Page 2 of The Billionaire Player

“Are you serious? You’re okay with whatever we find?”

“Yes. If he isn’t ready for this, if he’s going to go out of business in a year, if he is in over his head; I would rather he know now instead of later,” Remy said.

“Fair enough. Thanks for this. I’ll keep you posted.”

“I would appreciate that. I hope this works out well for both of us.”

“Me too. Have a good night,” Charlie said and hung up.

Remy ended the call and then looked at his computer screen with the picture of Alexandria Ricci. He couldn’t imagine a better woman for JD. She was tough, independent, didn’t take crap from anyone, and most importantly, she had worked and lived in the restaurant business so she would understand what JD was going through and could give him the support and guidance he would need.

JD had given up on love, on finding happiness, and thought he didn’t need it if he had his restaurant. Remy hoped he could prove his son wrong and that he could have it all. Remy leaned his head back against his chair and thought about what he had just put into motion and worried if he had made the right decision.

Chapter 1

JD

It was late in the morning when I walked into my restaurant and turned on the lights. My hands were full of papers and my computer and I had a full day ahead of me, still, I took a minute to take in the gorgeous view that was my restaurant.

It might not be much to someone else, but looking at the oak tables with their white table clothes, the matching bar off to the side, and the open kitchen in the back, I felt pride, accomplishment, and a belonging that I never thought I would feel.

Probably from the moment I even knew what a restaurant was, I wanted to own one. It had been what I talked about doing since I was a kid much to the amusement of my parents and siblings. I couldn’t explain it, but there was something about the atmosphere, the energy, the excitement, the fun that could only be found in the middle of a dinner rush.

I had been fascinated by it for years and even though I could have easily helped run my family’s liquor store empire, I never wanted to. I wasn’t like my brother Walker, who had a head for business and the corporate world, nor was I like my brother, Mac, who had a strong sense of duty and commitment to the family. I was closer in personality with our sister, Bailey, who was more of a free spirit, but even she worked for our family’s company, Bennett Liquor.

Luckily, my parents and siblings were supportive of me. They helped me go to Italy so I could learn the art of cooking from some experts and get my sommelier license. In the three years that I was there, I had learned a lot about food, wine, and the hospitality business. I also learned I was never going to be a world-renowned chef.

It didn’t deter me from my goal, it just helped me to see I was more suited for running a restaurant than cooking in one. My hope and plan were if I did it well, I could open multiple locations and start my own empire like my great-grandfather had done.

I wanted to follow in my family’s footsteps just in a different direction. I had the same drive as they did, the same desire to succeed, I just had no interest in doing it in the family business. Hopefully, with the opening of my first restaurant I was on my way to accomplishing that goal.

I walked into the restaurant and past the tables that were scattered strategically around the dining room. There were enough tables to not keep people waiting too long but not so many that it felt crowded or intrusive. The walls were painted a deep brown with decorative mirrors spaced along the walls to give a more open feel. The soft lighting added to the old cigar lounge and gentlemen's club vibe that I was going for.

My crown glory was the bar with its leather exterior and matching stools. The mirrored bar back was imported from Italy and reminiscent of one I had found in a small town near Tuscany while I was living there. The liquor was unique and specially selected to add to the enjoyment of the meals, as was the extensive wine selection that was held in the cellar.

Having grown up in and around liquor I had a decent knowledge of what was good, what worked with what food, and how to pair them for the maximum enjoyment to the guests. Having spent two years becoming a sommelier and learning from some of the best chefs and restaurant owners in Italy added to that knowledge. I wanted the restaurant to be an experience, one where people could come to relax, to unwind, to enjoy themselves, and have a good meal.

I named the restaurantBennett’s,to honor my family, my history, and their support and commitment to me. Plus, it helped to cross promote my family’s liquor stores, something Walker had been all over me doing. The permits and licenses were all in place, including the music license that came through just last week. The insurance was set to be approved by the end of the day, and the last-minute renovations were almost complete. Everything was working out as according to plan as I could hope.

Now, I just needed to get my staff hired.

I walked into my office, though it could hardly be called an office, it was more of an oversized coat closet. I didn’t need or want much and any space I could give to the kitchen or the floor was better used than in my office. It was cramped with barely enough space for my desk and the chairs that sat in front of it or the file cabinet took up the far corner. The last bit of space was taken up by two cases of liquor sitting in the other corner that needed to be moved to the storage closet.

Shuffling around the chairs and cases I went to my desk and put my computer and papers down. The countertop was already littered with other paperwork and I knew if Walker had seen the organized mess he would have freaked out. He had his organization techniques and I had mine.

I was looking through my emails and trying to organize my paperwork and thoughts when my assistant, Rosie, came into the office carrying two cups of coffee.

“You’re a lifesaver,” I said as she handed me my cup of coffee.

“That’s why you pay me the big bucks,” she teased as she sat down in the chair in front of my desk.

“Do I?” I teased and then took a sip.

Even though I knew it wasn’t true, I could feel the caffeine immediately going through my veins and waking me up.

“We do have a very nice espresso maker in the kitchen that you could probably use instead of making me go out and get you a cup every morning. I know the owner, he owes me,” she said.

“Very funny. Were you able to get the last of the wait and support staff hired?” I asked.

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