4: 4
I took a deep breath.
Publishing the books was out of the question.
My hot pot restaurant was part of a chain. The moment I laid out the cost of every item, my other locations could get dragged into it too.
But right now, I also had to clear my restaurant's name.
Over the noise, I looked at the two Fox sisters.
"You think running a hot pot place is easy money, don't you?"
"Of course," Melissa said. "How else did you buy that BMW?"
I nodded. "All right. How about I sign the whole place over to you two sisters? Give you a shot at making real money."
Melissa eyed me warily. "We don't have the cash to buy out a restaurant."
"I know you don't."
My tone stayed level. "All you have to do is mortgage your family's house to me, and I'll transfer the restaurant to you. Within one year, you just pay me a three-hundred-grand transfer fee, and everything you earn after that is yours. At the rate this place makes money, you'll have it back in a few months."
Melissa's eyes lit up. She whipped her head around to Gretchen, and the two of them traded a look they couldn't keep the excitement out of.
"You mean it?"
Her voice actually cracked. "Three hundred grand and the place is ours?"
"In black and white. We'll write up a contract."
Melissa didn't waste a second. She yanked out her phone, fingers trembling, scrolled to her contacts and made a call. The moment it connected she was practically shouting, "Mom, someone wants to sign their hot pot restaurant over to us cheap! Three hundred grand! We've got two years to pay it off!"
There was a pause on the other end, then Pansy Fox's shrill voice came through. "What?! Three hundred grand to take over a hot pot place? Is your head full of water? Which restaurant? How big? Is it a good location?"
"It's the one we're working at, business is unbelievable! The owner said it herself, all we have to do is mortgage the house!"
Pansy: "Mortgage the house?! And if it goes under, the three of us sleep on the street?"
"It won't go under, Mom!"
Melissa stamped her foot. "This place pulls in fifty, sixty grand a month! We'll make it back in a few months. I can buy you a whole new house after that!"
Pansy went quiet for a few seconds, and when she spoke her voice had clearly softened. "It's really that good? Then why is she handing it off?"
"Because she doesn't want to do it anymore, she says it's too much work!"
"Mom, hurry up and get here before she changes her mind. Bring the property deed! Move it!"
Melissa hung up shaking all over, her whole face flushed with excitement.
Gretchen tugged at her sleeve, just as thrilled. "Sis, are we really about to be the bosses?"
"Of course!"
Melissa tipped her chin up high and looked at me sideways. "Frieda, don't you go backing out on us now. All these people heard it. We're signing the contract today."
Ian slapped his thigh. "Now that's what I call guts. A lot better than some tightfisted owners!"
The woman customer smiled sweetly. "Melissa and Gretchen taking over is going to be way better than now. At least they know how to run promotions and bring people in, not like some people who just sit there staring at the books."
The man in glasses gave Melissa a thumbs-up. "I'm rooting for you. Once you're doing those free-food deals, I'll come every single day. Just don't turn into some owners who make a little money and forget who they are."
Melissa cocked the corner of her mouth, pleased with herself. "Don't worry, Jayden. Not only are we keeping the free food, we're adding discounts. Twenty percent off with a student ID, free dessert for every returning customer!"
Several tables cheered right away. "Yes! That's the spirit. From now on it's you two sisters for us!"
The whole place buzzed like a holiday. Only one person didn't look right.
Pamela had her lips pressed white, fists clenched tight.
She opened her mouth, her voice coming out rough. "Melissa, you can't sign that contract."
Melissa's head snapped around, glaring at her. "What's that supposed to mean? You think we can't handle it?"
"That's not what I—"
"Then don't talk!"
Melissa waved her off, annoyed. "Once my mom gets here and we sign, this place runs by our word. If you want, you can stay on. As for pay..."
She dragged the word out on purpose and shot me a glance. "It'll definitely be higher than what somebody's been paying you."
The customers roared with laughter.
I just smiled and said nothing.
That same day, I signed the contract with the Fox sisters.
They spent a week running around, quickly pulling together all the permits and licenses, and even changed the restaurant's name.
They called it the Fox Sisters Hot Pot.
On opening day they set off strings of firecrackers, lined the entrance with two rows of flower baskets, and strung up a banner.
Out front they propped a big red poster that read: "Grand Opening Special. Follow the two sisters' account for free menu items."
The first week, there was a line out the door every day.
Melissa counted money at the register until her hand cramped, and posted that night: "First week as a boss, exhausted and loving it!"
The photo was a stack of cash.
But it wasn't long before she couldn't smile anymore.
