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“Let me get this straight,” I said. “You want me to sign these documents so we can bulldoze the restaurant and build a casino? Here? In the middle of Manhattan?”
Luca nodded happily. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“Luca, this is…I don’t know what to say?”
“Exciting, huh?” said Luca.
“Ridiculous,” I said.
Luca stared at me. We were both motionless. Around us, the restaurant continued to chatter and hum, as lunch service went on.
“This iscrazy,” I said. “Luca,The Blue Orchid’sfive years old and it’s already one of the most popular restaurants in the city. And you want to just…tear it down?”
“But, the casino…” said Luca, helplessly.
“The casino’s acrock,” I said. “Those licenses aren’t for the city. They’re state-wide. And you know what that means? It means that there’s no way the mayor’s going to let us build a goddamn gambling den in the middle of the Upper East Side. Even if I did okay this—which I’m not, by the way, I would never, ever okay this. The Blue Orchid is my flagship restaurant. It’s the most profitable restaurant in America, and I am not going to let it be broken just because you’re looking for an easy fix.”
“I think if you just take a look—”
“I’m not taking a look!” I snarled, and suddenly I felt like a storm cloud had gathered around me. I’d squared my shoulders in the booth, and Luca seemed to have shrunk back. “You’re an idiot—you’re behaving like a child. And when it was just ordering champagne and comping your buddies’ tables, it was fine. But you’ve disappointed me, Luca. And you’ve nearly embarrassed yourself. Jesus, you didn’t tell Zeke or anyone else about this, did you? Theshareholdersdon’t know, do they?”
“No…but…” said Luca.
“But nothing. This is serious. I can’t explain just what a tremendous waste of my time this is. How much did these plans cost you?”
Then, I saw Luca’s body jerk. It was like watching a kid have a tantrum. He threw his hands into the papers and turned them over. There was an enormous rustling thump, as the documents went spilling over the side of the table.
“We’ll see just who’sembarrassed,” hissed Luca. He stood, and left the restaurant.
Cherise arrived, with a bottle of sparkling water and a glass of Gavi in her hands.
“Did Mr. Desilva leave?” said Cherise. “I’ve got his wine…”
“I think I’ll have it, Cherise,” I said, dumbstruck. “And can you get the busboy to put these in the garbage?” I said, gesturing at the stacks of upturned papers on the table.
***
“You really didn’t have to do him like that,” said Zeke, when I explained what happened. It was the end of lunch service, and we were sitting at the bar.
“I know,” I said. “I was just…angry. This place is my home. Our home.”
“I understand,” he said, flipping his ginger hair to one side of his face. “But you know what I’m going to say.”
“That I should apologize?” I said, weakly. “Control my temper? Take a meditation class?”
“Yup,” grinned Zeke. “So, did he get anyone to work on this?”
“No. From the looks of that shoddy architect’s plan, he probably designed and financed it all himself. Who knows how much money he’s sunk from his own pile into R&D. Let alone how much ofours.”
Zeke nodded.
“How are you guys getting on here?” I said. “How’s Lola?”
“Incredible,” said Zeke. “Ain’t that right, Andy?”
Andy looked up from behind the bar and nodded. “She ain’t too clever with her Burgundies yet. But she could go in for winesommeliertraining if she wanted, boss. Girl knows her stuff.”
“Actually I think she’d be a good fit for Shift Manager,” said Zeke. “Since Charley left I’ve been doing it myself.”
