Page 7 of Executive Benefits

“That’s because I texted you about it,” I said, rolling my eyes and placing my hand over my mouth to stop the dumbass from slipping out. The look in my best friend’s eye told me he was going to say something stupid.

“They’re still bitching about it, you know.” He picked a piece of lint off his suit.

“Who’s still bitching about what?” His statement could mean anything about anyone right now.

“The town. Your team. The split. They’re still reeling from it,” he said.

The words, even though it ended two years ago, flitted through my mind. I bit them back because we’d gone through this before.

“No, I didn’t know that. But I’m so happy you decided to tell me. Now I can get my feathers all ruffled about it because my staff doesn’t like a choice their boss made. Thanks, asshole.”

David held his hands in the air. “Sorry, just trying to process everything.”

“What is there for you to process?”

“She was my friend, Nick.”

“She was always playing the game, manipulating. You knew this. You pointed it out first,” I reminded him.

“Yes, but then she grew on me.”

“And then you always took her side.” Just like everyone else. Even after she cheated on me, the woman somehow got them all to put the pity on her.

“She said she wanted to go to marriage counseling.”

“I don’t know why I’m friends with you anymore.” I threw my hands up.

“Alright. Alright, I’ll get over that crap on my own. Don’t you think a casual eatery is beneath you? You’re an award-winning chef. Don’t you think by downgrading your restaurant, you’re downgrading your food and your self-respect? If anything, it shows me where you’re at in the ‘getting over things’ process, and it seems like you’re going to make a mistake you’ll regret.”

I leaned forward, folding my fingers together and placing them on my desktop. “Just because something is casual doesn’t mean that I’m going to downgrade my cooking. If anything, it gives me a chance to be creative. I can combine casual dining with an elevated food experience.”

“Is that what your marketing rep told you?”

My anger spiked. “No. Actually, it’s what I wanted.” I let my voice rise. “I haven’t ever had a choice with Kendra. She always did the picking, and I went along with it like a lovesick puppy because I was too damn young to know better, and then when I did start to figure things out, I stayed because of the ‘sanctity of marriage’, and the second I started pushing back, she made things miserable. You know that. You saw that. You?—”

“Fine.” David placed his hands on my desk, using a calming voice that irritated me even more. “Fine. It is what you want.” He looked at me like he was having a hard time believing what I said. “As long as it’s not a change just for change's sake. This restaurant is your life’s work. They say doing anything drastic within the first year of any big life changes might not be as good as the person thinks they are.”

“We got divorced two years ago, and I’ve been battling for this restaurant for one of them, David. I am finally getting a chance to do what I want.”

“Alright.” He nodded. “I’m on board, then. Let’s go eat some of that terrible pizza and try to talk to your staff and reassure them that their thoughts are heard, all that garbage.” He stood and smiled at me, and I huffed.

“I’m really not sure why I’ve kept you around for so long.”

“Because I’m charming, charismatic, and smart. Very, very smart.”

“Or I just feel sorry for you.” I smiled. I looked around the office one more time, reminding myself that yes, it’s all mine, and we headed back out into the dining area.

When we got there, David whistled and stopped. “Who’s the brunette?”

“That’s Julia,” I said, watching her with the rest of the staff. She walked around, shaking everyone’s hand, and a smile crept up the corner of my lip. She looked good, and she was in a skirt again. My eyes flicked down to her feet. Heels.

I liked them.

“So that’s why you think you’re finally making a choice for yourself?” David scoffed. I whipped my head to him and my eyebrows raised.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I whispered, pulling him back and away from the group.

“She’s pretty. Young too. It’s easy to see why she would be able to sway—” My hand flew up to David’s arm, and I squeezed it enough for him to gasp.

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