Page 6 of Don't Remind Me
“They have an allotted food budget for the event, and anything beyond that I’ll cover personally. Ardena’s accounts won’t be touched.”
Oh good, so it was just herpersonalfinances I had to worry about. I took a step forward. “Jillian?—”
“Jase.” I came up short as she turned in her chair to face me, the lightness gone from her voice. “It’s a fundraiser for an organization I believe in, doing work that matters. This is important to me. I want them to have the best, and that’s you.”
My shoulders sank, chest collapsing on a sigh.
I didn’t want to do this. It felt last minute and impulsive, and it deviated from the focus I’d set for the restaurant for this year. A focus Iknewwould get us where we wanted to be.
Was this possible? Yes. Assuming that Dani girl knew what she was doing, which, based on our meeting, I was far from convinced of.
But Jillian had already given me a lot she hadn’t needed to—the kind of freedom and control over her restaurant that most people would never let go of, no matter how good the chef. Plus, she was promising more. A restaurant of my own. A promise she’d shown every indication of keeping.
And when it came down to it, shewasthe boss, and no matter how patient her words, she wasn’t asking.
“Fine,” I grumbled.
A smile lit up her face.
“But,” I said, holding up a finger, “I get final say on the menu. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. Nothing bacon wrapped.” I counted off on my hand. “Nothing stuffed. Absolutely no ‘puffs’ of any kind.”
Jillian nodded along earnestly. “Agreed. I trust your judgment wholeheartedly. I won’t get involved.” I raised a brow, and a corner of her mouth quirked. “Anymoreinvolved.”
I gave it a week until she was whispering appetizer suggestions in Dani’s ear.
“I’m going to get your restaurant ready for a successful dinner service now,” I said, turning for the door. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t commit us to cater any other high-profile events in the meantime. No royal weddings, please.”
“So just regular ones, then?”
I shook my head, lips tugging up despite myself, and headed for the stairs. One thing I’d never have to worry about while working for Jillian was things getting too predictable.
Halfway down the hall, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I paused and stared at the name on the screen.
This was the second time my mom had called today. If I ignored her again, she’d either give up until tomorrow or call another four times, probably in the middle of service. Either option would mean having to listen to her go on about how I never make time to talk to her, which would either spiral into her heavily implying I had a drug problem (based on nothing whatsoever)or insisting my life was falling apart without Gabby in it. Sometimes she managed to do both in one go.
Most of the time, I was glad to be back living in the US, but a six-hour time difference and international calling fees sounded like heaven right now.
I ducked into the staff room and closed the door behind me before leaning against one of the lockers and answering. “Hey, Mom.”
“Oh, there you are. I thought I was going to have to keep calling. You hardly ever answer.”
“Yeah, sorry. Just working a lot.”
“Your brother works a lot and still manages to answer my calls.”
I let my head fall back against the locker, welcoming the dull thud against my skull. I doubted she called Alec in the middle of his workday at whatever insurance company he was at, but sure. “Yeah. Sorry.”
“I just worry about you. You haven’t been home in a while, and Alec said he’s hardly heard from you. We just wonder what you’ve been up to?—”
“I know, Mom,” I said, forcing my voice even as I reeled in my patience. She wasn’t wrong that I hadn’t been home in a while, and I tried to remind myself this was coming from a place of love. “I’ll try to find a time to visit, but I have to get back to prepping for service, so?—”
“Actually, that’s why I called. Stephanie’s baby shower is in a couple of months, and I wanted to make sure you’d be here for it.”
No.
I barely bit back the response in time. It was frustrating enough being compared to Alec over the phone. The last thing I wanted was to be face-to-face with his perfect life so my parents could see all the ways I’d failed them that much clearer.
“Do guys even go to baby showers?” I asked lamely instead.
