Page 27 of The Promise Of You

eight

Chloe

Idon’t need the key to the employee entrance Aunt Dawn gave me. That back door isn’t locked, making me briefly wonder if someone might have just stepped out and will be coming back at any moment to finish what should have been done last night.

Bags of trash are piled next to the back door, waiting to be taken out, spreading their foul smell throughout the whole restaurant.

The dish pit is overflowing, dried food caked everywhere, a blatant health violation on top of being the mark of disgusting laziness.

Is no one actually in charge here? Did no one step in to fill the void? Who was here last night, smoking a cigarette on the sidewalk?

My sneakers slipping on the greasy floor, I find my way to the unlocked office.

There’s a desk disappearing under wobbly piles of paper and unopened mail and a desktop computer—the kind that’s hooked up to a tower on the floor. I press the ‘On,’ button and while it whirs to life, I sift through the storage boxes lined on the shelves, labeled by year.

The swivel chair in front of the computer sighs when I slouch in it. Uncle Kevin’s list of passwords is taped under his keyboard. People can be so painfully predictable.

It takes me less than an hour to establish that the restaurant’s financial situation is worrisome, to say the least. There’s a little money in the bank, but only because vendors haven’t been paid and rent is three months behind.

Payroll is due.

I already know from the online reviews I finally looked up last night that quality is lacking and has been steadily declining for at least a year, if not more. I don’t know if Aunt Dawn and my cousins are in denial, uninformed, or weren’t entirely forthcoming with me. But I do like a challenge, and fixing up a flailing business is right up my alley. I’ve done it for corporations where all the numbers on the P&L had two or three more zeros than this restaurant.

I can do this.

The first order of business is to tend to the lease. Aunt Dawn cautioned me against the landlord, but what else can I do? I fire him a quick email. Who knows? We’re neighbors. He might be yearning for a good relationship. He might be understanding. And he definitely has a lot to gain by letting us stay in business. After all, I only need a few months.

From: Chloe Sullivan

To: Justin King

Subject: Intro and Terms

Dear Mr. King,

I am writing to introduce myself. I am the niece of the late Kevin Murphy and have been appointed by the family to fill in for my uncle while we look for the restaurant’s next owners.

I would welcome an in-person meeting at your convenience to discuss pending matters and generally establish the groundwork for a mutually beneficial collaboration.

I look forward to your response.

Chloe Sullivan

Minutes later, his answer pops up.

From: Justin King

To: Chloe Sullivan

Subject: Clarification

Ms. Sullivan,

There are no pending matters other than the late rent. This meeting doesn’t even need to be an email. A wire transfer will do.

Justin King

That’s not good. Let’s see… I start typing.

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