"Pescatarian, dear," his wife corrects gently. "I do still eat fish."
"That's right, my mistake." Iflash an understanding smile at the wife before turning back to the stubborn potential investor. "Well, think of it like this. Imagine taking your wife out to a nice restaurant, but the only veggie option is some sad side salad or rubbery tofu. Meanwhile, your steak and potatoes looks amazing. She'd feel pretty overlooked, right?"
The man nods slowly. "Yeah, okay, I get your point. She'd hate that." He glances at her. "In fact, I'd never hear the fucking end of it."
She slaps him on the arm. "Oh, Steven. Don't be an asshole in front of company. Save that for when we're home by ourselves."
I try to avoid their awkward banter, pretending I didn't hear it. "Exactly. Here at Aria's, we want to make every guest feel special and accounted for. That's how you provide a true oasis from the stresses of everyday life." I lift my glass. "So give the mocktail another try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."
The man sniffs his drink and takes a tentative sip. His eyebrows raise in surprise. "Huh. That's actually pretty damn good." He takes a longer draw from the straw, nodding in satisfaction. "In fact, I wouldn't mind having something like this instead of a stiff drink after work once in a while."
I grin and wink at Devon and Dom who are seated at the bar and saw the whole interaction go down. Their smiles tell me they knew I could win him over. With the right balance of charm, wit and understanding, even the toughest critics can be swayed… one opinionated asshole at a time. And that personal touch is what will make Aria's a smashing success.
I make my way through the mingling guests, checking on the passed hors d'oeuvres and mocktails. So far everything seems to be going smoothly. The servers are gracious and attentive, the food delicious and artfully presented. Twinkling lights and tiki torches cast a warm glow over the scene. I breathe in the heady sea air, taking a moment to soak it all in.
This dream made real—my very own restaurant and oasis by the sea. All the years of hard work and sacrifice have led me here. Whatever happens with the investors tonight, I'm proud of what I've built. I don't need them, per se—I've saved enough to be able to make this one hundred percent mine. But myambition means an injection of cash from investors would help me make my dreams come true at a faster rate.
A commotion from the kitchen area catches my attention. Raised voices filter out from the back. I hurry over, a knot forming in my stomach.
Pushing through the doors, I'm met with a shocking sight. Two of my newest hires, tipsy and half undressed, are making out in the walk-in cooler. Bottles and trays are knocked over, my meticulously prepared food strewn on the floor.
Rage wells up inside me. How could they sabotage this important night with their carelessness? I storm over and yank them apart.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I yell. They stare back sheepishly. "The guests out there have entrusted me with an important decision tonight. Your actions could ruin everything!"
I point angrily at the back door. "You're done here. I'm calling you an Uber. Go home and sober up before you cause any more problems."
They scurry out, their heads hung in shame. I start cleaning up their mess, my blood boiling. It's hard to find good help these days when it comes to hospitality workers, and this behavior is nothing new. I'll deal with them later. For now, the night must go on.
With the kitchen chaos handled, I take a deep breath to collect myself before heading back out to the dining area. The investors are sequestered in the restaurant's private dining room to discuss their verdict on funding my business.
I pace back and forth, my nerves fraying as the minutes tick by. If they don't enjoy their experience, even though I might not technically need their financing, these people are exceptionally well connnected in the hospitality community, and their word of mouth could do untold damage.
Trying to stay calm, I run through possible scenarios in my head. Maybe they want me to tweak the concept or menu before committing. I could work with that. As long as they believe in me enough to invest in some capacity.
The door opens and the investors file back into the main dining room. I hold my breath, bracing for their response.
The head investor steps forward, face unreadable. "We've reached a decision," he announces. "We need to face that the market here is saturated. Not manyrestaurants are able to withstand the competition or the constraints of doing business on an island with the associated food costs."
My heart sinks, but before I give up entirely with my dreams shattered, the man continues. "However, we see real potential in you and this concept. Gone are the days when tourists are satisfied with a chain restaurant being replicated from the mainland. People visiting these islands want something different, new, exciting—without pushing it too far."
Hope flares in my chest, my stomach un-contorting itself.
"We want to move forward with a substantial investment. One that will allow you to grow this business faster than you imagined."
Relief washes over me. We did it! My team exchanges excited looks as I shake hands with the investors. The future is bright for my little oasis by the sea.
I'm floating on a wave of euphoria when a worrying thought hits me—what if the investors want creative control? My concept is deeply personal. The menu carefully crafted. I can't let anyone compromise that. There must be a catch.
As the investors discuss logistics, I interrupt. "Before this goes further, I need to know I'll retain full creative control. The concept, the menu— that's non-negotiable."
The head investor looks surprised, then laughs. "Of course! We're just here to support you financially. This is your vision—we'd never dream of stifling that."
I exhale in relief. We're on the same page.
"I can't wait to see what you dream up next," he continues with a wink. "Just save a table for us—this place is going to be the hottest spot in town, and just like you, we need a fantastic venue because we have our own investors to impress! Although, from what you've showed us tonight, they'll all be thrilled that this establishment is part of our portfolio."
The investors depart in high spirits, leaving me to debrief with my team. We did it. The future is ours. With the shrewd business sense I've honed over the years, and the unwavering support of my men behind the scenes, success is inevitable.