Sadie arrived at Luxe just after sunrise, coffee in hand, ready to check the final touches before the soft opening. The street was quiet, the air crisp, the sky still tinted with pale morning blue.
But the moment she turned the corner, her steps faltered.
Construction workers were rushing out of the building—some shouting, some shaking their heads, some pulling off their hard hats in frustration. Tools clattered onto the sidewalk. Dust billowed out from the open doors.
Something was wrong.
Sadie’s heart dropped. She hurried forward. “What’s going on?”
The foreman spotted her immediately and jogged over, his face pale and tight with stress. “Ms. Roman—don’t go inside.”
Sadie’s stomach twisted. “What happened?”
“It’s been ruined,” he said, voice low.
Sadie blinked. “Ruined how?”
The
