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“Garlic pasta?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
“Garlic breath at a club?”
“A few glasses of wine from the bar is the best solution for counteracting garlic breath. You’ll sell more drinks, especially from the women. It’s actually a brilliant idea if I do say so myself.”
“A varied menu would mean more work, though. The kitchen is already understaffed.”
“That’s because anyone half-decent is probably too afraid to work here. Someone is always getting stabbed, or shot at, or tossed through a glass table.” She turns the side of her mouth up.
“Hmmm.” I pretend to scroll through the contacts on my phone. “I may have someone who could help us out.”
“Gage already offered, but–”
“No, Gage needs to stay exactly where he is. I like him at the front of the club keeping an eye on things.”
“Then who?”
“His name is Oliver, and I’ve known him for a few years. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of him when Megan wanted to hire some more people for the kitchen before, but he actually might be a good fit.”
Lena studies me suspiciously for a moment, and I’m afraid that she’s getting to know me a little too well and will see right through my deception.
“You just happen to have a friend in your rolodex who has experience?” she questions.
“The use of the term friend might be a stretch, but yes, he ran a kitchen for a few years in Chinatown.”
“Chinatown? He sounds overqualified.” Her arms crossed. Yeah, she definitely suspects this isn’t exactly what I’m saying it is, but the great thing about being the big brother is that she’s probably not going to challenge me on it—at least, that’s what I’m hoping.
“I think he may be interested in a less hectic situation. We might be just what he needs.”
“If he runs the kitchen, then what am I going to do?”
“He wouldn’t take your place, Lena. You’re my sister, and you’ll always run the kitchen of the Blue Whiskey if that’s your choice. I’d just hire him to help you put more systems in place so that you can offer the old and new menu items.”
“So I could work on the new dishes while he handles other stuff?”
Damn, I’m good.
“Exactly.”
Lena takes a spin in the chair she’s sitting in, reminding me of her youth and also that I’m doing the right thing.
“I’ll think about it,” she tells me, knowing full well that the decision has already been made.
“How about this? He’ll come by tomorrow, you feel him out, and then you tell me what you think.”
“I can make the final call?”
Lena raises an eyebrow.
“Of course.”
“Fine.”
I failed to mention to Lena that I invited Oliver and some of his friends to the club as my special guests at Table 21tonight. That would have made my agenda of distracting her attention from Christian too obvious. It’s rare that I give anyone with who I don’t have direct business ties carte blanche in my club, but this is just as important as any negotiation I’ve ever conducted. Plus, Christian has other plans tonight and won’t be coming by the club.
But Megan is here, dammit.