, not just the location."
I smile at her words, feeling more reassured. "Thanks, Em. I needed to hear that."
"Anytime. Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. We have to make a list of everything we need to do in the next few days. First, I’ll start drafting the motions to delay the eviction. Then, we’ll start gathering information from the other tenants. After that, I’ll do some research on Levy’s past dealings."
"And I’ll talk to Logan," I add, still a bit hesitant but knowing it’s the right move.
"Good," Emily says, jotting down notes as she talks. "And keep your ears open for any other developments. If Levy makes a move, we need to know about it immediately."
"Got it. We’ve got this, right?"
"We’ve got this. Now, let’s talk about something more fun. Did I tell you about the disaster of a date I went on last week?"
I burst out laughing, the tension of the evening melting away. "No, but I need to hear all the details."
She rolls her eyes, launching into the story with her usual flair for the dramatic. "Okay, so first of all, this guy shows up in flip-flops—to a posh restaurant. And I’m just standing there like, really? This is the best you could do?"
"No!" I gasp, already imagining the scene.
"Yes!" she insists, shaking her head in disbelief. "And it only got worse from there. He spent the entire dinner talking about his cat. Not cats, plural. One cat. Mr. Whiskers. Apparently, they have matching pajamas."
I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe. "Oh my god, you’re kidding me!"
"I wish I were. I swear, I’m done with dating apps. It’s just not worth the pain."
"Maybe you should start taking recommendations from your clients," I suggest, still giggling. "They seem to know everyone."
Emily groans. "Don’t even joke about that. I had one client try to set me up with her nephew, who lives in his mom’s basement and collects action figures. I had to politely decline."
I shake my head, still laughing. "You have the worst luck, Em."
"Tell me about it," she mutters, but she’s smiling too. "Anyway, enough about my dating disasters. Tell me more about you and Logan."
I pause, considering how to answer. "We’re...figuring it out. It’s complicated, you know? I really like him, but there’s so much going on with his family, and now this whole eviction mess. It feels like there’s always something getting in the way."
"I get it. But you deserve to be happy, Serena. Don’t let all this other stuff stop you from going after what you want."
"I know," I say softly, "but it’s hard to focus on that when everything feels so up in the air. One step at a time, right?"
"Right," she agrees, giving me a reassuring smile. "And I’ll be here every step of the way."
"Thanks, Em," I say, my heart swelling with gratitude again. "You’re the best."
"I know," she says with a playful wink. "But don’t worry, I won’t let it go to my head."
“Ugghhhh, I should get going. I want to get to the shop early in the morning to work on a new flavor of fudge I thought up.”
” I’ll come by to be your taste tester.”
” That would be lovely,” I giggle. “I really miss our baking time.”
” Let’s be clear: it was you baking and me tasting. I am not good in the kitchen.”
” That’s because your brain was meant for a courtroom.”
” That it was.”
” It felt good to look at Logan and Brant and say I don’t need your lawyer because I have the best in the city.”
” Wait, Brant? Logan’s lawyer friend is Brant Davidson?”
” Yeah, do you know him?”
” Everyone knows him, he’s ruthless. Ummmm, let’s backtrack a bit. I think you should take Logan up on his offer for help. Brant and I both going against Levy will cause this guy to break instantly.”
” Really?”
” Yeah. I’ve always wanted to meet him and work with him. We could learn a lot from each other.”
” This is not what I was expecting.”
“Tomorrow, you need to reach out to Logan and tell him you’ve reconsidered his offer.”
I look back at my sister and blow out a breath. “Fine.”
She claps excitedly before she stands up and gives me a quick hug. “Be safe going home.”
” Of course, you drank the whole bottle of wine, not me,” I tease.
She laughs and shrugs. I grab my purse and head out to the car. For the entire twenty-minute drive back into the city, my brain is focused on thoughts of Logan.
Imagine my shock when I reach the lobby of my apartment, the elevator doors open, and Logan steps out.