Safe Space II: The Finale

by Tiffany Patterson

  I strolled to the door, checking the peephole and seeing that it was Isaac before opening.

  “You ready?”

  “Yeah, let me grab these reports. You have the copies for everyone else, right?”

  “In my bag.”

  “Cool. Let’s go.”

  Within the next twenty minutes, I was seated in a huge conference room amongst two owners of the hotel and casino I was currently staying in, as well as the two owners of a hotel and casino within walking distance. Both their businesses would house my new restaurants, and our meeting was to discuss exactly when we’d begin renovations.

  “I must say, Mr. Grant, your reputation precedes you,” Daniel, one of the owners stated as we all settled in. Though I’d met many of the members of this group on numerous occasions over the last eighteen months, this was my first time meeting Daniel.

  “I’m glad to hear it.” I slid the report out in front of me before standing. “Let’s get down to business, shall we, gentlemen?”

  Over the next few hours, we spent time negotiating contracts, hours of operation, menu ideas, design and spacing, and all the big and little details that go into making a restaurant. We were now in the phase of hashing out the more minor and persistent details, and it took digging my heels in when the owners didn’t want to comply. Especially on one particular issue.

  “No way, we can’t pay the staff those wages.”

  “Then this has all been a waste of time,” I answered back.

  Jeff, one of the owners who normally wore his poker face pretty well, looked at me as if I were insane, before putting his casual expression back in place.

  “You’ve got to be kidding, Xavier. You know the typical hourly rate for wait staff, and you want to double that—?”

  “More than double,” I pointed out. The hourly salary I was planning on paying staff was more than double the typical hourly wage.

  “And you don’t expect this to cut into your profits? I mean, we’ll win, either way, seeing as how we’re earning a twenty percent cut off the top, regardless,” Daniel interjected.

  I nodded in agreement. “Right and what I know more than you gentleman is how to run a successful restaurant.” Emphasis placed on the word successful. “I know wait staff like the back of my hand, and I know how to avoid employee turnover. I’ve found that when you treat employees well and pay them generous wages, we reduce the amount of turnover and increase loyalty. Meaning, we have more employees willing to go above and beyond.

  “Now, I know you’re all astute businessmen. I’m sure you wouldn’t be in this room if you weren’t.” I paused looking around into the eyes of each person in the room. “So, far be it for me to tell any one of you how to conduct your business. But, as for me and mine? I’ve built a multimillion dollar business off of learning from experience, and in my experience treating others the way they want to be treated is the way to go. And that includes high wages. And if we can’t agree on that, then we can’t agree on anything else, and we’ve all wasted the months we’ve put into these projects.”

  It was a huge risk, but one I was willing to take. I wouldn’t back down. I was a businessman, sure enough, but I also stuck to my core beliefs when it came to running my company.

  Looking around the room, I watched the stony faces of the men. They were just as astute and sure of themselves as I was. I wasn’t going to intimidate them into backing down, but I knew they were logical as well. I’d talked about reducing turnover and increased employee loyalty, which all amounted to decreased profit loss for the business in the long run. And yes, what Daniel had said was true, they would make a profit off my restaurants either way, because they would be housing them. However, if my restaurants failed, they’d be out profits for the time it would take to open up a new restaurant, which could take months or even years. Thus, it was mutually beneficial for us to make this work.

  “All right, Xavier. We can agree on the wages. Now, let's work out the rest of this deal.”

  I looked around the room as everyone stood and began shaking hands.

  “Rossi’s going to lose his shit,” I heard Isaac say under his breath next to me.

  I gave him a half-grin while a feeling of pure satisfaction rushed over me. This was one of my most lucrative deals to date, and the fact that its completion was the final blow to a past business enemy was just more icing on the cake. My fingers were just itching to get the necessary papers signed and finally get the renovations completed. The deadline I’d set for the completion of the renovations was by the end of the year, which meant I had less than four months to get this shit done and open.

  “I think it’s time to pay Rossi a visit,” I casually said to Isaac. The outlines of his eyes wrinkled a bit as the satisfied smile spread over his face. I was sure it was a mirror of the look I was giving him.

  ****

  “Dominic Rossi, please?” I asked the female assistant who sat at the front of the spacious office on the bottom floor of a two-story building a few blocks from the strip. I leaned against the counter, crossing my legs at the ankles and looking around the nearly empty office space. I could tell at one time the office had been more robust with activity, but the two opened doors farther down the hallway that sat bereft of any furniture, save for a desk, told the story. Rossi’s company had been leaking employees and money for some time. The closing of his restaurants here in Vegas was the final straw that broke this camel’s back.

  “I’m sorry, what was your na—?”

  “Just tell him I’m an old friend.” I gave his receptionist an endearing smile, which caused her cheeks to turn a particular shade of crimson.

  “Mr. Rossi, there’s a-an old friend here to see you.” She hesitated when she turned her green eyes on me.

  I stared intently, waiting to glean any reply from her expression. When her forehead crinkled and her eyes flashed back to me, I knew she was debating on whether to ask me for my name again.

  “Xavier Grant,” I told her without her prompting.

  “Xavier Grant,” she repeated into the phone. “Oh, okay.”

  I straightened as she hung up the phone.

  “I’m sorry, but Mr. Rossi is extremely busy today and he can’t…” Her lie was cut off by my laughter. I knew he would try to avoid this meeting any way possible, but not today.

  I turned to Isaac, who’d remained quiet since we entered the office. “You can wait here. I’ll only be a few minutes.”

  “Wait!” I heard the shrill voice of the receptionist as I began walking to where I assumed Rossi’s office was.

  “It’s okay, doll. He’ll only be a minute,” Isaac’s voice interrupted the receptionist’s calls to my back.

  A minute later, I was standing in front of the open door of Dominic Rossi’s personal office. His head was down, looking at the files in front of him, but as soon as I entered the room, his head came up. He’d aged since the last time I’d seen him, and not in a good way. His once dark and shiny hair was now a dull gray. The usual tan skin that spoke of his Italian heritage was more beet red. He’d put on some weight to his already stocky frame. Stress had a way of doing that to people. Shock, surprise and a slight twinge of fear all ran across his face.

  “I would’ve expected you to have a better poker face than that, considering how long you’ve been in Vegas.”

  “Xavier Grant,” he stated, sitting back in his chair, squinting. “You’ve got some nerve , strolling into my office like this.”

  “I do,” I agreed as I took the seat directly in front of him. Resting my arms on either side of the chair I glanced around. “This place is smaller than your old office. What happened, Rossi?”

  Just like his receptionist out front, his cheeks flushed red, but his was out of anger .

  “What are you doing here?”

  I smiled for the first time since entering his office, but it wasn’t friendly. “What? No ‘welcome back, Xavier’? I mean, it’s been, what? More than ten years since we last saw one another?”
/>   “Cut the shit. You aren’t here for any goddamn welcome party.”

  I nodded, conceding. “On that account, you’re right. I’m here for business.”

  His eyes narrowed to slits.

  “Yes, I know. You’re surprised. Anyway, I just signed two deals to open restaurants not too far from here. In fact, if you look out your window right over your shoulder, you can see the top of the casino where one of my restaurants will be. I’m naming that one Junior’s, since I named my premiere restaurant in Houston Grant’s already.”

  By the time I finished, Rossi’s eyes had doubled in size as realization sunk in.

  “You bought out my place!” he seethed.

  My lips parted as I began telling him the news I’d been waiting for God knows how long to impart. I stood, placed my hands on the edge of his desk and leaned over him. “I’ve waited ten years to ruin you. Unlike you, I have the patience of Job when I need to, and it has paid off. Not only did I buy out your failing restaurants, but I was also the one who reported your poor business tactics to the Better Business Bureau, recruited your top chefs, and promised to double the pay you were giving them. The contracts are signed, deals are done, and renovations start this week.”

  I stepped back, adjusting my suit jacket, before addressing him again. “You really should watch who you fuck over. I was young and dumb when you played me, but I’m a grown ass man now. I suggest you find a new line of business to go into. The hospitality industry obviously isn’t your forte any longer.”

  With that, I turned and left his office without another word. Rossi would learn soon enough the extent of my payback.

  “You ready?” I questioned Isaac, who was now leaned over the receptionist’s desk, speaking in a low, deep tone. I knew it was his dirty macking voice. My hunch was confirmed when I saw the flush of red and the coy smile on the face of the receptionist. The picture before me made me recall a pair of brown eyes that I wanted to see. Unfortunately, I was going to be in Vegas for at least another week, so I was relegated to FaceTiming to see Chanel’s face.

  “Sure thing,” Isaac responded.

  I nodded and started toward the door, checking my watch for the time. It was a little after six in the evening. It’d been a long day, and I still had more work to do.

  “Heather, you have my card. If you need anything, just give me a call.” I lifted my head at that to see Isaac toss a final wink at the receptionist. She giggled in response, holding his business card. He shrugged as we passed through the door and he caught my raised eyebrow.

  “I figure she’s going to need a new job soon. There might be somewhere in one of the restaurants she could work.”

  I grunted, making a mental note to remind Isaac of my no fraternization policy. But that was for later. Right then, we were headed back to the hotel for a little breather and then another dinner meeting. In the meantime, I pulled out my phone to get in a little FaceTime with my lady.

  Chapter Eight

  Chanel

  “Liza, can you give Mike Walton a call and reschedule tomorrow’s meeting for later in the week?”

  “Sure thing. Any day in particular you had in mind?”

  “No, just not tomorrow.”

  “Not a problem.”

  I hung up with my assistant, glad that little glitch was out of the way. I’d been working so many hours that I forgot I’d made a plan with Gabby to take the next afternoon off to look at places for her salon with her. I began sorting through the files in my emails looking for Richard Crawford’s. I had a meeting with him later that afternoon and needed to do some work to update him on the process of his divorce.

  I became lost in the throng of legal reports and research. Needing a stretch, I stood and paced my office as I read over the information I’d printed out. I got so absorbed in my work, I was startled when I heard a knock on my office door. I looked up to see Liza. Standing behind her was my father.

  “Dad,” I blurted, surprised. He wore a three-piece tailored suit, towering over Liza as his six-foot build stood behind her. My father, though in his sixties, was fit, and the consummate businessman. Not for the first time, I noticed how he exuded the image of success and prosperity. I knew that’s what drew people, many of whom were women, to him. That thought made me think of Xavier for some reason.

  “I was here for a meeting with Jack, and when I came out, I saw Liza, who offered to show me to your office,” he stated.

  “Oh, that’s fine. Come in.” I tried to shake the surprise out of my voice.

  “Chanel, I rescheduled that meeting for Thursday at two o’clock,” Liza informed me.

  “Thank you,” I nodded and waited for Liza to turn before shutting my office door.

  “Have a seat. You had a meeting with Jack Russell?”

  “Yes, he’s an old friend.”

  “You’ve got quite a few of those.”

  “I’ve been in this business a long time.”

  We grew silent for a few minutes. This was the first time I’d seen my father since I’d burst in his office accusing him of being behind that hit piece on me. Suddenly, a wave of guilt moved through my belly. I may not have had the best relationship with my father, but accusing him of hiring someone to write that hideous article outing my past abuse for the world to see isn’t something he would do.

  “Dad, I need to apologize for coming into your office the way I did a few weeks ago.”

  He waved his hand dismissively as he lowered himself into the chair opposite my desk. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.”

  “No, it’s not fine. I, uh, I shouldn’t have questioned you like that, in your office, no less. It was rude and inappropriate. I’m sorry.”

  He tilted his head and looked at me. My words hung in the air between us before he smiled. “I appreciate that, Chanel. Thank you.”

  I sighed in relief. I’d felt guilty about my behavior for weeks but just didn’t have the guts to call him to apologize. In that regard, I was glad he’d taken it upon himself to stop by.

  “Now that that’s out of the way, we can discuss what I really came here for.”

  It was my turn to give him a sideways glance. “I thought you were visiting an old friend.”

  “I was, but that’s not entire reason I came over here in the middle of the day.”

  I laughed a little at the conspiratorial smirk he gave me. That felt weird. I’d never had an easygoing relationship with my father.

  “Sooo…” I prodded.

  “I came to invite you to lunch.”

  “Lunch?”

  “Yeah, I thought it’d give us some time to talk about you joining the firm.”

  “Talk?”

  “Is there a reason you keep repeating me?”

  I let out a short laugh. “Well, to be honest, I’m a little thrown off. I’m sure you can understand that, right?”

  “I can.” He nodded after a moment of contemplation.

  “We’ve never been close, and I do see you’re putting in more of an effort to now. I-it’s still hard for me not to hold the past against you.” I blew out a breath after finishing, proud of myself for expressing what I was feeling.

  His face creased as he pondered my words. “I can understand that as well.”

  “Can I ask you something? And I need your complete honesty. Even if you think the answer will hurt my feelings.” I placed my palms on my desk and looked him square in the eyes.

  “That sounds serious. Okay, shoot.”

  “Are you asking me to join the firm because you want me to work with you, or are you doing it for appearances?”

  “Appearances?”

  “Yes, I mean, it probably doesn’t look too good to your peers to have your daughter working for a rival firm.”

  I watched his lips scrunch up as the contemplation on his face grew.

  “Or maybe just to appease Jason, since he’s been asking since I moved back home?” I added.

  He turned serious eyes on me as he bent his elbows on the arms of
the chair. “That’s what you think?”

  I shook my head. “I’m not sure what to think. That’s why I’m asking. We're being completely honest, right?”

  His eyelids fluttered as he nodded.

  I paused, carefully considering my next words. An image of the night of my tenth birthday floated to mind. I swallowed deeply, closing my eyes, willing the pain of that memory down. How do you confront the man who’d never wanted you?

  “How come you never wanted me?” The words fell from my lips. I hadn’t meant to ask it like that, but they just came out.

  My father was just as taken aback as I was. His entire body had stiffened for a moment before I caught his Adam’s apple bob up and down.

  “Damn. You’re not pulling any punches, huh?”

  “No, I guess therapy sessions have a way of helping me say what’s on my mind.”

  “Therapy?”

  I nodded. “Recently started seeing a therapist. For, you know…” I waved my hand in the air.

  “It’s helpful. I saw one for a few years.”

  That had me sitting back in my chair.

  “I know, it’s a little shocking, but I had to. I got to a point where I knew I couldn’t go on like I was. Everyone and everything around me felt fake. Hell, even Jason wasn’t speaking to me much.”

  “Really?” I’d never known there was a rift in my brother and father’s relationship.

  “It’s true. But to answer your question,” he paused, running his hand over his head. “It wasn’t about not wanting you. It was my selfishness. When you were growing up, I barely looked passed my wants beyond making sure you all were provided for. I knew, or thought I knew, what it took to raise a son, but when you were born I decided to let your mother do all the heavy lifting. It wasn’t fair to her or you. I know that now. I wish I’d known it then.”