Page 29 of All We Need

Nothing.ThenIremember the flare in her eyes whenIintroduced myself at the fair, the way they widened a fraction.

“That doesn’t matter.I’mhere now.I’vegot a very good memory, andIdo not recall signing off on any menu changes.Icould handle the obvious attitude via the emailsLarryforwarded, but?—”

“Myattitude?”Interruptingher isn’t smart.Mymood bounces around the office like a ping-pong ball.Scratchthat, a bowling ball.That’sabout to smash me in the face as my anger resurfaces.

“You’re forgettingI’myour employer.”

“I don’t even know you.”Mytone is gritty, as ifI’veswallowed a mouthful of dirt. “Howcan you expect us to take you seriously when we have zero clue who you are or what your intentions are?”

“You say us, butI’vehad no issues withPatrick,Johanna,Graham,Claire, orGeorge.”Shepins me with an accusatory look as she ticks each name off on her fingers. “Onlyyou.”

My dentist is going to lose her mind whenIrock up with half my teeth shattered from clenching my jaw so hard. “Areyou even surprised?We’vebeen waiting around for months,anticipating the arrival of some corporate scumbag who probably hasn’t stepped foot in a kitchen a day in his life.”

“So you were expecting a man?”Shemotions down her torso. “Sorryto disappoint you.I’mvery much a woman.”

Yes, you fucking are.

One thatI’vebeen chasing for weeks and now despise myself for.

The reality of what’s happening slowly sets in.Onedreaded drop of truth at a time.

This is who owns my family’s restaurant.

She’s loathed me from day one.

My balls will not be intact by the end of this conversation.

I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut.

I’d been skeptical the moment we all unanimously agreed to hand over the keys.Iunderstood we needed the help, otherwise riskOurPlacedisappearing, but my agreement was given with a hell of a lot of cynicism.

The crack of my knuckles echoes between us asIgrip the arms of the chair. “Iwasn’t expecting anything.Thatmuch has been clear since you took over.Whynow?Aftermonths of throwing orders at us behind closed doors, why show up now?What’syour end goal?”

IfIwasn’t staring at her so intensely,I’dmiss it.Hersevere exterior cracks.Ahairline fracture she covers quickly.Shestraightens, her body language unreadable again.

Of all the eight billion people in the world, the owner had to be a raven-haired siren whose thick mane of curlsI’vebeen looking out for on every street corner.

“As anex-employee, my end goal is no longer any of your concern.It’sobviousIcan’t trust you—past or present.HowdoIknow you haven’t undermined me at every turn?Iwasn’t made aware of the restaurant working theFallFair.Youchanged bread suppliers without consulting with me.Youdidn’t consult with me about the new menu.Youjust did it.”

Shit,Quinn.

Graham will kill me if this screwed with her business.

Panic seeps into my veins. “Fine.Fine.Fireme.Butleave the bakery out of it.Quinnhas worked her ass off and she’s relying on us as a customer.”

Her silence is unnerving, but when she speaks,Imiss it. “Ididn’t flat out reject changing suppliers—Isimply asked we understandMs.Jackson’sbusiness strategy before confirming anything.Hadyou asked about switching up the menu,Iwould have backed the changes and told you my favorite dish is tuna tartare.Thesame for theFallFair.Idon’t say no becauseIcan, but you didn’t respect my position or my rationale.Therestaurant has onlyjustmade it out of the red—spending money thoughtlessly would be irresponsible.”Shebarely takes a breath, andIcan’t seem to catch mine. “Whatelse have you done behind my back?”

The door flies open, andIspin to find a concerned-lookingPatrickandJohannain the doorway.

“Hmm,”Alessandrahums. “Iwas curious how long you were going to eavesdrop on us.Mayas well join the meeting.”

Meeting my brother’s stare,Ishrug. “Shesays ‘meeting,’ but she means ‘dismissal.’”

“Not happening.”Patricksteps up behind me, withJoon his heels. “Youdon’t get to waltz in here and fire our staff.Youmay hold some power, butIdraw the line there.Youwant to make those types of changes, that’s a discussion you can have with my mother andGeorge.”

Patrick is a good guy; reliable, caring—but he will not see the people he cares about being stomped over.

The seconds tick by as we wait forAlessandrato rise to the challenge.

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