Page 21 of The Sweet Spot

He paused to consider that. “How much are you spending per week?”

“Between five and six hundred dollars. I do buy premium items because you should only be eating the best, but if you want me to cut back, I can. I realize it should probably be half that, so I can make adjustments.”

“No big deal,” he said and shrugged. “That number isn’t a problem.”

As he ate, I thought about my restaurant and how hard I had to negotiate with suppliers to keep costs down, and here Brandon was telling me to spend whatever I wanted, but I still felt guilty about it. I knew he made millions a year, but I still couldn’t push past the feeling.

“It’s just that it’s a lot, so I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“You can spend more. Look,” he said, focusing his blue-eyed gaze on me. “My body is my job. I need to fuel it with the best. So if you need to spend a thousand dollars a week, I’m okay with that. I have a contract coming up soon. I want to maximize my return. I have to play the best hockey of my life. That only happens if I’m eating well and training right.”

He made so much sense.

“I guess it’s because I come from a restaurant world. It took me forever to turn a profit. In fact, it wasn’t until just before I lost it that I finally made some money. So I’m mindful of expenses.”

He tilted his head just a bit and smiled sympathetically. “I know the restaurant business is hard. Everyone says that. And I’m not going to lie: I googled you, so I read about what happened. Jeremy and Ethan filled in some of the blanks.”

I didn’t know whether to be impressed or mortified that he’d researched me to the point of consulting Ethan, someone he didn’t like all that much. Another part of me was embarrassed about what had happened.

“Did either of them mention Daniel?”

“Your sous chef? The loser who didn’t know how to cook properly? That had to cheat?”

I cringed because that meant he didn’t knowallthe facts. “Sure, he didn’t know how to cook. And he ruined my business, but there is more.” I tapped my index finger on the island top, wondering if telling him everything would make him think less of me, but I’d always been an open book—at least for the most part.

“He’s threatened to sue me for sexual harassment. I probably should have told you that before. Maybe it’s because I was worried you wouldn’t hire me when I badly needed the job andreally wanted out of Minnesota. So if you want to fire me now, I would understand.”

I searched his face, waiting for him to react. If I were him, I’d probably be pissed off, but his expression didn’t change much.

“Why would I fire you? And I hardly believe you sexually harassed anyone.”

“Thank you for all that.”

“Do you have a good lawyer?”

All right, that really wasn’t what I expected. I figured he’d fire me before wondering if I’d hired a lawyer.

“I think so. Someone my parents know. So far, Daniel hasn’t done anything. He’s probably worried about his own reputation right now, but I assume once he finds out I have a job and am making some money, he’ll come after me. That’s the type of person he is. Vengeful.”

Brandon nodded, seeming to take it all in. “He sounds like a piece of work. You should suehim. Go on the counteroffensive before he does.”

A second ago, I thought he would fire me, and now, with my mouth hanging open in shock, he was counseling me on how to fight Daniel back. “I can’t afford it,” I said, getting up and taking his empty plate away. It was time for him to try the protein chocolate bar, and part of me hoped that would lead to a change of subject.

“My aunt is a lawyer. Got her law degree in the States. She knows tons of people. Let me at least make a call. She’ll do it for me because she owes me.”

I spun around, nearly sending the protein bars flying off the plate. I caught them in time. “I really can’t. That’s too much. And, like I said, I can’t afford more legal bills. I’m still paying off the old ones.”

“She owes me. And you have to make sure this guydoesn’t ruin the rest of your career, because you’re right about one thing: he gets wind you’re making money, he’ll be all over it. Let me do this. I won’t stand by and let him walk all over you.” Brandon stopped as if catching himself. I watched him curiously as he took a breath and spoke again. “I don’t want to browbeat you into this, but definitely consider it. I would hate for him to screw you over.”

I bit my lip and thought it over. Daniel was exactly the kind of person who would come after me, and he’d do it without hesitation. I hated the idea of Brandon calling in a favor for this.

“Let me at least pay for the legal services. Your aunt shouldn’t do it for free.”

He smiled. “My aunt owes me. I got her son—my cousin—season tickets to the New York Giants. Do you know how hard those are to get?” By my confused face, he added, “They are a football team. I also got him playoff tickets. She owes me a lot of favors.”

I set down the plate, and he grabbed a protein chocolate bar and took a bite. I thought about his offer and all that Daniel had done to me. To cut him off at the pass with what sounded like an amazing lawyer would put me in the driver’s seat for once.

“My goal isn’t to ruin Daniel’s life.”

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