Read Online Annihilate Me by Christina Ross - Free Book Online Page A

negotiated
the price?”
    “I
did, but I wouldn’t call it a negotiation.   He just agreed to it.   I
probably could have asked for a million and I would have received it.   But I’m not worth that.   What I’m worth is five hundred
thousand.   Considering what I’ve
already done for Wenn when it comes to Stavros Shipping, and especially
considering what most consultants make in this city and in this business,
that’s a fair wage.   I never would
take advantage of him, and I know I can do the job.”
    “There
will be a lot of expectations with that kind of money.”
    “I’m
fine with that.”
    She
smiled at me, and while I could tell that she was happy for me, there was
something in her smile that seemed almost sad.   “So, what do you think you’re going to
do?”
    “I
really love my job at the restaurant.”
    “I
know you do.”
    “You
know how much I think of Stephen.   He’s been nothing but good to me.   But I came here for more than that.   I hope that doesn’t make me sound ungrateful, because I’m not.   He and Mr. Boulud gave me a wonderful
opportunity.   In fact, besides Wenn,
they’re the only ones who gave me an opportunity.   What they did for me means a great
deal.”
    “It’s
not as if they didn’t get something out of it, regardless of how brief your
time might be with them.   And your
dreams never were to run a restaurant, Jennifer.”
    “They
weren’t.   But if I leave them, I’ll
still feel guilty.”
    “You
once told me that your job there is coveted.”
    “It
is.”
    “So,
don’t you think they’ll find a replacement sooner rather than later?”
    I
hadn’t considered that.   I knew they
would.   db Bistro was among the
city’s best restaurants.   Of course
they’d find someone soon, probably someone in-house.   Or maybe someone from a competing
restaurant.   The pay was good and if
you wanted to be in the restaurant business, having db Bistro on your resume
would be very attractive.  
    “What
do you owe them, really?   You’ve
done your job.   You signed no
contract to stay for any length of time.   You’ve been professional and did everything they’ve asked of you.   New offers come to people every
day.   Can they match five hundred
grand?   I’m thinking they
can’t.   Anyone would jump at the
opportunity you’re being offered.   Ask yourself this.   Do you
think Stephen would leave the restaurant for that kind of money.”
    “I
have no idea.”
    “Really?   Even if it advanced his career.”
    “He
might.”
    “What
do you think he earns?”
    “I
did some research on that before I went to them.   For very good restaurants like db, a
general manager can make as much as two hundred thousand.”
    “And
Stephen wouldn’t leave if he was offered an additional three hundred thousand
to go somewhere else?   Come on,
Jennifer.   Get real.   This is business we’re talking
about.   It’s not personal.”
    “It
feels personal.”
    “Well
it shouldn’t.   But that’s just
you.   Let me ask you the real
question here.   Is this something
you’d like to explore with Wenn?”
    I
shrugged.   “Working at Wenn would
allow me two things.   First, it’s a
dream job.   I’ll be able to become
the true business junky that I am and assist the corporation with any number of
ideas and strategies.   That excites
me.   Alex will make that happen for
me—and he’ll listen to me.   He
takes me seriously.   Second, I’ll be
able to be with Alex, which also is important to me.   If we’re going to make a go of this
budding relationship, Lisa, I need to be able to spend time with him.”
    “I
understand that.   It’s not going to
work otherwise.”  
    This
time I saw a fleeting look of concern cross her face, and then it
disappeared.  
    “What
are you thinking about?” I asked.
    “Nothing,”
she said.
    “Come
on, Lisa.   Be honest with me.   We know each other better than we know
ourselves.”
    She
looked up at me