I Do

Chapter 4

Working for Ethan Beckett was a completely different ball game than what Josie was used to at Rank Media. Basically, it was all that she was at the advertising agency, pressed down and shaken together. The new job might have been a welcome change of pace but the biggest change Josie had to deal with was working for a person who actually saw his work through. She had found a delicate balance between running Ethan’s schedule and still maintaining her own work at the office. The best thing about her new job was the simple fact that she felt appreciated for every small task. Even her smallest suggestion was accepted with great respect. A week into her job and Josie found herself wondering why the universe had taken so long to connect her to Ethan’s company. After three weeks in the job, she could do everything with her eyes closed.

It was a Thursday evening when Josie ticked off the last thing to do on her list. She only had to hand in her daily report to Ethan and then her day was done. It was going to be the first time she got home before eight in the evening and she just wanted some quality time with Dani. She knocked softly on Ethan’s door and waited for him to invite her in.

“Mr. Beckett, I just wanted to submit the daily report,” she said in a soft voice.

“Come on in, Josie. Just put it there,” Ethan said as he flipped through the photographs he was holding. “I doubt I have to read it through. You always do such a good job with these reports.”

“I will take that as a compliment.”

Ethan smiled at her.

“You should. That is exactly what it was meant to be.”

Josie put the report on his desk and looked at his messy desk. She frowned.

“Did I maybe miss something? Your desk is cluttered and I could have sworn I took care of everything.”

He looked up from the photos he was looking at and sighed before he set the photos on the desk.

“I am just looking into a new investment opportunity. Or rather three different opportunities,” he said as he looked at her. “Heading out?”

“Well, if there is nothing else,” she said and he nodded.

“I’m fine here. I don’t want to keep you waiting.”

“If there is anything I can do to help you make your decision, I wouldn’t mind weighing in on whatever is on your mind.”

Ethan looked at her for a long second and raised an eyebrow over the other.

“Really?” he asked and she nodded.

“Yeah, really.”

“Okay, for a long time, my brand has been concerned with fast food and coffee houses but I have been thinking of expanding to include pizza because let’s face it, everyone loves pizza, right?” he asked and Josie nodded as she sat down.

“Yeah, everyone loves pizza.”

“That is what I thought but here’s the kicker.” He leaned forward. “The pizza house I am thinking of introducing to the fold is run by this old man, Luigi Bertolli. I first had his pizza when I was in New York and I swear, it was like being in old Italy. They have old school ovens and they actually process their own mozzarella cheese. That place is as authentic as it comes.”

She looked at him and shrugged.

“I like what I am hearing, so far.”

“The thing is, Luigi will only sell if the place sells as is. Recipes and everything.”

Josie raised an eyebrow over the other.

“I don’t see the problem.”

“I thought I made the right choice when I suggested making a few changes. You know, modern equipment and everything so that I can make the pizza a national thing. I mean, it is just too good to have it for New Yorkers alone.”

She nodded.

“Sounds like a good plan,” she said.

“Luigi will not have the modern setting. He says the whole idea of authenticity is highly dependent on how the kitchen is set up and while I want this, I don’t know how I am going to set up a coal stove in a modern building. Hell, no one will touch that franchise if they know that I plan on going old school with the kitchen model.”

“So, that’s it?” Josie asked.

“It is a rock and a hard place situation. The second one is taking over a property in Napa. A vineyard.”

“Wine is always a good business venture,” she said and he sighed.

“I know, right?”

“Yeah, everyone thought a friend of mine had lost it when she talked about setting up a winery inside a bookstore.”

“How is the business doing now?” he asked and Josie smiled.

“Great. Apparently, people love sipping on wine while reading the latest from their favorite authors.”

“See, that is the kind of forward-thinking that makes wine a great investment but then I also have a third option. Clothing.”

Josie nodded and shrugged.

“Would you like to hear my two cents?” she asked and Ethan nodded.

“Your cents have been highly valued since you came on board,” he said. “Let me know what you think.”

“Clothing is a little overdone and overrated. Every celebrity out there has his or her own clothing or make-up line. Another clothing line would be a little cliché, to be honest. I think your two real contenders are the pizza and wine. If you only have to choose one, I would say either. But I really think the pizza thing could work if it is as good as you say it is.”

“Trust me, it is. I have never tasted anything like it… The difference between Luigi’s pizza and every other pizza we have in the country is simple. There is a taste…a special, smoky, perfectly fresh taste. I really think it could be great.”

“Then, that is what you go with. If you have to buy the building to have the traditional ovens, then that is the price you will have to pay.”

Ethan smiled.

“So, you are suggesting I buy out every building that I intend on housing the pizza joint?” he asked. “You know that is not economically feasible, right?”

“For anyone else, not at all but for Ethan Beckett, it is a piece of cake.” Josie grinned. “I don’t want to sound cocky or anything but I know how much you are worth. At least what Wikipedia has on your page.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair.

“Okay, I’ll give you that but there is also the little matter of zoning commissions across the states which are all different and they don’t always sway the way you may want “

“Just let me know where you would like these pizza joints to be and I will look into my contacts,” Josie pointed out.

“That sounds like a plan What about the wine?”

Josie shook her head.