Page 21 of Pucking My Off-Limits Billionaire Boss
I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words. She's right. I've always been a fighter, and I'm not about to let this setback defeat me.
With a determined shake of my head, I square my shoulders and push the sadness aside. "You're right. I can't let this get me down. I'll figure something out. I always do."
Hailey smiles, her confidence in me clear. "That's the spirit. And hey, if there's anything I can do, legally or otherwise, you know I'm here for you."
I manage a small smile, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Hailey. It means a lot."
Hailey's demeanor shifts suddenly, a spark of curiosity lighting up her eyes. "Hey, Lucy, do you have the property sale documents? Jake gave you a copy, right?"
I nod, a bit puzzled by her sudden interest. "Yeah, he did. Gave them to me when I bumped into him at the Tavern." I rummage through my bag and pull out the folder, handing it over to her.
As Hailey starts poring over the documents, her lawyer instincts kicking in, I find myself lost in thought, my mind drifting back to Jake. Despite my frustration and anger at him, I can't deny that he looked good—infuriatingly so. He's changed in the years since high school, more mature, more...everything. And Carter, his son, such a sweet kid. I can't help but wonder about his mom. Who was she? What happened there?
Lost in these thoughts, I'm barely aware of Hailey's intense focus on the papers in front of her. It's strange, thinking of Jake as a dad. It adds a new dimension to him, one that I hadn't considered before. It softens him somehow, makes him more human, more relatable.
My reverie is abruptly interrupted by Hailey's excited voice. "Lucy, you won't believe this," she says, her eyes gleaming with a mix of surprise and eagerness.
I snap out of my thoughts, focusing back on her. "What? What is it, Hailey?"
Hailey's eyes are alight with the kind of excitement that only a legal breakthrough can bring. "Okay, Lucy, listen to this," she starts, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Upon my perusal of the contractual stipulations and addendums attached to the sale agreement, particularly focusing on the annexure pertaining to the specific parcel of real estate identified as the Mocha Memoirs location, it appears that there exists a reversionary interest clause, contingent upon a preferential right of purchase, which is inherently tied to the original leaseholder, namely you, or their designated assignees, in the event of a prospective sale or transfer of ownership."
I blink at her, my brain trying to keep up with the jargon. "Hailey, in English, please. We’re not all warrior-lawyers.”
She laughs, realizing her lapse into lawyer-speak. "Sorry, sorry. Okay, let me put it simply. The part of the property where Mocha Memoirs is located? There's a clause saying it can't be sold to someone new without offering the first chance to buy it to the original person who leased it, or someone they choose. In this case, that person is you."
I feel a jolt of surprise and a glimmer of hope. "So, what you're saying is..."
"I'm saying," Hailey continues, "that when Jake bought the property, this part of the deal wasn't legally valid. He couldn't just buy Mocha Memoirs out from under you without giving you the chance to buy it first. Because of this oversight, you're technically still a partial owner."
I sit back, stunned. "So, I have a legal claim to Mocha Memoirs? Even after Jake bought it?"
"Exactly," Hailey confirms. "It looks like the property company was so eager to sell everything in one go that they missed this important detail. It's a pretty big oversight."
I let the information sink in, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. This changes everything. I could have a chance to get Mocha Memoirs back, to reclaim a part of my dream that I thought was lost.
"So, what do I do now?" I ask, feeling a surge of determination.
Hailey's grin widens. "Now, we use this to your advantage. You need to talk to Jake, let him know about this clause. Legally, you have a strong position."
I nod, my mind racing with possibilities. "I'll do it. I'll talk to Jake."
As we finish our drinks and prepare to leave the bar, I feel a newfound sense of power and purpose. For the first time since returning to Cedarwood, I feel like I'm not just at the mercy of circumstances but that I can actually take control of my situation.
Walking out into the cool night air, I know that the next conversation with Jake will be pivotal. It's not just about business anymore; it's about standing up for myself and my dreams. And with this new legal revelation, I just might have the upper hand.
10
Jake
AfewdaysafterLucy called me to tell me about the legal bombshell Hailey had discovered, I'm on my way to meet with Lucy at the old Mocha Memoirs site. By my side is my lawyer, Ethan Moore—a sharp, mid-forties guy with a knack for cutting through legal jargon like a hot knife through butter. I flew him in from LA for the meeting—he’s the best of the best, after all. He's dressed in his usual crisp suit, his demeanor calm and collected, but I can tell he's as intrigued by this situation as I am.
As we walk towards the now empty Mocha Memoirs, the morning sun casting long shadows on the sidewalk, I fill Ethan in on the situation. "So, my sister Hailey, who’s akillerlawyer, not to mention Lucy’s good friend, dug up some clause or something in the property sale. Apparently, it gives Lucy some claim to the Mocha Memoirs location."
Ethan nods, his expression turning into a mix of frustration and thoughtfulness. "Interesting. It's not uncommon for old properties to have overlooked clauses, but it's unusual for them to resurface like this. It could complicate things," he says, his tone laced with annoyance. "I can't believe my team missed this. Heads are going torollfor this oversight. We need to be thorough, especially with a project of this magnitude." He pauses, taking a deep breath to compose himself. "We'll need to address this immediately. It's a setback, but not insurmountable. I’ve dealt with trickier situations before."
I run a hand through my hair, a mix of frustration and curiosity swirling inside me. "Complicate is one word for it. I thought I bought the place fair and square. Now this?"
We turn the corner, the familiar façade of Mocha Memoirs coming into view. It's strange seeing it so deserted, a shadow of the bustling coffee shop it once was.
