Page 20 of On the Rocks

“All free to employees,” Javeed cut in. “Consider it a perk of the job.” I followed him and Dot into a food line. Chris disappeared with his headphones through another door. “There’s a quiet room off to the side for people who want to wind down during lunch,” he explained, “but most people eat here in the main room.”

I noticed a bunch of people in suits entering. “Including the more senior employees?”

“Especially them,” Dot said, lifting her hand and waving at someone. “Aiden established it early on. He wanted even the top people to leave their offices at lunch, to be approachable. He especially wanted people to feel like they could walk up to him with questions, concerns, or just for chitchat.”

I didn’t even know what to say to that. We collected our lunches and ended up at a table with Allie and another man I hadn’t met yet. He had kind eyes and a smile that put me at ease immediately. I didn’t think he was much older than I was, but he was already greying at the temples.

“Dominic,” he introduced himself. “Chief marketing director. Sorry I missed you on the tour.”

“No worries. It’s nice to meet you,” I said.

“I was actually hoping to touch base with you the other night at the Bottom of the Barrel event, but something came up, and I had to send Aiden to cover.”

“Ah,” I said. Maybe that explained why Aiden was in such a bad mood that night.

“I know,” Dominic said. “I saw the video. Not our finest moment. But lucky for us, Allie is very good at making up for our flaws.”

I laughed. “Itwasa good sales pitch.”

“I keep saying she needs to jump ship from talent acquisition and join marketing.”

Allie hummed. “Maybe one day.”

“So what do you think of the lab?” he asked.

I laughed louder. Did everyone know that was the selling point? “It’s amazing,” I said in between bites of food. “I usually work with far less, so I’m feeling a little spoiled.”

“Well, if there’s anything you’re missing, let the team know, and we’ll get it sorted.”

A voice reached me suddenly, and my next bite went down hard. I spied Aiden over my shoulder at the next table. It had almost been a perfect day so far, but apparently, all good things had to come to an end.

“You add the rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and maraschino liqueur,” he was saying to the person sitting next to him.

I turned to face forward, but my interest was piqued, and I couldn’t stop myself from listening in on his conversation. I knew that drink, but how did he? It was an obscure cocktail that used to be popular in the mid-twentieth century. One of the reasons I knew of it was because it was a favorite of the writer Ernest Hemingway. Definitely the kind of drink I wanted on the menu when I got my literary-themed speakeasy off the ground.

“Then you add some simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice,” Aiden continued.

Simple syrup?Um, no…I bit my tongue. He was describing it all wrong, but the last thing I wanted to do was make a scene on my first day, especially by correcting the CEO.

“Garnish with a lime wheel or a grapefruit twist. I’m telling you, it’s such a good pairing with seafood.”

I scoffed. Simple syrup would totally ruin the acidity of the cocktail. How would that pair well with the richness of seafood? I couldn’t help myself. I twisted back around in my seat. “You’re talking about the Hemingway Daiquiri, right?”

Aiden looked up at the interruption, and his eyes narrowed slightly when they met mine. “I’m talking about the Papa Doble.”

I held onto my scoff. “That’s the same drink. And that’s not how you make it.”

“What?”

“That’s not how you make it,” I repeated.

“What do you mean?”

“Simple syrup?”

He smirked. “Have I ruffled your feathers, Zelda?”

I crossed my arms. “I would think that the Cocktail King would know there’s no simple syrup in the drink.”

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