Page 33 of The Billionaire's Fortunate Accident
Crap, that’s a fuck-lot of work.
“How long do I have to be open to have an established business?” I felt time slipping away from me like sands through an hourglass. And it was not fun at all.
“Six months. After that, you can apply for the grants, and then that’ll take more time. But, in the meantime, I’ve got a great idea.”
“And the great idea is?” There had to be something we could do to make things go faster.
“If you can get all our brothers and our cousins to agree, we can make up a grant of our own that will cover you until you can get something from the federal government to keep you going.”
I couldn’t help it. I grabbed him by the face then smacked him dead on the lips. “Thank you!” I turned to leave, nearly running, as I knew right where I wanted to set up my very first bistro. “You’re the smartest man ever! I’ll secure the place then our family.” I kicked up my heels. “Woo! Hoo!”
“Yee-haw,” Cohen shouted. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
Everything was coming like a flash of lightning. I knew it meant I was on the right path. I returned to the hospital Jessa interned at and went up to the lady standing behind the front desk. “How can I help you today, sir?”
“Who would I need to talk to about opening a small bistro in this hospital?”
“That would be Evelyn Dowdy, the food service department administrator.” She slid a business card across the desk. “You can reach her at this number.”
I knew it would be a hell of a long shot that she’d be able to see me today, but I walked away to a nearby empty waiting room and made the call.
She picked up on the first ring, “Evelyn Dowdy.”
“Hi, Ms. Dowdy. This is Stone Nash. I’d like to see if I can get a meeting with you about a bistro I’d like to open in your hospital.”
“I’m in my office right now. I’m about to leave in an hour, but I’ll be gone for two weeks on vacation. Can you make it within the hour?”
I began walking toward the elevators. “I’m here now. What room number is yours?”
“Top floor, room eight-zero-one.”
“Be there in a couple of minutes.” I got onto the elevator, nervous as hell as I went up to find out whether this would be the place where I would begin this adventure.
Knocking on her slightly ajar office door, I heard her pleasant voice as she said, “Come in, Stone Nash.”
“Thanks for seeing me on such short notice.” I took the seat across from her as she sat at the desk.
“You said you’d like to open a bistro here?”
“It’ll be a bit more than that. See, I’m going to be applying for grants to feed the interns for free. I’m only going to be serving healthy foods. I’ll sell to others, but the interns will each get a free meal every day.”
“That sounds amazing. But I know that grants don’t happen overnight.” She turned around the laptop she had in front of her, showing me that she’d pulled up my name on a search engine. “I see you aren’t lacking in money. But I’ve got to wonder why you would want to open something here instead of at that amazing resort you and your brothers own.”
“I’ve seen a need for what I’m specializing in, and the need is within hospitals. I’ll eventually put a bistro in every hospital that’ll accept me. But I’d like to start this right here.”
“I’ve got space available. But there’s a lot you’ll have to do.” She took out a pen and a piece of paper from her desk drawer. “I’ll write it down for you. We’ll need the menu that you plan to serve. And the prices you’ll be charging. The number of employees, too. And you should know that anyone who works within these walls must pass an aggressive background check.”
“I understand that.” It sounded like a lot of work was ahead of me, but I was up for it.
“We’ll also need a strategic business plan. I can’t tell you the rent until we deem you acceptable as a vendor. But I can tell you that it’s not cheap. You still in?”
“I’m in.” A thought popped into my head. “Do you think it would be possible to leave some food samples somewhere around here so I can get some feedback?”
“The nurse’s stations always appreciate free food. And the doctor’s lounge is a good place for those sorts of things too.” She pulled out another pad and scribbled something on it before sliding it to me. “You’ll give this to whoever is working the front desk. Watch to make sure she keys everything into the computer. Then wait until she gives you a badge — it will allow you to come and go, even after hours when the doors are locked.”
“Wow.” This young lady was really helping me. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Hey,” she said as she looked at me with kind eyes. “I think what you want to do is amazing. I’m rooting for you, Stone Nash. And I’ll do everything I can to help you make this work. But for the next two weeks, I’ll be out of the office and out of town. My boyfriend and I are heading to Cancun. But please, come see me the day I get back. I’ll be dying to know all you’ve achieved in that time.”
