Chapter 2 – The Door That Stayed Locked

Dominic stared at Victoria.

“I signed an order to change the locks after the attempted break-in last spring.”

Victoria nodded.

“Precisely.”

“I also told you to make sure Caroline received a new key.”

For the first time that evening, Victoria’s confidence faltered.

Only slightly.

But I saw it.

“You said the security team would handle distribution.”

“I said they would cut the keys. I asked you to see that my daughter got hers.”

Victoria looked toward me.

“Rachel, I believe you were working here when the locks were replaced.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then perhaps you can explain how chaotic that week was.”

I remembered it well.

A delivery driver had tried the service entrance after hours. Security discovered a damaged latch, and every exterior lock was replaced as a precaution.

The new keys arrived in little white envelopes.

I’d been told to sort them alphabetically for the staff.

One envelope had been different.

It was green, with Caroline’s name written across the front.

“I remember the replacement keys,” I said.

Victoria gave me a warning look.

“Then you remember there was some confusion.”

“No, ma’am.”

Her smile disappeared.

“Excuse me?”

“I remember putting Miss Caroline’s envelope on the hall table. You collected it with the wedding correspondence.”

Dominic turned to me.

“Are you certain?”

I felt the familiar tightening in my stomach that came whenever my job was in danger.

My mother’s hospital bill was due again the following Thursday.

I could almost see the amount printed in red.

But I remembered that envelope.

“Yes, sir. I remember because Miss Caroline’s name was written in green ink. I thought it was a birthday invitation.”

Victoria shook her head.

“This is absurd. A housemaid remembers the color of an envelope from months ago?”

“I remember things I’m responsible for, ma’am.”

The words came out before I could reconsider them.

Dominic looked at Victoria.

“Where is her key?”

“I don’t know. It may have been misplaced.”

“Then why did you tell her I wanted the old one returned?”

Victoria pressed her lips together.

“Because I thought some boundaries would be healthy.”

Caroline looked up.

“Boundaries?”

“You’re twenty-one, Caroline. You cannot expect your father’s home to remain exactly as it was when you were a child.”

Caroline glanced around the dining room.

At the expensive flowers.

At the elaborate birthday cake.

At the unfamiliar place settings.

“I never expected that.”

Her voice was steady now.

“I just thought I’d still be allowed through the door.”

Dominic put the key down carefully.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then he pulled out the chair beside him.

“Sit here, Carrie.”

She hesitated.

“I don’t want to make this worse.”

“You aren’t.”

Victoria gave a tired sigh.

“Dominic, the guests—”

“Can manage without me.”

He waited until Caroline sat.

Then he turned toward me.

“Rachel, would you mind finding two clean plates?”

I glanced at the magnificent six-tier cake.

“Of course, sir.”

“Not that one.”

He indicated Caroline’s homemade chocolate cake.

“This one.”

I brought the plates.

Dominic took the knife himself.

He cut a generous slice for his daughter and a smaller one for himself.

The frosting stuck to the blade.

He smiled faintly.

“You always put too much icing in the middle.”

Caroline almost smiled back.

“You always ate it anyway.”

He set the first plate in front of her.

And for perhaps thirty seconds, they were simply a father and daughter having birthday cake.

Then Caroline’s expression changed.

“Dad, there’s something else.”

Dominic put down his fork.

“All right.”

“I don’t want you to think I came here because I need money.”

“I don’t.”

“Because Victoria said—”

“Carrie.”

He spoke gently.

“Whatever Victoria said, I’d rather hear it from you.”

She breathed out.

“My bakery is supposed to open in four weeks.”

“I know that now.”

“I’ve been saving for three years. I worked weekends at a restaurant during college. I took early shifts at a wholesale bakery because they paid more.”

He listened without interrupting.

“I found a little storefront on Armitage. It used to be a neighborhood bakery before the owner retired.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Armitage?”

“Yes. Four-sixteen West Armitage.”

Victoria suddenly reached for her water glass.

Caroline didn’t notice.

“The plumbing was old, but the kitchen had good bones. I signed the lease last winter.”

“Did you get a lawyer to review it?”

Caroline’s mouth tightened.

“Yes, Dad.”

He looked embarrassed.

“Sorry.”

She continued.

“I bought two used ovens. They’re not fancy, but they work. I paid for new counters. I even got my food-service inspection scheduled.”

“That sounds like a lot of work.”

“It was.”

She looked at the cake.

“Then three weeks ago, the property manager told me the lease was being terminated.”

Dominic straightened.

“On what grounds?”

“They said the building was changing ownership and the new owners wanted a different use for the space.”

“Did you sign a release?”

“No.”

“Did they return your deposit?”

“They offered to. I wouldn’t accept it.”

Dominic frowned.

“Then you may have rights under the lease.”

“I know.”

Caroline’s voice grew strained.

“I just haven’t had enough money left to fight them.”

Victoria set down her glass.

“Caroline, perhaps this isn’t the time to discuss commercial property disputes.”

Dominic looked at her.

“Why not?”

“Because your birthday dinner is already ruined.”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he turned back to his daughter.

“Who owns the building now?”

Caroline opened her purse and removed a folded notice.

She passed it to him.

Dominic read the heading.

Then he read it again.

I watched something change behind his eyes.

“What is it?” Caroline asked.

He placed the notice beside the letter.

The company name was printed across the top.

North Pier Holdings, LLC.

Dominic lifted his gaze toward Victoria.

“That company is mine.”

Caroline stared at him.

“What?”

He swallowed.

“Carrie, I own the company that’s trying to close your bakery.”

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