I nod, appreciating her pragmatism. "Alright. So, we delay the eviction and start digging for dirt. What else?"
"We’ll also look into the legality of the eviction notice itself," Emily says, her voice turning serious. "Sometimes, these landlords get sloppy. They might not have followed the proper procedures or given you the right amount of notice. If we find anything even slightly off, we can challenge the eviction in court."
"That would buy us more time, right?" I ask, already feeling a bit more in control.
"Exactly," she replies. "And time is our friend. The longer we drag this out, the more likely it is that Levy will make a mistake or lose patience. We just need to keep the pressure on him."
"Okay, so what’s next?" I ask, feeling the gears in my brain start to turn.
Emily leans back in her chair, taking a sip of wine as she thinks. "We should also get Logan involved. I know you don’t want to rely on him, but he’s got connections and resources we can use. If he’s serious about helping, we should take advantage of that."
I sigh, feeling conflicted. "I don’t know, Em. I feel weird about it. Like, I don’t want to owe him anything."
Emily gives me a sympathetic look. "I get that, Serena, but this isn’t just about pride. It’s about keeping your business—your dream. If Logan can help, let him. You don’t have to see it as owing him anything. See it as a partnership. You scratch his back. He scratches yours."
"Is that what you call it? A partnership?" I ask, smirking at her choice of words.
Emily laughs, nearly spilling her wine. "Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best metaphor, but you know what I mean. Use him if you can, especially if he’s willing."
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but smile. "Fine. I’ll talk to him—see if there’s anything he can do. But I’m not letting him take over."
"Good," Emily says, nodding approvingly. "Now, back to Levy. We need to gather evidence on this guy. Do you know if he’s pulled this kind of thing before with other tenants?"
"I’m not sure," I admit, "but I wouldn’t be surprised. The other tenants have been quiet, but I haven’t really talked to them much about it."
"Then it’s time to start," Emily says decisively. "Talk to the other tenants, see if anyone else is being pushed out or if they’ve had any issues with him. If we can find a pattern, that could help our case. And I’ll do some digging on Levy’s past. If he’s got skeletons in his closet, I’ll find them."
I feel a wave of gratitude wash over me. "Em, I don’t know what I’d do without you. Seriously."
"You’d be fine," she says with a smile, "but I’m happy to help. We’re in this together, Serena. We’ve always had each other’s backs, and that won’t change now."
I reach over and squeeze her hand, our bond stronger than ever. "Thank you. I don’t say it enough, but thank you."
"Don’t mention it," she says, squeezing back. "Now, let’s brainstorm some scenarios. What if Levy tries to go around us, like offering the other tenants buyouts before we can talk to them?"
I grin, feeling a bit of mischief creeping in. "Then we beat him to the punch. We start a tenant union or something, getting everyone on the same page. Strength in numbers, right?"
"Exactly. And if he tries to intimidate anyone, we’ll have them file complaints. If we flood him with enough legal and bureaucratic headaches, he’ll have no choice but to back off."
"Wow, I love ruthless lawyer, Emily," I tease, lifting my glass to her.
She clinks her glass against mine. "I learned from the best. Mom would be proud."
"She would. Okay, what about worst-case scenario? What if we can’t stop the eviction, and I have to move?"
"If that happens, we’ll make sure you’re compensated fairly. We won’t let Levy shortchange you. And we’ll find you a new location, somewhere even better than your current spot."
"Somewhere better..." I echo, trying to imagine it. "It’s hard to think about leaving, though. I’ve put so much into that shop."
"I know," she says softly. "But if it comes to that, you’ll make a new place just as special. You have a talent for it, Serena. Wherever you go, people will follow. Your customers love you, not just the location."
I smile at her words, feeling more reassured. "Thanks, Em. I needed to hear that."
"Anytime. Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. We have to make a list of everything we need to do in the next few days. First, I’ll start drafting the motions to delay the eviction. Then, we’ll start gathering information from the other tenants. After that, I’ll do some research on Levy’s past dealings."
"And I’ll talk to Logan," I add, still a bit hesitant but knowing it’s the right move.
"Good," Emily says, jotting down notes as she talks. "And keep your ears open for any other developments. If Levy makes a move, we need to know about it immediately."