I watched them for a second.
That was not good.
That was not good at all.
I looked away quickly, forcing myself to move before I made it obvious I was watching them.
Think, Rory. Think!
Fix it before this white man tells your dad just how close his daughter and business partner actually were.
Shift the attention.
I clapped my hands lightly to get the room’s attention, stepping toward the center of the space where more people could see me.
“Alright, y’all,” I called out, voice carrying just enough to pull focus without sounding forced. “If I could have your attention for just a second.”
Conversations slowed then stopped.
I smiled, holding it steady even though my chest was on fire.
“First off, thank you all for coming out tonight,” I said. “This space… this experience…it means a lot to us. Not just as a business move, but as something personal.”
I glanced across the room and found my dad.
“For those of you who don’t know,” I continued, “this property has history. And the people tied to it… they built something that gave a lot of us a foundation.”
I paused just enough.
Let it land, Aurora. Tug at those emotions.
“So I wanted to honor that,” I said. “In a way that felt right.”
My fingers tightened slightly around the mic.
“The space we’re standing officially has a name now.”
I looked straight at him when I said it.
“Alice.”
Silence.
I watched my dad. He kept his face neutral despite my announcement. Everyone clapped lightly and he joined but his expression didn’t change.
No smile or approval.
Damn it.
I forced a smile anyway, wrapping it up clean.
“Enjoy the night,” I said. “Drink, relax, and let us take care of you.”
Applause followed as I stepped down, handing off the mic, already feeling my stomach twist again.
That didn’t work. Not even a little.
I barely made it two steps before I felt his presence. I turned just as he gestured to me.
