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Chalk one up forme.
“I overheard them from the stall I was in,” I add, relishing in the torture.
Ugh. I need to stop.
His mouth opens and then closes, and then he does what any politician does best—he changes the subject.
“You know, Livvy, I wanted to stop by today and just catch up.” He wanders through the shop, picking up things from the shelves and putting them back. “Hey, how is this organic catnip doing?”
He turns the flowery box over, which looks more like a package holding expensive soap, to read the tiny print. Which I know he can’t. I have excellent vision, and not even I can read those damn things.
“The catnip has sold okay. Honestly, Bartlett, things have been a little slow.”
His head snaps in my direction. “Really?”
I shrug. “Yeah. All businesses have ups and downs. What can you do besides wait it out?”
His gaze drills me. “Pack it in,” he says quietly.
“Excuse me? What’s that?” I ask.
Holy shit. Did the bistro boys send him over? Tell him to help get rid of me?
I’ll kill him. Then, I’ll kill the guys. After that, I’ll open a vegetarian restaurant in their place and donate a portion of the proceeds to the Humane Society.
Those fuckers will learn what I’m made of.
“Wh… why would you suggest that, Bartlett? You know how business works. Everyone has ups and downs. Why would you think I’d throw in the towel so easily?”
His eyes dart around as he backpedals. “Oh. I didn’t mean that. I mean, if you think you can make it, then go for it, for heaven’s sake. But look, I recently got some information you might be interested in.”
“Yeah? What’s that?” I ask, watching perspiration droplets run down his temple.
How did someone like this even get elected?
“I got word at a recent council meeting, Livvy, that a big shot developer’s looking to buy up the block.”
My stomach drops to the bottom of my sticky Birkenstocks, and I want to hurl.
“Wh… what do you mean? What does that mean, exactly?” I stammer, certain I misheard him.
Right?
Jewel is at my side in an instant and puts a hand on my arm. For as clueless as she is, she’s still a good friend.
Bartlett picks up steam when he sees my wilting. “Yeah. It’s kind of exciting. They want to put up condos on the entire block. Build a little park. That sort of thing. Could be a done deal, from what I know,” he says cheerfully.
“What about the businesses on the block, like mine, and EastSide next door?”
“Oh my,” he says, looking at his watch, “I’m late for a meeting. Let’s put a pin in this and circle back later.”
He and his clichéd work-speak disappear out the door.
I stumble over to the cash wrap and take the seat Jewel was occupying. “Oh my God. What does this mean? Holy shit.” I drop my head into my hands.
Jewel comes over to rub my back. “That’s crazy, Livvy. Geez.”
Holy shit. Two vultures looking to displace me. As if business wasn’t already hard enough. It’s just me against them and all their money and connections and futuristic thinking.
