Chapter 40.

"Does Ryder know she's carrying his baby?"

Kim asked impatiently as Catalina looked down.

"He doesn't. I made sure of it. But he's going to find out sooner or later wouldn't he?"

Catalina asked as she glanced at Kim and Jake.

Kim felt a bit relieved that Ryder had no idea that he was going to be a father, if he did, Kim knew that things were going to change drastically.

At least this way, there would be no reason for Ryder to go back to Holly.

Jake could care less about what was going on around him.

The only thought that occupied his mind was how to escape before the police found another reason to keep him locked up till the trial.

Things were also not looking good for him, his lawyer had warned him that there was a huge possibility that he could spend up to ten years in jail.

Ten years in jail was a big chunk out of his youthful life. He would come out at thirty six years with not a dime to his name and he would have to completely start over from scratch.

Jake would never again get a job in the corporate field.

"Are you listening to me Jake? What are we going to do?"

Kim asked him and he looked up to find both women staring at him.

"Do about what?"

"About Holly and Ryder! What else? We have to make sure we keep them separated."

Kim urged and Jake sighed.

He never did understand Kim's obsession with Holly and Ryder's relationship. He blamed himself for moving with the wrong crowd.

"I don't care. Honestly I don't. All I care about is my freedom. You know what? I gotta go, I can't deal with this crap right now."

Jake said as he stood up and dropped a couple of dollar bills on the table and walked out on Kim and Catalina.

"What's his problem?"

Catalina asked as she watched him walk away.

Kim shrugged as she picked up the dollar bills from the table.

"Oh! He's just pissed about something stupid."

Kim turned to the oblivious woman with feigned interest.

"Catalina, I believe we can work together."

Catalina's eyes widened as she looked at Kim.

"Are you going to help me win Ryder back?"

Kim nodded.

"Yes, Ryder and I are very close friends. It's because of that fat bitch Holly that we stopped being friends."

Catalina gasped as she held Kim's hands.

"Then, I believe we have to work together in getting rid of her don't you think?"

Kim nodded with a sly smile.

"Yes, we do. We need to come up with a perfect plan that will make both of them hate each other and never want to see each other again!"

Catalina cocked her head deep in thoughts.

"But, how are we going to do that? Ryder is completely smitten with her."

Kim shrugged.

"I am sure we'll find a way, for now, let's toast to our new partnership."

Kim signalled to the waiter to get a drink for Catalina.

She watched her while she ordered for her drink.

She couldn't believe that Holly managed to get herself knocked up.

There were so many thoughts running through her scheming mind.

She was happy that fate had led her to Catalina.

Catalina had not only divulged valuable information, she had also partnered with Kim thinking that Kim was going to help her win Ryder back.

She was going to be in for a rude awakening the moment she learned that Kim Evans was not willing to share Ryder with any woman.

Christmas was Holly's favourite holiday.

Shops were already decorating the front of their stores and everyone was already in high Christmas spirits.

But amidst the cheer and joy for the season, Holly had to lay off her employees.

If it wasn't for the fact that they had been evicted, Holly and her employees would have been putting up Christmas decorations in the shop.

They would have also been including gingerbread cookies and Christmas inspired cupcakes and goodies in their menu.

There wasn't much she could do and all her efforts to find a new space was futile. She hated to see everything that she had worked for brutally taken away from her but there wasn't much Holly could do legally.

She wished she had enough money to buy back her bakery. She even considered begging Kim a few times but she knew that wasn't going to work.

The whole Bakery was in a sad mood when Holly announced that they were going to start packing up everything in the bakery to some warehouse.

There had been different reactions, mostly anger directed at Kim. Anger that they were all loosing their jobs a few days before Christmas and they were mad about the whole situation.

"So, this is how it ends?"

Jamie asked as he watched Holly decorate a couple of cupcakes. It was their last week in the bakery and Holly had been trying to make it look like everything was normal.

But she couldn't ignore the stares, the questions and the tension that was in the bakery.

"I wish there was another way. I'm sorry Jamie. I'll write you a great recommendation letter."

Holly said and Jamie shook his head as he blew his curly hair away from his face.

He looked around their kitchen.

"For a long time, this tiny kitchen has always felt like home. I don't think any other bakery can compare."

Jamie said and Holly rapidly blinked back tears.

"I wish there was a way to keep you guys around or something we can do but I don't know.... There isn't much to do."

Jamie placed a comforting hand on Holly's shoulder.

"I know this isn't the end. I'll keep our website working just in case. We'll start taking orders online and doing home deliveries."

Holly smiled sadly.

"That's nice. But I don't think it'll ever be the same. Nor do I think that I'll have the time or the space for that."

Jamie shrugged.

"We'll still keep it moving. It's honestly the best we can do."

"Thank you Jamie. You're going to do great things. I just know it."

Charlie visited later in the day before they were closing up the shop.

"I got you pizza, from that new healthy pizza place that just opened up."

"Oh! Thanks Charlie."

Holly said as she slumped into the chair across Charlie.

She was exhausted and depressed, but she was also used to it.

She opened the pizza box and when the fresh aroma of pizza hit her, she was so happy that it wasn't vegan.

 It was a flavourful, colourful pizza topped with courgettes and parsley along with canned and fresh tomatoes. It had capers and olives with a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese and mushrooms on it.

"Oh! This is heavenly Charlie. I love it!"

Holly said as she picked a slice and dug in.

"Yea, figured it'll be what you need right now. How's everyone at the shop taking the news?"

Holly shrugged.

"They're devastated. But life has to go on. I'm going to try and help them find new jobs. I'll be happy knowing that they're doing fine somewhere else."

Charlie smiled a bit.

"I called Kim. Went straight to voicemail. That bitch."

Charlie cursed and Holly shook her head.

"I thought about begging her or something, but I know Kim, she still won't care. Once she has her mind made up, there's literally nothing you can do to change it."

"Well, what are you going to do now? How is the search for a new space going?"

Holly sighed as she finished up her pizza slice.

"It's going terrible. The best spaces are expensive, the cheap ones look horrible in bad areas where no one would ever go. I don't know what to do anymore."

Charlie reached out and held one of Holly's hand.

"Hey hey, it'll be fine. I promise."

"No, it won't be fine. I think I already know the answer to my problems and yet I refuse to acknowledge it."

Charlie raised her eyebrow.

"What's that?"

It was something that had been on Holly's mind ever since she was served with an eviction notice. It was the only glaring option yet it was still the one she refused to acknowledge.

"I'm going back to New Jersey."

Holly said and Charlie's jaw dropped.

"No! No! Why would you go back? You hate it there!"

Charlie exclaimed and Holly shrugged.

"It's the only option. There's nothing for me in New York anymore. Nothing at all. Why should I stay?"

"Because you love it here Holly!"

Charlie cried out.

" You've always loved it here. You have your friends here and you have your life here."

Holly chuckled as she looked outside the window.

She remembered when she came to New York, fresh out of culinary school with big dreams.

She had enough money to start her own business from the inheritance she got from her Grandma and for a long time, Holly put it to good use.

She was so happy and content that she was finally a grown woman, that she was far away from the watchful critical eyes of her family.

She felt as free as a bird.

"Charlie, all I have here, it's all broken. Broken dreams."

"What about me? And Ryder? Are you leaving all that behind?!!"

Charlie asked.

Holly flinched at the mention of Ryder's name.

"What's the point? He doesn't even want the baby we made together. Why should I be here? And Charlie, I know you love me but trust me, you're better off without me being a burden to you."

Charlie frowned a little.

"I hate to say it Holly, but you know moving to New Jersey isn't an easy move. You'll have to deal with your family and starting a whole new life with a baby! A human being! Without the father! Are you sure you thought this through?"

"Not to mention, you don't really get along with your family."

"Charlie, there's nothing for me here. I'm moving to New Jersey and it's my final decision. I'll start over, I'll start a new life with my baby, hopefully I'll be able to use my grandmother's old shop space as a bakery again. I'll be fine."

There was a long pause between the two of them as they both stared at each other, weighing the gravity of Holly's words and what it meant.

"Will you be happy?"

Charlie asked in a small voice as she followed Holly's gaze out to the busy New York streets.

Holly scoffed.

"At this point, does that even matter?"