Page 13 of Executive Benefits

“How are you going to afford all of that?” David finished his drink.

“I’ll figure something out.”

“Well, let’s brainstorm.”

I growled and my jaw clenched and unclenched.

“Knock it off,” David said, waving his hand. “I’m being supportive. Plus, I am a financial advisor who is good at my job.”

“Fine. I’m thinking about getting a loan for the rebranding. Julia had an amazing number of ideas that weren’t ostentatious, nor were they expensive. Even though I won’t be able to do some of them right now, I think a lot of them are doable, easy, and well within a reasonable budget.”

“What are some things she suggested?” he asked while I poured us both another drink. I walked around the bar and sat next to him.

After taking a long chug, I placed my tumbler down and wiped my lips off. “She wants to take the sheetrock and drywall off the walls and expose the brick.”

David looked around the place, swinging one way on the rotating bar stool and another way, then he looked back at me. “That would also save on the amount of paint you’d have to do. It is pretty rustic.” He let out a long breath. “So, you’re really going to do it, huh?”

“I feel like you’re insinuating something else I’m not going to like,” I said. I finished the last drop of my bourbon and flipped the glass upside down and put it on the other side of the bar.

David placed his glass next to mine and clapped me on the shoulder. “You never like what I’m going to say, my friend.” His lopsided smile had me shaking my head and rolling my eyes. He wasn’t wrong.

“Fine. What do you think I’m going to do?”

“You’re about to change everything. No more fine dining, no more upscale cooking.”

“Dave, we’ve already been through this. Just because I go casual doesn’t mean I’m going to dumb my food down. It’s going to give me an option to be creative and test new things. I haven’t changed my menu in years.” I stood up and looked around. “Plus, we’re a small town. It’s going to fit the small town feel more.” I leaned over. “And still bring in more people from out of the area.”

David snorted. “Now you’re going to be in the tourist business?”

“No, but Julia told me we can get people from all over the state of New York to come here, get the restaurant reviewed, and bring in people to the town. She’s thinking bigger than just a fresh coat of paint and adding a few more white lights in the area.”

“Sounds interesting,” David said. I still didn’t like his tone. He looked around the place again. “Maybe a change will do all of us good.”

6

JULIA

“Alright.” I looked around the living room and grimaced. I had too much stuff.

I bought the entire building before I moved here specifically because it was an office-apartment combo. But while the town of Heart’s Creek was quaint and I enjoyed the cozy feel of it, the apartment was… “Small,” I huffed out. It was too cramped with everything I brought with me.

Something I didn’t think about when I was trying to high-tail it out of Buffalo.

My hands touched the couch. My furniture was hand-me-down from my parents, and I didn’t hate it. The velvety feel of the worn leather helped remind me of home. But with books on the shelves, the nicknacks, sculptures, and picture frames decorating the small space only made it seem smaller.

I crossed an arm over my chest as my fingers played with my lips.

A sigh escaped my throat as I succumbed to the idea that I needed to get rid of about three-quarters of the stuff I had now.

The building did come with a basement, so I could keep some of the stuff down there and wouldn't have to worry about getting rid of anything until I was more settled.

I snorted and picked up an empty box I was happy to empty out only a few days ago. I walked around the small living room and picked up items I was pretty sure I was okay with not seeing anymore or things I hadn’t used in a while and I had to clean the dust from them before actually setting them out for display.

The more stuff I put back in the box, the more relief released the tension from between my shoulders. The space transformed from cramped to cozy in about a half hour.

The doorbell rang, catching my attention. I closed the lid on two boxes and went down to let Mia in. I walked down the stairs and unlocked the back door. A smile spread across my face. “Pizza?” I stepped back and let her into the building. “How did you know I was hungry?” I laughed.

She smiled and placed a six-pack of beer on top of the pizza box too. “I’m here to talk business, so this all came out of the business account.” I’m positive the look on my face was less than supportive as her cheeky smile popped over her lips.

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