Her CFO started typing.
Sophia could hear it.
“Square footage loss?”
“Fourteen percent.”
“Expansion height?”
“Still within zoning.”
“Cost?”
“Higher upfront.”
“How much?”
“I’m calculating.”
“Investors will hate higher cost.”
Sophia smiled for the first time in days.
“Then show them the branding value.”
“What branding value?”
“Working-class craftsmanship meeting high fashion.”
“Original brick.”
“Industrial steel.”
“Real business preserved inside modern expansion.”
“Not fake heritage.”
“Actual heritage.”
Silence.
Then her CFO said:
“That is annoyingly good.”
Sophia leaned back.
“Thank you.”
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
“We need structural engineers.”
“Get them.”
“Architects.”
“Tonight.”
“Owner approval.”
Sophia stared at the drawing.
“I’ll handle that.”
Two days later, Jake sat in Evergreen Café with his daughter.
He was not expecting Sophia.
That was obvious the moment she entered.
His face changed.
The little girl reacted first.
“SOPHIA!”
Half the café turned.
The child ran.
Sophia dropped to one knee and hugged her tightly.
“I missed you.”
“You disappeared.”
Sophia closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“Don't do that again.”
“I'll try.”
The child looked satisfied.
Jake did not.
He remained beside the table.
Guarded.
Sophia approached.
“Can we talk?”
Jake looked toward his daughter.
The café owner offered to take her to decorate cookies behind the counter.
The girl went reluctantly.
Sophia sat opposite Jake.
She placed a folder between them.
Jake stared at it.
“What is this?”
“The reason I left.”
He said nothing.
Sophia took a breath.
“My company has been trying to buy your building.”
Jake's expression changed.
Not anger first.
Understanding.
Then hurt.
“The redevelopment company.”
“Yes.”
“You.”
“My company.”
Jake leaned back.
“So when my daughter told you…”
“I realized.”
“And you ran.”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the window.
Sophia continued.
“I was scared.”
“Of telling me?”
“Of what I had to choose.”
Jake looked back.
“You had to choose?”
“My company needs that location.”
“If we don't expand, funding may disappear.”
“Two hundred jobs are tied to that decision.”
Jake's jaw tightened.
“And my garage is one job?”
“No.”
Sophia's voice sharpened.
“Don't do that.”
“Then what am I supposed to think?”