Page 55 of Executive Benefits

Without Kendra.

Without Julia.

Just myself.

I didn’t have an answer right away, but I felt like I was finally on the right track. I stood and left the picnic table behind me.

When I got back in the car, I was finally ready to listen to Julia’s message.

I snapped my eyes closed as I heard her say, “Hey, Nick. I didn’t get a chance to remind you about the soft launch on February twelfth. The critic is supposed to show up at six, so I’ve goneahead and reserved a table for two just in case he wanted to bring a plus-one.

“Then, the final inspection is for February eleventh. I’ve spoken with Chad and made sure that everything is going to plan for the re-opening on Valentine's Day. I’ll be in touch before that, but I’ll see you on the twelfth for sure. I want to make sure Jack is taken care of in every way imaginable.”

I hung up the phone, confused by the message.

Why didn’t she know that he’d already come?

What happened there?

Didn’t Jack say she’d emailed him?

My eyes snapped closed.

This had Kendra written all over it.

But how did Kendra get Julia’s information?

Maybe I didn’t want to know.

26

JULIA

“What the hell?” I drove up past Gray’s and the lights were out. There was no way this was supposed to be happening. I checked with Nick and John. The final inspection yesterday went off without a hitch.

I looked at my phone and saw that Nick confirmed the menu for tonight and that he said everything looked good to go.

Now, there was no one here.

To say I was confused was an understatement. Fury was a kinder partner to my confusion. I parked my car and got out. I shook my dress out and walked slowly over the iced parking lot, making sure to miss the patches of shiny and smooth ice so I didn’t fall right on my ass.

When I got to the sidewalk and the front of the restaurant, I tried the door and nothing opened. I looked at the clock on my phone. We only had twenty minutes until the critic was coming.

I was not going to fuck this up.

I dialed Nick.

“Hello,” he answered, his voice gruff, his word clipped.

“Where is everyone?” I asked. “Where are you?”

“I’m at home, entertaining someone. I’ll have to?—”

“Are you kidding me right now? Do you know how hard we’ve worked to get this all together? You’re just going to throw it away?”

“You can stuff the act,” Nick growled. “I have no time for your head games. I’m on the other line. Goodbye.”

I was met with silence.

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