Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 173

CHAPTER 104-1

+25 Painte

The Monday after the open house, Lawson Customs felt different, and although the building looked exactly the same, something inside me had shifted.

For the first time, I could actually see the future. Not just a future where Lawson Customs survived. A future where it grew.

I arrived early, unlocked the front door, and switched on the lights while the rest of the garage slowly came to life. I started the coffee machine, checked the appointment book, and walked through the workshop while Mia and Ben prepared for another busy day.

The waiting list was still growing.

The open house had brought in several new customers, and two people had already called asking about repairs before eight in the morning and Mia looked up from the computer.

“We’ve got another five bookings.” Mia said and I smiled.

“Five?” I asked.

“Five.” She said.

“That’s ridiculous.” I said and she laughed.

“You wanted growth.” She said.

“I did.” I said.

“You’ve got it.” She said.

I glanced through the front windows toward the vacant workshop next door.

The building had been sitting empty for months and every time I looked at it, I imagined what Lawson

Customs could become if we owned it.

More bays. More storage. A proper office. A customer lounge. Maybe even a showroom one day.

I pulled out my phone and checked the time. My meeting with Michael Reeves was at ten.

Michael was a local commercial property adviser who had been helping me understand what buying the neighboring workshop would actually involve and although I had spent days looking over the numbers, I still wasn’t completely convinced that this could happen and Mia noticed me staring at the building.

“You’re thinking about it again.” Mia said and I smiled.

“Is it that obvious?” I asked.

“Very.” She said.

“Today could decide everything.” I said as she walked toward me.

“You’re ready.” She asked.

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CHAPTER 107.

+hope so.” I said.

“You’ve built this place from the ground up.” She said.

“Uncle Will built it.”+said.

“You kept it alive.” She said and her words made me smile.

“Thank you.” I said.

At nine thirty, I finished the morning’s first repair and washed my hands before heading into the office. I checked the financial documents one more time, grabbed my notebook and drove across town to meet Michael.

His office was in a small commercial building overlooking the main street, and when I arrived, he was already waiting.

“Paige, good to see you.” He said as I shook his hand.

“Good to see you too.” I said as he smiled.

“I’ve been looking at your figures.” He said.

“That sounds terrifying.” I said and he laughed.

“It isn’t.” He said.

We sat down at the conference table, and Michael opened a folder.

“Your growth over the last few months is impressive.” He said and I nodded.

“We’ve been busy.” I said.

“Very busy.” He said as he pointed toward the figures.

“Your revenue has increased steadily, your customer retention is strong and the open house appears to have brought in even more work.” He said as I smiled.

“It did.” I said.

“That’s good.” He said as he turned another page.

“Now let’s talk about the property.” He said making me lean forward.

“Okay.” I said.

“The vacant workshop next door is available.” He said.

“I know.” I said.

“The owner is willing to negotiate.” He said and my heart started beating faster.

“How much?” I asked as Michael gave me the figure and I stared at him.

“That’s less than I expected.” I said.

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CHAPTER 104-

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