Page 33 of Yours to Conquer

“Well, then you’re in for a treat.” We take our seats, and I tell him about Anthony Haywood’s. “The restaurant has a standard menu, but the chef’s fresh choices are offered as well. I’d opt for one of those. They’re always amazing. They purchase everything from the daily menu fresh that morning.”

We both select our meals, and I settle in for the inquisition.

“First, I want to make sure you know everything we talk about this afternoon is on the record. Do you understand?” He puts a tape recorder on the table and presses record. He pulls a small notepad and paper from his jacket and places it next to his water glass.

“Yes, I know.” My heart races, and I figure it will be tough. It’s my first time representing Ahz, and I want to do a good job. I look at him expectantly.

“Let’s get started. Ahz and its half-owner Anthony Haywood have received more bad press lately. He is featured in several pictures that were recently taken at the Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival. Rumor has it he was defending your honor. Is this true?”

“I have no comment about Mr. Haywood’s personal life. Contact Mr. Haywood if you want to know anything about his life outside of Ahz.” He’s coming out with his guns blazing.

He places a few newspaper articles in front of me. The first one has the headline “She’s a Whore!” written across the top. “This picture tells a story, Ms. Lloyd. It shows one of the leading food critics out cold after your boyfriend decked him, and you have no comment?”

“Mr. Wakefield, I invited you to talk about the accusations that have been thrown at Ahz. Anything beyond that is off-limits.” I shake my head back and forth. It’s a natural reaction for me when I think someone is an idiot.

“Nothing is off-limits when it comes to thenews, Ms. Lloyd.” Just as he asks another question, our salads come. We spend a few minutes eating before he continues.

He talks with his mouth partially full. I can see the chicken from his salad move around inside his cheeks. “My researchers couldn’t dig up anything official yet, but word has it you are an escort for hire.” He swallows and then takes a drink of water to wash it down. “You’re a stunningly beautiful woman. I can see how you could make a lot of money doing that.”

What a jerk. I shake my head. “I work as the PR representative for Ahz, Mr. Wakefield. Shall we talk about the current allegations, or would you rather eat lunch and take a tour?”

He takes a minute to look at me and then jots something on his notepad. His writing is chicken scratch. I can’t decipher a single letter. “The car that plowed through the crowd at the Nokia Theater had a nineteen-year-old driver with a blood-alcohol level of .21. When they pulled the driver from the car, she sported a stamp from the clubs at Ahz.”

“Yes, that seems to be the consensus. Is there a question, or are you reminding me of the facts?” I’m trying to be professional and stick to the facts, but he has a callous, arrogant attitude, and I don’t like him.

“Is it a regular practice to allow underage kids to drink at Ahz?”

“We follow all state and local guidelines concerning drinking age.”

“Isn’t it risky to haveEighteen and Overnights?” He picks up his pen and jots down a note. I wonder if he does this to break my concentration.

“Eighteen and Overnightsare becoming a club standard, Mr. Wakefield.” His question is one I’ve asked myself repeatedly.

“Please call me Tom. Regardless of the industry standard, an incident like this can put an entire brand out of business.”

“I believe the police are investigating the allegations, Tom. Additionally, Ahz has hired an independent investigator to look into theaccusations. Do I have to remind you that no one affiliated with Ahz has been charged with any crime?” I roll my neck, trying to get the kinks out.

Tom wipes his mouth with his napkin and places it on his plate. “That was a great chicken salad. I’ve never had one that was quite as satisfying.” He pushes his plate to the side and looks at me. “Clearly, you and Mr. Haywood have an open relationship. Our partners in Dallas have been checking up on Mr. Haywood since he arrived yesterday. He obviously has a type.” He stares at me; it’s as if he’s baiting me and waiting for my reaction.

“I don’t know what you’re getting at, Tom. Would you like to clarify?” I look at him like he has two heads.

“I always say a picture speaks louder than words.” He reaches into his pocket and draws out a picture of Anthony escorting an attractive redhead into one of his restaurants. His hand is resting intimately on the small of her back. I’m left speechless.

“Are you ready to take the tour, Mr. Wakefield?” I have to get up and move. My eyes keep drifting to the picture he left in front of me.Who the hell is that girl?

“I have caught you off guard. That was not my intention. I apologize.”

“You were trying to knock me off balance. So what? Maybe I’ll get angry and divulge some information that would give you a story. I’m sorry to disappoint you. Whatever Mr. Haywood does in his spare time is his business; we’re not married. I told you before; if you have personal questions to ask about Mr. Haywood, you should set up an interview with him. Would you like his assistant’s number? I can get it for you before you leave. Shall we go?” I bet my face is the same color as my hair. This man gets under my skin.

I spend the next hour walking him through the club and show him the ID scanners and how every guest who enters gets a stamp. They scan the stamp at the bar, and it tells the server if the customer can order alcohol or not. The bar light flashes red if the stampis an under twenty-one patron. They can order only one drink per person at a time. It’s not a foolproof plan, but it is effective, or it has been in the past. Damon has been using this technology for years in his other clubs.

When we arrive at the ground level, I usher him to the door.

“This ends our tour. Do you have any other questions?”

“No, I’m impressed with the club and your security measures. I guess we’ll have to see what the police end up finding.”

“Yes, I think they’re almost finished with the investigation.” I take my business card out of my pocket and hand it to him. “Please contact me if you have additional questions.”

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