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“You need to think bigger, Morgan,” Kade said. “Flavor fusion is a good idea, but it’ll do better with the upscale crowd. They’re more willing to pay for a food experience.”
Sweat beaded between my breasts as the fear about what I was agreeing to intensified. “I’m not a chef, nor affluent. I don’t know how to pull this off. I like food and feel confident about my own dishes, but this…” I scanned the room. It was a good size, but at the same time, I felt like it was closing in on me.
“That’s what you’ve got me for.” He smiled, and for a moment I wished he was saying I had him in other ways. “I have the experience and knowledge that you don’t. You have the ideas. I can offer guidance and help in execution.”
“How do you have time for this? You have your own restaurants, plus the Raven ones.”
“I’m an expert at delegating and multitasking. I’ve got a chef who’s looking for a change, and I think this will excite him. We’ll hire a general manager to help with the overall management, which will give you time to develop your recipes and wow your customers, as well as have some personal time.”
There was a glint in his eyes at the mention of personal time. I wanted to believe he was thinking of us together during that personal time, but that was stupid. If he wanted to see me, all he had to do was pick up the phone, not help me start a restaurant. He was only here because this was his expertise.
“This is… it’s so much.”
Beth wrapped her arm around me. “I know you’re overwhelmed. This is bigger than you’d planned, including the money and risk, but honey, we all believe in you and your idea.”
That wasn’t completely true. This wasn’t my idea. My idea was smaller. But I couldn’t help but feel excited about the potential of this place. And I had to believe that Kade wouldn’t be a part of it if he didn’t think it could work.
“I’ll be here every step, Morgan,” Kade said. My heart flipped in my chest. The idea of working so closely with him both excited and terrified me. I wanted to see him work. I wanted to share a passion for food with someone who loved it like I did. I wanted to touch him, and have him show me what it could be like between a man and a woman. The part that scared me was that I’d fall for him. Fall more than I already had.
“Yes, okay,” I said, hoping the quiver of fear in my voice didn’t make them second guess my ability to take on this daunting task. “But I can manage it. We don’t need to waste money on a manager. I need to learn the ropes anyway.”
“You’ll learn it, but you don’t have to do it,” Kade said. “The key to success in anything is focusing on what you’re best at and delegating necessary tasks to those who are better at than you.”
I could see the wisdom of that, but paying for expertise was expensive.
“You’ll save money in the long run,” Ash said, “if money is your concern.”
“I feel like if I delegate everything, there is nothing for me to do.”
“There’s plenty to do.” Kade said. “Creating food and designing a menu never stops. In essence, you’re the food expert.”
“That isn’t the chef?”
“Chefs are food experts, and it doesn’t hurt to let them be involved in the menu planning. But in the end, their job is to create your food ideas. To fulfill your vision.”
That made sense.
“The other part of this program is that you’ll be getting mentorship in business management,” Beth said.
“Who will be my mentor?”
“Me.” Kade held his hands out.
“Unless you have a problem with that,” Ash said.
Kade frowned at him.
“No. I don’t have a problem with that,” I said.
Kade glared at Ash as he put his arm around me. “Morgan and I are going to make beautiful food and tons of money together.”
Feeling his body pressed against mine fired up every cell in my body. If Beth and Ash weren’t there, I might have thrown myself at him.
“This is your business,” Ash continued on. “Beth is right, we believe in you, but when all is said and done, this is your deal. Win or lose, success or failure, it’s yours.”
“Ash.” Beth glared at him. “Don’t be so doomsday.”
“If she isn’t sold on this plan, then she shouldn’t do it. Business is hard enough to succeed in. If it’s not your passion or vision, it’s nearly impossible.”
It wasn’t my vision, but I couldn’t turn this down. My best friend arranged the opportunity of a lifetime for me. And while it wasn’t what I’d planned, it wasn’t so far off either. The food was still what I’d wanted. It was just on a bigger scale. With Kade’s mentorship, how could I lose? I had too much to gain not to say yes.
