AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You think he would give up his family recipe? It’s what keeps everyone coming back.”
“You would think he would want to expand that place.”
I swallowed what I’d been chewing, grabbing a couple of napkins to wipe my hands. “He’s in a great location. Several large office buildings surrounding his store. I’m sure he does quite well. That place is always packed with people even after the lunch crowd is gone.”
Oliver thought for a moment. “Maybe I can make him an offer.”
I snorted. “Give it up, Oliver, he won’t hand over his recipe.”
“Everything has a price.”
“But not everyone can be bought.”
He pursed his lips. “I’m not sure how true that is.”
Oliver’s phone vibrated in his pocket and he put his sandwich down to check the email. He furiously typed a reply and put the cell on the table. All through lunch he answered back and forth.
“Can you stop that?” I asked with a frown.
“I’m sorry. This is a negotiation.”
He dipped his sandwich in au jus before taking a bite, licking his lips clean.
“Can’t it wait until we get back to the office?” I asked, frowning as I watched Oliver fiddle with his phone.
“It’s with London; they’re closing soon,” he replied, not looking up.
“They work for you—they never close,” I countered, rolling my eyes.
“They don’t work for me; they work with me. There’s a difference,” Oliver said, his tone firm.
Finally, he gave up and rose from his chair, walking away as he hit a contact on his phone. I put the remnants of my sandwich down and squinted at the sun coming through the slanted glass roof. In the corner, I noticed a door that led out to a wide patch of grass. I wiped my hands and headed over to the door, unlocking it and stepping outside.
It was so strange to be walking through thick grass in the middle of the city. Down below, I heard the sounds of Manhattan—cars, horns, street noises. I headed to the raised wall, looking over the edge at the pedestrians in the space between the two buildings.
“Do you like it?” Oliver's voice startled me, and I turned to see him coming toward me.
“It’s a living roof. How lovely, but who cares for the grass?” I asked, intrigued.
“I have it cut with a hand mower each week. It grows surprisingly fast,” he replied, a proud smile on his face.
“Is this your little secret? Do you come up here when I’m not looking? Is that why sometimes I can’t find you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Oliver chuckled, stepping closer. “Maybe. It’s a nice escape when things get too hectic.”
"Why haven’t you brought me here before?" I asked, glancing around the rooftop garden.
“I just had it renovated. The glass before was in terrible condition and leaked on rainy days. I recently had it repaired. Wouldn’t this be a nice place to have offices?” Oliver explained, gesturing to the lush atrium and the expansive living roof.
“You want to leave where we are?” I questioned, turning to face him.
“No. I mean for more offices. We’re expanding all the time and running out of room to house everyone. Our building is full to capacity. We need someplace to put the new employees,” Oliver clarified.
“So, you would take this floor over? Seems pretty swanky and they would have this lovely atrium and living roof,” I mused, taking in the surroundings.
“I was thinking of moving some of the executives over here,” Oliver suggested.
“We’re executives, well at least you are,” I replied, a hint of self-doubt in my voice.
