“Sookie retired because she was having a baby and handed the reins to her partner. We didn’t see eye to eye, so I resigned.”
“I’ve used them a few times—delicious food and outstanding service. The fact that it was you behind the scenes keeping it running so smoothly speaks volumes about your managerial skills.”
She didn’t want to smile at the compliment, but how could she not? “I enjoyed the work.”
“This job doesn’t have to just be typing, filing”—he grinned—“and making coffee. I have vendors for my various restaurants that need to be managed. If you’re interested, the information is all in those files out there.”
And just like that she was that fourteen-year-old girl again who believed that he hung the moon. “I’d really like that. Thank you for the opportunity.” Before she slipped from the room, she added, “Enjoy the coffee.”
Later that afternoon an e-mail pinged in her inbox, and seeing that it was from Lucien made her heart hammer in her chest.
Effective immediately, all vendor-related issues should be brought to the attention of Darcy MacBride, my new manager of vendor relations.
Lucien
“Get ready for the phone calls.”
Darcy was embarrassed to have been caught staring at his e-mail, but how like him to just leap in with both feet. It was like he knew what she was thinking when he said, “You’re perfect for the job and overqualified as an assistant.”
When she looked up at him, she knew what she was feeling was easy enough to read on her face. “Thank you.”
“Besides, you make terrible coffee.”
Her laugh was unexpected and as genuine as the smile he offered in return.
It was a good thing that Lucien had warned her to expect some calls. She soon found herself getting her ass reamed for an hour and a half by a vendor pissed that he’d been canned by the temperamental chef of Tapas.
Tapas was one of Lucien’s properties in the Financial District. It catered mostly to those coming in after work for drinks and snacks.
Darcy could understand the chef’s need for perfection, especially when it was his name associated with the food, but there were protocols to follow. By neglecting to bring his complaint to Darcy, she now had an earache from the outraged vendor ripping her a new one.
She did her best to smooth things over, and when she hung up, she started to dial Kenneth, the chef, but realized he didn’t know her from Adam. This needed to be handled face-to-face. She would introduce herself and then smack him upside the head.
Lucien wasn’t in his office so she left a Post-it on his monitor, grabbed her purse, and went in search of a cab—that she was damn well charging back to the office.
Kenneth’s back was to her when she entered his domain.
“Excuse me?”
He ignored her and continued to talk to whoever was with him, most likely a member of the wait staff.
“Mr. Drake, my name is Darcy MacBride. I was recently hired by Mr. Black to handle vendor relations.”
Nothing, not even a shrug of his head. Darcy gave up on being both professional and civil and just bellowed, “You can’t just fire a vendor. We have contracts with all of them. Terminating them without following protocol could lead to lawsuits.”
Kenneth turned, his huge form concealing the person he’d been speaking with as he returned her bellow with one of his own. “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Darcy MacBride. I’m responsible for dealing with the vendors.”
“Better you than me.”
“Yes, well, you can’t fire them without talking with me first.”
“The hell I can’t. Substandard produce is unacceptable.”
“It’s my job to get you what you need and it’s your job to make the dishes that keep people coming back. Would you like it if I came in here and told you how to run your kitchen?”
Some of the bite left Kenneth before he said, “No.”
“Then let me do what I’m being paid to do.”
“I will not receive produce from that supplier again,” Kenneth said, but it was really just for show and they both knew it.
“I agree. I have a list of other vendors that I have asked to bring a selection of fruits and vegetables for your inspection this afternoon.”
“Fair enough.” He studied her a minute before he asked, “How much work did I cause you?”
“A few phone calls, an earache, and a lot of ass-kissing, but it’s handled.”
“Sorry.” Seeing contrition coming from such a large man was rather funny. And then the person with whom Kenneth