[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
my cake.
What do you mean, your cake? You ve been in
the heat too long, she said, turning her back on
him. Infuriated, he stepped to her table, grabbed
her shoulders and spun her around.
Get your hands off me! Lena demanded,
knocking them from her shoulders.
98
That cake is mine! Jackson yelled, jabbing his
finger at her, his self-control blown away like a
dandelion puff in the wind. I used to serve that
cake to all my clients. Now you show up with it
here. Where did you get the recipe? It s mine, I tell
you!
No, it s not! Lena shouted back. I invented it.
It s never been yours.
I demand that you give me the cake!
Lena picked up a plate of cake and smashed it
into Jackson s face. There s your freakin cake!
Happy now?
Quietly, Jackson used a napkin to clear cake and
frosting from his glasses and eyes, then just as
quietly picked up a cup of soup and poured it over
Lena s head, slipping an ice cube down her blouse
for good measure. Sputtering and jumping as the
ice slid down her back, she picked up two plates of
cake.
Jackson couldn t hear what she was saying any
more because his ears were stuffed with cake and
icing. After he cleared them, he found the courage
to ask a crucial question.
Did you supply that cake to other caterers, say,
more than a year ago?
Well, of course, I did. I had to start
somewhere, and in the beginning I subcontracted
desserts for many companies. I ve found enough
clients that I haven t had to do that much lately,
but, yes, I used to, all the time.
The same thought struck them both
simultaneously.
You used to subcontract for Yankee Elegance
Catering, he said.
No, I didn t, she insisted. I remember selling
cake to Goodies N More, White Glove Catering,
Dandridge Enterprises
Dandridge Enterprises. That was my fiancee s
side business Jackson began.
99
and that s why I don t recall selling cakes to
Yankee Elegance Catering, Lena said, finishing the
thought.
And my ex-fiancée lied, saying she d made the
cake. I should ve known better. Tess couldn t bake
worth a damn. Lena, I m sorry, very sorry. I don t
know what got into me.
Jackson, I m the one who should apologize,
pushing cake in your face and ears
and I m sorry I poured soup on you. I m a
jerk.
So am I, Lena admitted.
If you two are done kissing and making up,
maybe you could take care of a customer.
They turned, answering as one, Yes?
An odd-looking little man in garish golf clothes
stuck his hand out, offering business cards. I ll get
straight to the point. I m Harold Bradley, Director of
Recruitment at a local company, UniMed Health
Care. You may have heard of us?
They looked at each other in surprise. You re a
for-profit health care provider, as I recall, Jackson
said. I used to hold some of your stock in my
personal account when I worked as an analyst at
Murphy, Brown, and Manser.
The big MBM. Good company. Ethically upright,
in contrast to so many others going down the tubes
these days. I like working with a caterer who
understands business, unlike so many artsy types
who do food, Bradley snorted. How the hell did
you end up in catering after working at MBM? And
please don t tell me you followed your bliss.
Jackson stood taller before answering, for he
understood the rules of the good-ole-boy network.
Seven years analyzing the restaurant and food
industries, sir. I left, despite an offer to move into
management.
___________________
100
Lena whipped her head around to study him.
Financial analyst? No wonder Jackson drove a
Mercedes. Why wasn t he still doing that, if money
was so important to him? She d bet his position had
been chock-full of pay and perks.
Leaving MBM sounds stupid to me, Bradley
said.
Not at all, sir, Jackson continued, unruffled by
the stupid comment. The knowledge I gained
about the food business combined with the healthy
salary and bonuses I earned made it possible for
Yankee Elegance Catering to be born. I m small
now, but I won t be for long. If you become a
favored client, I guarantee you preferential
treatment when Yankee Elegance becomes the
biggest caterer in Massachusetts.
Lena didn t like the sound of his veiled brag, but
she kept her face straight. With a Mr. Corporate
Moneybags standing before them, who knew where
the conversation might lead? It could be the huge
break she d been praying for, but only if she could
make Jackson shut up.
Mr. Bradley, SweetKakes is a full-service
caterer, but we specialize in desserts and
appetizers. We, too, could offer you special
treatment. And our prices are the most competitive
in the area. From the corner of her eye she caught
Jackson s glare. She smiled smugly. Two could play
this game.
Bradley shifted his weight from one foot to
another and glanced at his watch. Both of you quit
pitching to me. You re wasting my time, he said.
I m meeting my wife and friends at the Thoreau
Country Club s Nineteenth Hole Lounge, so let s get
to it. Either of you cater a job fair before?
Both of them shook their heads, but Jackson
spoke up, You need me to cater a job fair? When?
And for how much? His presumption that Yankee
Elegance Catering had landed the job had her
cutting into the conversation.
101
Sir, SweetKakes Lena began, but Bradley cut
her off.
Both of you shut up, please, before I change
my mind. I want both of you to cater the job fair, if
you think you can refrain from behaving like extras
in Animal House.
Lena exchanged glances with Jackson before she
spoke. Mr. Bradley, we can and we will. I apologize
for our shameful antics today. We were having a
misunderstanding over
I don t give a rat s ass what you were fussing
about, Bradley snapped. The original caterer for
our job fair went belly-up on Friday, and he s not
returning my phone calls. I need another caterer
yesterday. The job fair s Tuesday. It s our first one
in over a year, but health care s a somewhat
recession-proof business. You only need to provide
non-alcoholic drinks, some high-class munchies,
and light dessert. Those powdered cookies look
good, he said, trying one. And they taste even
better. Bring at least a hundred of those. You ll also
need additional staff to man the tables. I assume
you both have hired help?
Of course, sir. Where and when? Jackson said.
Lena watched him take over, impressed despite her
irritated suspicion that he d steal any client of hers
he could if she let him. However, he did appear to
deal with corporate types better than she did.
I told you, Tuesday. Oh, I guess you mean,
what time. Four till eight P.M. Corporate
headquarters, just off Route 20. The address is on
the card. We ll set up in the lobby. Be there no later
than two-thirty we may get some early attendees.
As Jackson opened his mouth to talk about
money, Bradley seemed to read his mind. I m
prepared to give you each a check for five hundred
dollars right now. It s yours to keep should UniMed
call off the job fair. I ll pay whatever else you want
once the fair is over. This is a rush job, so cost
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]