Chapter 24 - The Reopening
Mercer Luxe’s renovated flagship reopened eighteen months after the incident.
Daniel initially rejected the idea of a reopening event.
Rosa overruled him.
“You cannot let one bad event permanently decide how the building is used.”
“I’m CEO.”
“And I run events.”
Margaret sided with Rosa.
Traitors.
The reopening was smaller.
No champagne tower.
No spectacle built from breakable glass.
Guests moved through shoe galleries.
Every Step had its own section near the entrance.
Not hidden.
Not treated as the cheap line.
Emma arrived holding Daniel’s hand.
She wore cream shoes.
Not the original pair.
The new Every Step version.
Price:
$45 through the community program.
Rosa greeted them.
Emma hugged her.
Daniel smiled.
A reporter approached.
“Mr. Mercer, can I ask about last year?”
Daniel looked at Rosa.
She shrugged.
His choice.
“One question.”
“Do you consider tonight a comeback?”
Daniel thought.
“No.”
The reporter looked disappointed.
“What is it?”
“A store opening.”
Boring.
Perfect.
She tried again.
“Has the scandal changed Mercer Luxe?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Better controls. Better safety. Better governance.”
“Personally?”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“That’s more than one question.”
He walked away.
Emma tugged his hand.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“My shoe.”
The strap had come loose.
She bent toward it.
Daniel’s body reacted before his mind.
Heart spike.
Vision narrowing.
Floor.
Glass.
Tower.
Then he stopped.
There was no tower.
No Leonard.
No Celeste.
Just Emma fixing a shoe.
Rosa saw him.
She did not rush.
Daniel breathed.
Emma stood.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You weird.”
“Yes.”
She ran toward a display.
Daniel remained.
Rosa approached.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
He looked at the floor.
“Memory.”
She nodded.
“Want to leave?”
Daniel thought.
“No.”
Choice.
He stayed.
Later, a waiter dropped a tray of glasses near the bar.
Crash.
Daniel flinched.
Emma turned.
Several guests looked.
Nobody was hurt.
Staff cleaned it.
The event continued.
Daniel realized how much he had expected the past to repeat whenever glass broke.
It did not.
At the end of the evening, Emma climbed onto a bench.
Daniel immediately said:
“Get down.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll fall.”
“I’m standing.”
“Emma.”
Rosa laughed.
“What?”
Daniel asked.
“You still have work.”
He smiled.
“Yes.”
Emma jumped down.
“Can I say something tomorrow?”
“Where?”
“Stage.”
Daniel frowned.
“What stage?”
Rosa looked guilty.
“Small community presentation.”
“You planned a child speech?”
“Emma asked.”
Daniel looked at his daughter.
“What do you want to say?”
“Secret.”
He groaned.
“I hate this family.”
Emma laughed.
The next day would mark exactly eighteen months since the champagne tower fell.
Daniel had not planned any symbolism.
May you like
Apparently Emma had.
And that terrified him more than reporters.
