Chapter 43 - Fighting Back
Jack stands in the middle of the bakery, his jaw clenched as the men from Horizon Holdings systematically strip the place of anything valuable. Emily watches, fists clenched, her eyes red and swollen.
"They can't just do this," Emily mutters, voice shaking. "This is my life, Jack."
"They won't get away with it," Jack says, eyes cold as steel.
[Mission Unlocked: Reclaim the Bakery. Reward: Crisis Management Lv. 2.]
---
Jack calls Chris, his voice low and furious. "Find out who authorized the loan transfer. And get me everything you can on the new creditor."
"Got it," Chris says, the sound of typing in the background. "But it's going to take time."
"We don't have time," Jack snaps. "Lisa's already moving in."
"Then we hit back harder," Chris says, his tone equally cold.
---
Meanwhile, Emily sits in the back room, staring at the empty shelves. Jack walks in, his expression softening as he takes in her defeated posture.
"Emily," he says, kneeling beside her. "I know this is hard, but we're going to get through this."
"How?" she whispers, voice breaking. "They're taking everything."
Jack places a hand on her shoulder. "Not everything. You still have your skills. Your passion. And you have me."
Emily's eyes meet his, and for a moment, there's a spark of hope.
"We'll rebuild," Jack says firmly. "And we'll make it bigger and better than before."
[Mission Update: Reclaim the Bakery. Progress: 30%]
---
Later that night, Jack meets with Marcus at a dimly lit bar. Marcus looks like he hasn't slept in days, eyes bloodshot and face pale.
"Lisa's going all in," Marcus says, downing a shot. "She's not just after the bakery. She's targeting all your small assets."
"She's trying to bleed me dry," Jack mutters, fists clenching. "But she's overextending herself. If we hit back now, we can destabilize her operations."
Marcus leans forward, voice lowered. "There's a shipment coming into Horizon's docks tomorrow night. Illegal goods – stuff that could ruin her if it gets exposed."
Jack's eyes narrow. "And you're sure about this?"
"Positive," Marcus says. "But if Lisa finds out I told you..."
"She won't," Jack says, a cold smile forming on his lips. "Because by the time she does, it'll be too late."
[Mission Update: Reclaim the Bakery. Progress: 60%]
---
The next morning, Jack and Chris wait in a car parked near the docks, watching as trucks unload cargo under the cover of darkness.
"This is it," Chris says, adjusting the camera lens. "One clear shot of those crates and we'll have her."
Jack nods, his jaw set. "Let's make this count."
The two men sit in tense silence, the air thick with anticipation. The time for defense is over. Now, it's time to strike back.