Page 109 of I'm Looking for a Man in Finance
“First, we need to complete the website. I know you’ve been working on it over the past few weeks. But if we can get it to a place where we are happy with it, then we canget our first review up. Which means, we also need to take a trip to Brooklyn.”
Roxie’s eyes sparkled. “It’s about damn time.”
Roxie was practically salivating as our taxi stopped in front of Rossi Pizzeria. Her eyes took in the late-eighteenth-century architecture, her fingers itching toward her camera.
“This place is amazing,” she murmured, pressing her nose against the taxi window.
“Just wait until you taste the food. It is the full package.” I could practically taste the tomatoes, garlic, and perfectly baked pizza dough already.
Just as before, the gold-tin ceiling, wine bottle chandeliers, and roaring wood-fired ovens in the back kitchen greeted us upon entering. The restaurant was still far emptier of customers than it deserved to be. I hoped that mine and Roxie’s work would change that.
My stomach was nearly in my throat as we stepped toward the empty hostess stand. I didn’t know who was working today, if I’d come across James’s aunt, his cousin, his father, his uncle, or Lorenzo, his grandfather. They had welcomed me with open arms over dinner two weeks ago. Now, I wasn’t sure they would do the same.
“Hallie!” James’s aunt, Maria, stood up from a table in the back where she and Brandon had been having lunch.
Her surprised expression was expected. Part of me wondered if they’d chase me out of the place with pitchforks after what Anthea had done to my article.
“Are you here for lunch?” Maria asked me. She greeted me with a warm smile, like nothing had happened.
“Actually, we were hoping to do a review of the restaurant.” I motioned to Roxie, who was holding her camera next to me. “It was something James had asked of me when we first met and I want to make sure I follow through on it.”
I saw it then—the quick, fleeting look of fear I knew would come was etched into her features for a moment. A pit of shame filled my stomach.
I reached out and softly touched Maria’s arm. “You have to know that the article that came out inSophisticatewas not the article I wrote. It’s a long story and not worth rehashing. But I left the magazine after I figured out what happened. I have every intention of putting a positive spotlight on this restaurant. You can trust me on that.”
Maria’s eyes flickered over to the kitchen where Lorenzo was sprinkling some parmesan and oregano on top of a pizza. “Let’s get you to our best table. The light on one of the tables at the front by the windows would look good in pictures, don’t you think?”
She didn’t question my revelation any further as she led us over to one of the many empty tables at the front of the restaurant. I knew it would be hard to show my face here again, but it was nearly unbearable to feel the tension in the air.
“I’ll let Lorenzo know you’re here and send Brandon over to get your orders.” Then she was gone before I could ask her how James was doing.
Maria disappeared into the kitchen, and my apprehension only grew as I watched her speak with Lorenzo. James’s grandfather looked in our direction, but his expression revealed nothing. I glanced at Roxie, whoseemed unaware of the inner turmoil I was dealing with, her eyes fixated on capturing the essence of Rossi Pizzeria through her camera lens.
As we settled into our seats by the window, a familiar face approached our table. Brandon, with his signature mischievous grin. “Hallie, long time no see! So, you’re here to review the restaurant? James mentioned you have a big social media account for that kind of stuff.”
“Actually, Roxie and I are going off on our own to do our own thing. The website is still being finished. We have some developers who we are working with, but we want the pizzeria to be the first restaurant we post about. I know we’re not a big, fancy food critic bringing a ton of attention to this place, but I hope it makes a difference. Roxie’s excited to try everything. I’ve been raving about it since I last ate here.”
There was an awkward pause as understanding passed between me and Brandon because the last time I was here, I came as James’s date.
But the moment passed as quickly as it came. Brandon’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “Well, you’re in for a treat, Roxie. My grandfather has been tinkering in the kitchen this week. He thought if we bring a new signature pizza to the menu, that might help draw in some traffic. Our newest pizza creation, the ‘Rustic Italiana,’ is my new favorite. I’ll make sure it’s on its way to your table shortly.” With that, he disappeared into the kitchen.
“Well, this ought to be interesting,” Roxie mused. “Everyone’s dancing around the very obvious elephant in the room.”
“I didn’t think showing my face here again would be easy.”
Roxie reached across the table to squeeze my hand. “You’re doing the right thing.”
As I observed the restaurant’s few patrons, I took in their genuine smiles as they ate their pizzas. Some of them were familiar faces from the last time I was here. Despite the sparse crowd, there was an undeniable warmth that emanated from the place, a testament to the love and passion the Rossi family poured into their craft. The success of Rossi Pizzeria meant everything to them, so much so that James was fighting hard for this place, and I was determined to showcase that in my review.
Right after Roxie walked away from the table to capture the restaurant through her camera lens, Maria returned, accompanied by James’s grandfather, Lorenzo. His eyes twinkled with a mix of wisdom and mischief as he joined us at the table. It was what had made me feel so welcome the first time I had dinner with all of them. “Hallie, welcome back,” he said. “I heard you’re here to document the magic of our pizzas. Brave of you, dear.”
Heat flared across my cheeks. My mouth dropped open, then closed, then opened again. But still no words came out.
“How is he?” were the first words that finally slipped through my lips.
Lorenzo’s eyes softened.
“He’s been quiet this past week. But I saw how hurt he was when he read that article.”
