Brunch at Bittersweet Café
Page 37
The others murmured their agreement, and Ana sank back into her seat and picked up her dessert fork. But Bryan’s curiosity was piqued. Ana was perhaps the most professional, focused person he knew besides his own dad. When had she learned how to pull espresso shots? What else did she know about coffee?
He barely kept the questions to himself until the supper was over, and he purposely lingered until everyone but the girls and their boyfriends and Ana were left. He moved to Ana’s side. “I don’t suppose the offer is still open? I wouldn’t mind a cortado right now.”
Ana studied him for a second and then cracked a smile. “You just want to see if I can really do it.”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Well, I can, but it’s not worth getting the machine dirty for one shot. But if it’s a challenge, I’m willing to take it. We’ll come in at the close of business and I’ll show you.”
“It’s a plan. Tell me where and when.”
“I will.”
Bryan chose his next words carefully. “How did you learn all this?”
Ana shrugged. “Like most people did. Needed a part-time job. I was a decent barista and made good tips. It was a good way to get extra spending money.”
“What else do you know about coffee?”
“A bit about flavor and bean selection, but nothing about the actual mechanics of the roasting. Why?”
Bryan hadn’t even fully formulated why he was asking, but it came out of his mouth all the same. “When I get the business up and running, I’m going to need an operations manager. Someone who understands business and marketing and publicity, and has some coffee experience too, so it all sounds natural. I don’t suppose that’s something you’d be interested in?”
“I’m flattered that you’d ask. But I like my job. I’m good at my job, and I don’t intend on leaving it anytime soon.” Ana’s eyes took on a mischievous twinkle. “Besides, you couldn’t afford me.”
He laughed, genuinely surprised. “Probably not. Would you ever consider being a consultant?”
“I might consider it.” She gave him a secretive smile. “Good night, Bryan.”
She slipped back into the kitchen, ostensibly to say good-bye, but she never came back. Bryan sat down in one of the vacated seats, his mind buzzing. Until now he hadn’t really thought about it, but he did need an operations manager. He would be completely consumed with the importing and the roasting. He hadn’t given much consideration to everything else that would need to be done to actually sell his beans and make a profit. Messaging, packaging, sales and distribution. Suddenly, the month that he’d given himself to find a place seemed ridiculously naive. If he didn’t have the other elements in place, he’d be hemorrhaging money while he figured it all out. And that was the dumbest business move he could make.
He absolutely needed help. And now he was pretty certain that Ana was the one to give it.
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