CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE – A SURPRISE PARTY

Sofia was quiet for a long moment, considering their words. Finally, she smiled, the tension visibly leaving her shoulders. "Alright," she said. "Let's explore our options before making any decisions about Dulce Dominio's offer. We'll take a good, hard look at our finances and see what we can do to secure La Dulce Vida's future - together." As they left the office that evening, Jasmine felt a renewed sense of purpose. The road ahead might be challenging, but they would face it as a team. La Dulce Vida was worth fighting for. Over the next few weeks, Jasmine, Lola, and Sofia threw themselves into brainstorming ways to improve the bakery's financial situation. They pored over accounting books in the evenings, researched small business loans, and started planning new product lines and services. Despite the added stress, there was an undercurrent of excitement in the bakery. They were taking control of their future, and every small victory - like securing a low-interest loan for kitchen