"Well… if that's the case," Elora said. "Let's finalize the paperwork. Then the shop is yours."
"The shop is yours." This sentence made Lyria happy and excited. It wasn't that she hadn't owned shops in her past life, but this felt more important than whatever number of shops she had previously.
Madam Elora led them into the small office at the back of the shop. The room smelled faintly of sandalwood and old parchment. A polished oak desk stood in the center, its surface neatly arranged with files and folders.
Elora rummaged through a drawer, pulled out a thick folder, and placed it gently on the desk.
"This," she said, tapping the folder with a tender smile, "is the official ownership transfer contract for the shop. I prepared for this moment, but I never thought I'd part with it so soon… but seeing who it's going to makes me feel comfortable."
Serena gave a warm, reassuring smile. "It will stay in good hands."
Lyria nodded, still in awe. "I'll take care of it… I promise."
Elora opened the folder, took out the property deed and the ownership transfer contract, and handed them to Lyria, who then signed. Elora turned the document around and added her own signature.
"That makes it official," she said, stacking the papers neatly.
Once the paperwork was complete, they headed out of the shop. Lyria was smiling as she held the property deed. Elora locked the shop and handed the keys to Lyria.
"Serena, I want to settle near my granddaughter in Crescent City, so you may not be seeing me in a while," Elora said before hugging Serena.
"Oh, then when will we be seeing you again?" Serena asked the older woman.
"I can't say, but whenever I am in the city again, I will come see you. And Lyria, it was nice knowing you," Madam Elora said with a hand stretched out for a shake.
Shaking Elora's hand, Lyria said, "Same here."
Before they all went their separate ways.
On the lane cruiser home, Serena whispered anxiously, "Lyria, whatever you do, don't tell your fathers you bought the shop. Tell them you only rented it."
"Yes, Mum, it is our little secret," Lyria assured, which earned a sigh of relief from the older woman.
As they got home, the door was opened by Cyris, which almost gave the women, who were trying to control their expressions, a heart attack.
"So how was it? Were you able to rent the shop?" he asked with raised brows.
"Yes, Dad," Lyria said with an almost forced smile.
Cyris looked at Serena, who was unusually quiet, then moved his eyes toward Lyria, who seemed to be standing stiffly. After staring at them for 30 seconds, he allowed them to enter.
"Mum and Lyria are back!" Milo shouted.
After wearing their indoor slippers, they both went to eat the dinner, which was already set.
"So? Are you guys not going to inform us about how it went?" Rowan asked, earning a nod from Thorne, who glanced at the duo with expectations.
"Oh yeah, it went w...well," Lyria said , not wanting to say more, as the more one talked, the more they slipped.
"Smoothly, actually. Everything was good; you know, the owner is my friend," Serena said, nodding convincingly, hoping her husband and sons would buy it.
All the fecunds at the table stopped eating except Milo and looked at their mother/wife and sister/daughter. After a ten seconds staredown, they continued eating while the females at the table sighed in relief, though not visibly.
Today's dinner was, without question, the longest dinner Lyria had ever endured in both lifetimes. After dinner, she immediately retreated to her room. Resting on her closed room door, she sighed out in relief and tried to calm her heart that had been pounding through out dinner. After she calmed down, she went for a shower and changed into long-sleeve nightwear before going to bed, she decided to check the mission progress.
[MISSION PROGRESS: 1/4 Tasks Complete]
[TASKS: Acquire a Permanent Location {COMPLETED}
Forge a Supply Contract
Hire Workers
Achieve a Revenue Milestone: Earn a total revenue of ₤10,000 from the new location within 60 days]
Lyria's thought after seeing the progress was " I am getting there". After which she drifted to sleep. The next morning came quickly, and Lyria got up for her usual routine of baking and making coffee. Today, she also added cookies to what would be sold at the flower shop.
After taking her bath and having breakfast, she went to the flower shop alongside Rowan. Immediately after she opened up, business started as usual. Before noon, Perry arrived with a group of pregnant fecunds.
"Good day, Miss Lyria."
"Perry, it's good to see you again," she said warmly. "How's the little one?"
"She has become naughty lately, and besides, I brought customers," Perry said while he rubbed his protruding belly.
"Yes, Miss Lyria, I can't do without your cupcakes nowadays, and it seems like you made something new," a pregnant snake fecund with slitted green eyes said.
"We can't do without it," another one amongst the group added.
"Yes,"Cookies," Lyria explained. "They go best with milk. Perfect for breakfast."
"Then we will buy all you have, and give us a dozen of vanilla and chocolate mixed cupcakes." Vanilla was something Lyria discovered in one of her market trips and had added to the menu since then .As she packed their order, Lyria added "I would like to inform you all that I rented a shop already and I will be moving there in a week , so you all will have to come to my shop. And don't worry, delivery service will also be available," Lyria said to all the customers present —what she had been saying since morning.
After Perry and his group left, everything was sold out, so she went to have lunch with Rowan before bidding him goodbye, as she had to go home to see her guest, Tessa, who had been bothering her with calls.
"Send my regards to Tessa when you get home, also tell her I won't be home late so she can still have her spicy chicken feet," Rowan said before bidding Lyria goodbye.
When Lyria reached home, she could hear voices even before opening the door. Inside, she found Tessa seated with Daddy Thorne. The moment Tessa spotted her, she squealed and rushed forward, throwing her arms around Lyria in a tight hug."
"uhh Tessa don't kill me" Lyria said trying to sound harsh
"Lyria, you sly how could you start making money without telling me" Tessa said after pulling from the hug.
"Tessy you know I would not keep things from you intentionally, I have been busy" Lyria said as they both sat down "actually but still you could have even sent me come of those cupcakes and coffee of yours daddy Thorne had been talking about it since I came "
"and you definitely will have them but that will be tomorrow though" Lyria assured
"ok" Tessa said before pulling Lyria into the conversation she was having with Thorne.
After talking for a while Lyria went to take a long bath and when she went back to the sitting room she perceived the smell of spicy chicken and she could hear Tessa talking with daddy Rowan.
Dinner was more lively, even with a flushed face and red lips showing how spicy the chicken was Tessa was still talking and chatting with everyone on the table.
After dinner, Tessa and Lyria went to Lyria's room and they gisted until midnight, if not because Lyria had to wake up early to bake they would have continued until dawn.
Ps. Guys I'm thinking of applying for a contract but I am not sure of myself please support me.