In the Age of Love and Chocolate (Birthright #3)(24)

“Anya, do you have any idea what time it is?”

“Six a.m.-ish?”

“It’s 5:13.”

“You never sleep, so I thought it would be fine.”

“New Year’s Day, I might sleep a little. I’d prefer the option at least.”

“Can we meet today? I want to run a business idea by you.”

“Of course. I’ll see you at ten a.m.,” he said.

“You’re already awake anyway,” I said. “Let’s say seven?”

“You’ve gotten to be a huge bully since you’ve become a success,” he said.

“Theo’s coming, too.” I hung up.

I went into the living room and shook Theo awake. “Happy New Year, mamacita,” he said drowsily. He puckered his lips but didn’t open his eyes.

“There’s no time for that,” I said. “We’ve got a meeting to get to.”

* * *

The three of us met at the Dark Room, which was a mess owing to the previous night’s festivities. “You are looking terrifyingly bright eyed,” Mr. Delacroix said to me. “I’ve seen this look from you before, and it usually means trouble.”

“What is this about, Anya?” Theo asked.

“Well, I was thinking about where the second location should be.”

“Have you gone off Brooklyn again?” Mr. Delacroix said. We had been discussing the possibility of a second Dark Room in Brooklyn for a while.

“No. But last night, my brother was saying how he’d like to work for the club, and the day before that, at Mr. Kipling’s funeral, Simon Green made a similar request.” I looked at Mr. Delacroix. “He wanted your job, actually.”

“He should have it then,” Mr. Delacroix said. “The hours are brutal. And the boss is demanding.”

“Sometimes,” I continued, “Fats asks me about jobs for Family guys, too. The black market chocolate business has been bad these last couple of months.”

“Who can say why?” Mr. Delacroix asked. “This isn’t your responsibility.”

“Maybe not, but I think about it. And then, last night, I was talking to you”—I pointed to Theo—“and my sister, and we were joking about Dark Rooms in Canada and Paris—basically places Theo and Natty want to visit. And we had a good laugh. But this morning, I thought, why not? Why open one more location when you can open ten?”

“Oh dear,” Mr. Delacroix said.

“Could we do it, Mr. Delacroix? Could we have a franchise?”

“You sound like you’re asking me for a puppy.”

“I’m not asking your permission,” I said coolly.

“I didn’t think you were. But by God, I’d hate to see what you look like when you don’t get what you want for Christmas.”

“I’ve never gotten what I want for Christmas, Mr. Delacroix. I’m used to disappointment.”

“What about the year I gave you the machete?” Theo asked.

“Except for that,” I said. “What I want to know, Mr. Delacroix, is if it’s possible for us to raise enough money.”

“Yes, but it’s not only about the money. It’s the logistics—the peculiarities of regional government and laws, the regional scarcity of certain resources and supplies, the particular tastes and habits of the locals, and much more,” Mr. Delacroix said. “Whatever you do, you definitely shouldn’t attempt this abroad. Domestic locations only. And technically you don’t mean ‘franchise.’ You’re talking about a chain.”

Chain sounded so much less glamorous. “What I’m asking you, Theo, is could we use the same menu for all our locations, and could we get enough cacao to supply them?”

“If you wanted Granja to supply it, we would have to get more land, though I could investigate other suppliers,” Theo said. “As for the menu? Yes, it is refined, and I believe it will translate to many different venues.”

“Anya,” Mr. Delacroix said. “This is a bold proposition, and as such, I approve of it. But you should know it’s an enormously risky one, too.”

I shrugged. “I didn’t get in this to be small. You once told me that the only real way to change this world was to be giant.”

“Did I?”

“You did.”

“Sounds like hubris.”

Theo said we needed drinks. He went to get them, leaving Mr. Delacroix and me alone at the table.

“We can do this,” Mr. Delacroix said. “And I will help you. But why not sit back and enjoy your success for a while?”

“Because what fun would that be?” I said.

“I don’t know. Some girls like hobbies and boyfriends and diversions of that nature.”

“Mr. Delacroix, you have to understand. I feel responsibility toward the Family and my family, but even more than that, I believe in what we’ve done here. I want to make my business large enough to put a lot more people to work. Wouldn’t that be a very grand accomplishment?”

“Grand. Yes, of course, it would be grand.” He laughed. “You do sound like me sometimes. A younger—obviously—more hopeful, comelier version of me.”

I noticed the dark circles under his eyes, but I didn’t think they were the kind that came from one night’s lost sleep. Although the gesture was unlike me, I put my hand on his.