Just One Taste (Topped #2)(53)

“Of course.” It was part of their business model. They brought in vets who struggled to find work and if they showed promise, trained them to cook or to manage. But that had nothing to do with publicity. “I’m not hiring a publicist. We don’t need one.”

She continued talking like he hadn’t said a word. “I also want to talk about community outreach. Fort Worth has some great events I think we should be involved in. Main Street Arts Festival, there’s a yearly restaurant night at the zoo.”

He held up a hand. “Stop. This is too much for me.”

“I know it’s a lot, but it’s okay because I’m handling it for you. I’m going to talk to Chef about my plan. I think he’s going to see the value.”

“Deena, did you hear a word I said?”

“I did and I think you’re wrong. What I’m proposing is best for you, and in the end it’s best for Sean. He’s taking a cut of your profits. He should want that cut to be as high as possible.”

“Or he could expect me to work my ass off and do it on my own,” he argued. She might have been the one to go to class, but it was his butt on the line.

“Then why call it Top at all? Why not open your own place?”

“Because I don’t have the money to open my own place.” He forced himself to stop because he’d barked those words at her. She was calling him out on a bunch of stuff he didn’t want to hear. “I’m sorry, baby. I don’t think you understand what I’m trying to do.”

“Yes, I do. You’re devaluing yourself,” she shot back.

Eric took a deep breath, measuring his words. “I’m not. I’m taking a very good offer and running with it. That’s all I’m doing. You’re trying to make things complicated because you just graduated and that’s what you’ve been taught to do.”

“No, I’ve been taught how to run a business. I’ve been taught how to read a contract and how to negotiate. You’re the one who asked me to look into this.” Confusion settled over her features.

“I wanted you to check my business plan. To run my numbers not question my business decisions. I didn’t ask you to do that at all,” he corrected. “I certainly didn’t ask you to come in here and try to convince me that the best deal I’ve gotten in my life is really a way for a man I trust to screw me over.”

Her face flushed. “I wasn’t trying to say you were getting screwed, Eric. Look, I understand where you’re coming from. It’s hard to ask for the things we deserve.”

He felt his fists clench, frustration rising. This wasn’t the conversation he’d intended to have with her this afternoon. “You have no idea where I’m coming from and I do deserve this restaurant.”

“You’re willfully misunderstanding me.”

He pushed back from the table, unable to remain sitting. “And you’re accusing a man I respect of trying to f*ck me over.”

“He’s not trying to screw you,” Deena replied. “He’s only looking to make the best deal he can for himself and Top. This is the business world, Eric. It’s not the Navy. You don’t have to take what you’re given. You can demand more.”

“Or I can be grateful for what I’ve been given.” How did he get her to understand that not everything had to be a fight?

“You haven’t been given anything. You earned it.”

It was obvious that she was never going to understand. “I am not having this discussion with you. You said you wanted to keep our business and personal lives separate. If you’re going to behave like this, maybe we should.”

“Behave like what? Like I have an opinion?” She stood up, picking up her purse and slinging it over her shoulder. “I will make certain not to give you an opinion again. I have to wonder if you didn’t want my business advice, why did you want me as an advisor?”

“Like I said before, I wanted you to look at my plan.”

She stared him straight in the eye, her gaze holding his. “Your plan is flawed because your contract is flawed. You’ll fail or you’ll end up being mediocre because you don’t believe in yourself or you would walk in and ask Sean for the things you need to make the restaurant great.”

That was a kick in the gut. “I’m going to fail now? Because I don’t listen to you?”

She stepped back, turning toward the door. “Like I said, maybe you won’t fail, but you’re definitely not stepping up for yourself. I learned the hard way that I have to watch out for my best interests. I have to believe in myself and value myself because no one else will. You didn’t want a business partner, Eric. You want someone to do the work you aren’t interested in. You want someone to keep the books and tell you how fabulous you’re doing.”

“Well, it’s obvious to me you don’t think much of me at all,” he replied, bitterness in his gut.

She shook her head. “You haven’t listened to a word I’ve said. Or maybe you have and you simply don’t value it. I’m glad I found out before I did something stupid. I have to go get ready for my shift.”

“That’s a good idea. All we’re going to do right now is argue.”

Without another look back, she stepped inside. The door closed behind her.