Page 7 of Sun's Roar

“What the hell?”

The email from San Diego’s city manager sat boldly in her inbox, subject line reading: “Urgent: Property Acquisition Notice - Ember & Spice Location.”

Her heart hammered as she clicked it open. Her hazel eyes widened as she scanned the contents, each word landing like a blow.

“Redevelopment... corporate complex... condos... acquisition of current property...”

But then her gaze caught on a surprising detail.

“Restaurant identified as a cultural asset... buyer interested in retaining operation... substantial buyout offer for current owner...”

Helena let out a string of curses that would’ve made her line cooks blush. She grabbed her phone and dialed the number at the bottom of the email.

“City Manager’s office, this is Rachel.”

“This is Helena Divata, owner of Ember & Spice. I just received your email about our property.”

“Oh yes, Miss Divata! I was hoping you’d call early. The investor is quite eager.”

“I bet he is,” Helena said, twirling a strand of red hair around her finger. “Can you explain exactly what this means for my restaurant? For my staff?”

Twenty minutes later, Helena hung up, her mind racing. The offer was staggering—enough to clear all her debts, provide generous bonuses to her loyal staff, and still leave her as executive chef with a substantial salary increase.

She glanced around her cramped office at the stack of unpaid invoices and the dwindling profit projections she’d been working on before the birthday incident. The restaurant industry was brutal, and competition had been eating into their margins. The security this deal offered was tempting.

“You look like someone just offered to buy your soul,” Tyanna said, poking her head through the doorway. “I knocked, but you were somewhere else.”

Helena’s lips curved into a wry smile. “Someone just offered to buy the restaurant.”

“What?” Tyanna stepped fully into the office. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. Some millionaire is buying up the whole block for redevelopment but wants to keep us as the crown jewel of his fancy new complex.”

“And?”

“And I think I’m going to take it.” The words felt strange leaving her mouth but also freeing. “We’ve been treading water for months.”

By ten o’clock, the entire staff arrived, and Helena gathered them all in the dining room.

“So,” Helena said, clasping her hands together. “I have news. Big news.”

Her stomach fluttered as fifteen pairs of eyes fixed on her. The kitchen staff still wore their whites, prep half-finished for the day ahead. The servers stood with notepads in hand. Helena had rehearsed this speech a dozen times in her head, but now the words seemed to evaporate like water on a hot skillet.

“I sold the restaurant,” she blurted out, then quickly raised her hands as gasps rippled through the room. “But before you panic—everyone’s jobs are safe. More than safe, actually.”

She tucked her red hair behind her ear, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. “The investor is some tech millionaire looking to revitalize this block. He wants Ember & Spice as his flagship restaurant. And...” She took a deep breath, savoring the moment. “He’s providing substantial bonuses for every single one of you.”

Helena watched their expressions transform from shock to disbelief to cautious excitement. Marco, her sous chef, stepped forward with arms crossed.

“How substantial are we talking?”

Helena smiled and named the figure. The room erupted.

“Holy shit, Chef!” Tyanna squealed. “That’s three months’ rent!”

“And health insurance,” Helena added, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. The staff’s medical benefits had been keeping her awake at night for months. “Full coverage, starting next month.”

Joey, their youngest line cook, looked up from the calculator on his phone. “But what about you, Chef? Are you still...”

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