Page 11 of Executive Benefits

Probably.

There was no way he was going to be interested in a twenty-eight-year-old.

Was there?

5

NICK

Julia waved before her car turned down the alley, and I wondered if there were any way she could have been flirting with me. It certainly seemed like it.

She couldn’t be interested in me, could she?

She was a few years younger. Kendra always said that women looked at me, and she was never happy about it, but I hadn’t really thought she was being serious. I thought she was just being insecure. I’d been married a bit too long to know what was flirting and what wasn’t.

I tried to think back and remember the last time I was attracted to a woman. I’d seen other women who were attractive, even beautiful, but even though Kendra was a bit of a nightmare as a person, I was committed to her. And even though Kendra cheated, I’d never even thought about it, even when David said I should do it just to get even. I grunted at the memory. He really was a shit kind of friend. Or maybe not. I’d have to remind him of that if he ever brought up the fact that he liked Kendra and pay attention to his mood.

I took a step back. Now that I thought about it, I think he felt betrayed too.

Even though he never settled down with anyone, I think he really was rooting for me or to see that a relationship really could last a long time.

Hmm… It gave me a new perspective on David, and maybe I would have to talk to him about it some other time.

Now as I watched Julia’s taillights disappear, another layer of freedom unfolded as I realized I could look at other women without feeling guilty. I could be with one in any way I wanted. The thought fizzled in my brain.

Although it was a very new idea, I had a feeling I was going to like my new perspective. While I might like to try things out with Julia, it didn’t have to be her. She was a bit too young and probably wanted to keep things professional, but that wouldn’t stop me from keeping the possibility open.

And she probably thought I was too old. But that didn’t mean it couldn’t be another woman.

A smile crooked over my lips as I walked back into the restaurant and saw that Phoebe and John were buzzing around the place getting it ready for another night of service. I walked over to them and stuck my head into the kitchen. “Since you guys are here, I’m going to go do some office work.”

“Got it, Boss.” John saluted. I rolled my eyes and left the kitchen. Paperwork was definitely not my favorite thing to do, but it was a nice break for my brain until I jumped back into the kitchen again.

When I got to the office, I flicked the light on and sat down, ready to check things over.

“Nick...” Phoebe rapped on the door. She pushed it open without waiting for me to say anything. One look at her face and my good mood dropped away.

“What’s wrong?” My mind instantly went to her toddler. “Is Brady alright?”

“He’s fine, thank you for that being the first concern you think about. It’s very sweet.” She shook her head. “But it does have to do with the restaurant.”

She placed an envelope in front of me with the stampIRSat the top. Phoebe continued speaking as I lifted the letter up. “Kendra didn’t pay taxes.” She pointed to the paper in my hand. “That says for at least three years.”

My anger spiked. “Why the fuck am I just learning about this now?” I should've known. This information should have been in the paperwork with the settlement. I was just at court about this last week.

She swallowed. “I made a call to the IRS to ask.” She shrugged. “No one can give me a straight answer. I looked at the books—she’s the one who kept them—and she fudged the numbers somehow. It doesn’t look good, but we have a few options.” She sat down across from me as my fury reached new heights.

I muttered, “Mother fucker.”

And I was happy when Phoebe said, “Yeah. Pretty much.”

I threw the paper down on my desk and massaged the bridge of my nose. “What are they?”

“Well, the first option is to fight it. But that would keep everything up in litigation for maybe years. And the chances of winning the case, or making Kendra pay, or any of those options… it would mean closing The Bridge down indefinitely.”

“Awesome.” I dropped my hand and gave her an exhausted look. “Kendra just keeps on fucking me, doesn’t she?” I huffed, letting the bitter taste of Kendra’s actions rest over my tongue. It tasted like shit.

Phoebe gave me a sympathetic look. “You can pay it off, in full, and not get a lien put on the restaurant. Once the paperwork clears, we can file some kind of suit against Kendra and keep working with the IRS to get your money back”

---