Chapter 3

The air in The Daily Grind crackled. A few other customers turned to stare.

I looked from Kevin's innocent, parroting face to Jessica's horrified one.

Then, a voice from the back room, "What's all the commotion?"

Brittany emerged, wiping her hands on an apron. She took in the scene – me standing stiffly, Jessica stammering, Kevin looking confused by his mother's reaction.

"Oh, Emily," Brittany said, her tone smooth, a little too understanding. "Kids say the darndest things, don't they?"

She put an arm around Jessica. "Don't worry, sis. Emily knows how tough it is running a small business."

Then, Brittany looked at me, a strange glint in her eyes. "And really, Emily, people with means helping out a bit more, it's just part of supporting the community, isn't it? We all have to chip in where we can."

Chip in? I had chipped in the majority of the capital to start this place. I was paying premium prices, and now I was being called a "sucker" by her nephew, a sentiment apparently originating from his mother and, I suspected, his aunt.

The humiliation burned. The casual, condescending way Brittany framed it, as if I were being uncharitable for expecting fair treatment, was infuriating.

"Is that what you call it, Brittany?" My voice was low, tight. "You call exploiting your primary investor 'chipping in'?"

Jessica flinched. Brittany's smile faltered.

"Now, Emily, don't get dramatic..." Brittany started.

"Dramatic?" I cut her off. "I want my investment back. And any share of profits I'm owed. I'm done."

Jessica gasped. "Emily, you can't! We... we don't have it! Everything's tied up in the business! We're barely making a profit as it is!"

Brittany nodded quickly. "She's right, Emily. The café is just getting on its feet. There's no spare cash to just... pull out."

They were stonewalling me. The friendly facade had crumbled, revealing something ugly underneath.

"We'll see about that," I said, grabbing my pre-ordered beans. I didn't take the free cup Kevin mentioned. I didn't want anything more from them.

I walked out, their stunned faces a small, bitter satisfaction.