Bridging World's

6

Sage

It was around 11 a.m., and the café had a few customers mingling with those in the adjoining bookstore. I was in the midst of restocking our signature blueberry muffins when Charles came rushing in.

"Sage, Ms. Owen is here with the other tenants of the building," he announced breathlessly.

Puzzled by this unexpected gathering, I nodded and followed Charles out of the kitchen. The sight that met my eyes was disconcerting: Ms. Owen, a woman in her late twenties who owned the boutique above my café, stood amidst the other tenants, all of whom were murmuring anxiously among themselves.

Ms. Owen was the first to notice me. "Hi, Ms. Villumsen, I'm sorry to intrude during your work hours, but this is important," she said apologetically.

I gave her a warm smile. "That's fine, Ms. Owen. What’s going on?" I asked.

"I received a notice that our landlord has sold the building, and the new owner wants us all to vacate immediately," she explained, her eyes a mix of anger and worry.

A gasp escaped my lips. "What?" I turned to Charles, who looked as shocked as I felt.

"Yes, we just heard the news ourselves, Ms. Villumsen," added Ms. Stage, who ran the fitness studio on the third floor. "Apparently, the new owner plans to use all the floors for his own business."

"Oh my god, what are we going to do?" I asked, feeling a wave of panic.

"We don't know. The old landlord isn’t answering our calls," they said.

I rubbed my forehead in frustration. "Let me try calling him." I dialed his number, but the phone just kept ringing with no answer.

Desperation set in. Where could I possibly relocate my business on such short notice? The tenants dispersed, leaving me with the harsh reality that we had only a week to vacate the building.

Heartbroken and overwhelmed, I dialed my realtor and explained the situation. He was stunned by the urgency but promised to do his best.

Looking around the café, I felt a deep sadness. This location was ideal, with regular customers from the nearby companies and a vibrant business district. The thought of leaving this perfect place was unbearable.

The rest of the day was a blur of worry and overthinking, my mind consumed by the looming uncertainty.

............(A week later)

A week had passed since all the tenants gathered in my café to inform me of the change in ownership. Now, only Ms. Stage and I remained. While she had found a new location and was moving out by the end of the day, I had yet to secure a suitable place for my business. The stress was overwhelming; the few locations my realtor had shown me were far from ideal for a café.

I sighed, managing a few online orders, when the café door swung open. "Welcome..." My words trailed off as two large men entered. They were towering figures, their muscular bodies covered in tattoos that snaked up their arms and necks. They approached the counter.

"Hi, how can I help you?" I asked, trying to mask my fear. "Are you Sage Villumsen?" The one on the right, sporting a long beard, asked. I nodded. "Yes."

"This building belongs to our boss. You need to vacate immediately," he declared.

I swallowed hard. "I know, but I need more time. I’ve been searching for a place to relocate. Could you give me your boss’s number? I’d like to explain my situation to him," I pleaded.

"Listen, miss, we’ve already given you an extra day. You’re not getting more time. Whatever you have to say, say it to us," the left one shouted, startling a few customers.