Page 12 of Executive Benefits

“Dammit,” I said. “I don’t want to keep going to court with that woman.” Three years of taxes were a lot. It would eat up most of my budget for the rebrand, too, unless I wanted to use my money. Or worse, apply for a loan that might not go through since business has slowed up. Another way Kendra fucked me.

“Alright. Let me try to call the IRS agent and see what I can do.” I might be able to get some kind of discount if I offered to pay the damn thing in full.

“Sounds good, Nick,” Phoebe said, patting the flat of her hand on top of the desk and standing. “I’ll keep moving forward with the new plans for the restaurant until you tell me not to.”

I gave her a curt nod and watched her leave the room. She closed the door and I leaned forward. “Fuck,” I said into the office.

The meeting with Julia had gone so well.

I was really looking forward to shifting gears. Remembering what she looked like when she tried my sauce… that was the kindof joy I wanted to deliver to people. And when the thoughtandmaybe even delivered her some joy privatelypopped into my mind, I was taken aback again.

The day couldn’t have been more mixed up.

I leaned back in my chair and rocked, placing my hands along the armrest. With a long sigh, I weighed my options. I wasn’t going to know anything until I talked to the IRS agent. Even if the letter said I owed over $50,000 in back taxes, there had to be a way to make things work that wouldn’t put me in financial ruin or make me keep having to go round for round with Kendra.

It was exactly what she wanted.

I didn’t think I realized just how twisted she really was.

But I should have.

I thought about Julia with her notebook. The thought brought a smile to my lips. I pulled out a legal pad and started a list of things thatneededto be done versus whatcouldbe done.

When the phone rang and Phoebe let me know it was the IRS guy, I was relieved. Not because I had to pay the fucking money back—I'd have to do something about that too—but because then I could know where I really stood.

Then I’d worry about what I was going to do with The Bridge, Kendra, and Julia.

“Do you still like Kendra’s idea of running a business now?” I asked David as he sat next to me at the bar later. I didn't bother to get him a drink because the woman still had a way of fucking me, and even though it was supposed to be a banner day and I was going to finally be able to get freedom and a new start at life, she'd left one last pile of shit on my doorstep.

“Alright...” David held up his hands and looked around the empty restaurant. “Alright, I am sorry. She screwed you, and not in a good way.”

“She hasn’t screwed me in a good way for a long time.” I tossed my bourbon back and stood, walking behind the bar. “Now you deserve a free drink.” I smiled.

“Oh, only when I agree with you do I get a free drink now?” He laughed.

“I don’t know why you’re surprised. You make me pay for my insurance.” He was in financial advising and supplemental healthcare. Being in the restaurant business usually meant no health insurance because it was expensive for small business owners. But he knew the way around a few things and got me—and the staff—what they needed. It was a nice benefit for the team because in normal restaurant settings, no one on staff, full-time or part, or chef, got insurance.

“You want me to pay for your health insurance instead of agreeing with you?” he asked. He shook his head, taking the whiskey-neat I placed in front of him. “Neither of those options sounds fair or right or even ethical. Besides, when was the last time you agreed with me?” he asked.

“1982,” I said, turning to put the bottle away. He burst out laughing, and I smiled at him. I rolled my head and rubbed my brow.

“Well, what are you going to do?” He placed the tumbler on the bar with a clunk and propped himself up on his elbows.

“About what?” I muttered, not in the mood to get into too much detail.

“Your restaurant. The money owed? The ‘rebranding’.” His mocking tone struck the last nerve I had at the moment.

“Fuck you,” I grunted and spun to look at him.

David held up his hands. “Fine. I still don’t think rebranding right now is the right thing to do. Shoot me. I think it has to do more with that pretty, young PR rep than it does the actual follow-through.”

“I’m about two minutes away from kicking your ass out of here,” I said, realizing that I really did want the rebrand.

“Nick, we were getting along so well a few minutes ago. I get it, you’re in a shit mood.” He took another drink from the tumbler.

“You’re not going to make the PR rep feel bad about doing business with me. I didn’t even know what she looked like when I hired her, so drop that crap right now. I won’t have anyone I’m working with be disrespected. She’s come up with a ton of ideas and I don’t have to just roll with them because she’s Kendra. I get to turn The Bridge into something I’ve always wanted it to be.”

A sense of excitement rushed through me. “I’m paying the IRS off and I am going through with the rebranding. I’ll sue Kendra after all is settled for some or all of the amount.”

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