Not Just Friends (Hot in the City #3) - T. Gephart Page 0,62

open something up in L.A. and I know he was in town recently. I believe he even visited Diablo. Tell me, and be honest, did he make you an offer?”

Since the minute Scott had walked past those big black doors of the club, he’d been a huge pain in my ass. And while we had met, me barely entertaining the idea of helping him for a second, I hadn’t spoken to him since he’d left. I’d assumed he took my vineyard idea and ran with it, forgetting all about his disaster-waiting-to-happen.

“Yes, I met with him. And he offered me a lot actually. Artistic control, a salary and equity.”

“Equity?” David’s brows shot up, no doubt surprised Scott had cashed in such a big chip.

“Yes.” I took a breath, deciding to go all in. “David, I know you’re a busy man so I’m not going to waste your time by pretending to be modest. Diablo has made a name for itself, we are at capacity every night of the week and are constantly listed in social blogs and magazines. And I don’t have to tell you that above all of that, we’re making money.”

“And . . .,” David urged me, knowing I had more to say.

“And I’ve worked my ass off to make it that way. I like my team, and the brand, and I’m not going to leave them to chase someone else’s pipedream. Especially when I have my own. You trusted me once, now I’m going to need you to do it again. But this time around as a partner instead of just an employee.”

I laid out my plan, my ideas for the expansion and the second site, and even some rough expenditures I modeled on the data I already had. I did it without my notes, minus spreadsheets and with no fancy graphs. It was straight business, keeping as much of the emotion as I could out of my voice even though I wanted it so desperately.

“You’ve been working on this for some time,” he nodded after I’d finished, tenting his fingers in front of him. “You flat out rejected Scott’s offer?”

“Yes, I did. Feel free to call him if you want to verify it, I have his number.” I picked up my cell and tilted it in his direction.

He waved his hand, dismissing my offer. “No need. But I am impressed not only by your ingenuity but your loyalty as well. I have no doubt you could have turned Scott’s toy into something of a success and reaped the benefits for yourself. And I’m almost positive I’m going to see you on the cover of Forbes before you’re forty.”

“I say before I’m thirty-five, but let’s not split hairs.”

David laughed, shaking his head as he reached down to get his coffee. “Yes, Presley. We will partner in this venture. But,” he warned, my heart almost stopping from both the excitement and the sheer terror. “Not a word to anyone until our respective lawyers iron out an agreement. With anything of this nature, you need the element of surprise. And I don’t want anyone else hearing about it, especially other developers until we are locked in, understand?”

“Of course.” I nodded, having kept the secret for what felt like an eternity. “Two staff members know, but that’s it. I haven’t even told members of my family.”

“Good, keep it that way. I’m sure they can celebrate with you once we’ve both signed on the dotted line. More deals have been ruined by loose-lipped relatives than I’d liked to admit.” He sighed heavily, his father probably the implication.

I nodded, willing to take an indefinite vow of silence if it helped. “My lips are sealed. I won’t breathe a word of it until it’s finalized.”

With the business out of the way, David flagged down the waiter and we ordered a light lunch. It was hard keeping my excitement under wraps, my heart beating a million miles a minute. After he’d agreed, I’d wanted nothing more than to run onto Fifth Avenue and dance like a lunatic. But I didn’t, keeping the crazy simmering while we talked KPIs.

When David finally announced he had another meeting, my body almost sagged in relief. I tried to not look too ecstatic when he rose from his seat and waved me goodbye, my feet doing their best to keep even steps and not skip out the door to a cab.

It was only once I was safely back in my apartment that I kicked off my heels and literally screamed.