Chapter 29 Tobias
Tobias
I try ringing Elijah’s phone again. The pressure in my head mixed with the pain in my heart is too much.
Come on, E. Don’t do this to me.
Ring. Ring. Voicemail.
I groan, slamming my phone down on the desk.
I should’ve known he’d act like this. No, I did know he’d act like this, which is exactly why I had such a fucking tough time telling him in the first place.
After Claire and Gabe tried to calm me down at the party, I ended up crying myself to sleep. Embarrassingly, might I add.
The next morning, once I knew I was sober enough to drive home, I wasted no time getting there only to find he had already left.
I can’t believe he’d do this to me again.
Always fucking leaving me. After he promised me he’d never do that.
I sniff and wipe the fallen tear off my cheek. I’ve been leaking like a faucet all weekend. I feel so weak without him.
Before, when he wasn’t here, I just felt lonely. But now, knowing he’s this upset with me, I feel empty—like I was once full, and someone carved me out until nothing was left but hollow space.
It’s Monday morning back in the restaurant, and my mind won’t focus on any of the paperwork in front of me.
Kegs need to be ordered, inventory needs to be counted, the schedule needs to be organized.
Yet my mind has one thing on it, and one thing only.
I pick up my phone and dial his number again.
Come on, come on, come on.
Voicemail.
I can’t stop myself. I hurl my phone across the room, wincing as it cracks against the wall. Seconds later, Jude’s picture teeters on its hinges and falls.
My heart sinks as I get up and rush over.
I know I should be upset about my smashed phone. But all I can see is the broken picture frame of Jude.
Picking it up off the ground, I stare down at his smiling face as a wave of devastation hits me all at once.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble, tears free falling onto the cracked glass. “I’m so sorry.” I rub the wetness off but it’s no use. The tears keep coming.
Take care of him. That’s all Jude asked of me. How am I supposed to take care of Elijah when he won’t even talk to me?
Everything is so fucked.
Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door.
I sniff, quickly rubbing the sleeve of my sweater under my nose.
“Uh, come in,” I say, giving myself a few smacks on the cheek to wake me back up as I head back to my desk.
I tuck my chair in as the guest enters the room.
Oh, no.
In walks Paul Hartman. The investor who wants to buy the restaurant during the craziest time of my life.
“Mr. Voss.” He smiles, striding in like the professional man that he is.
I quickly stand and extend my hand, exchanging a firm shake.
“Call me, Tobias.” I motion to the chair across from me. “Please. Take a seat.”
He gives me a wary look. I can only imagine how I look right now. My pale skin does nothing to hide my blush and red swollen eyes.
I’m sure I look like a mess.
Unlike last time, he chooses to sit, leaning back in his chair like he owns the place.
Fuck, I guess that’s the whole point.
“Thought I’d come in to chat with you. Seeing as you haven’t been replying to my emails.” He winks, chewing on his gum.
I cringe. I haven’t been as on top of my emails as I should be.
With everything going on, I feel like the restaurant has sadly taken the brunt of it.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I’ve meant to get back to you.” I hurriedly click on my computer screen, if only to show him how much I care.
He throws his hands up and shakes his hands. “No worries, no worries. Honestly, don’t stress about it. I get it.”
I arch my eyebrow and sit back in my chair. “You do?”
He nods. “Yes. This restaurant means a great deal to the both of you. This isn’t just a deal you’d want to walk into blindly.”
I shake my head. “Definitely not.”
He holds up a finger. “But, I’m not just anyone and I’d like to prove it to you. To you both. If I could talk to Elijah—”
There it is. That wave in my stomach. “Uh…I don’t think that will be possible.”
“He’s not into the idea?” Paul asks.
I look down at the desk. “Honestly? No. He sees it as you trying to get a stake in the game.”
Paul throws back his head in laughter, slapping his knee.
“Honestly, seems like a character. And he’s not completely wrong.
I see what you have here, and I think we’d be great together.
But, it’s not as selfish as he may think.
I’m not only wanting to join in for my sake.
” He stuffs his hand into his pants pocket and fishes out his phone.
Curious, I watch him swipe the screen before turning it towards me.
Right away, I see a bunch of recent reviews. Ranging from good, to bad, to worse.
My eyebrows pinch together as I scroll through. “I don’t understand. What restaurant is this?”
He gives me a straight-lined smile as he looks down at the phone in my hand. “It’s yours.”
My eyes widen as I look back at the screen. “What!?”
Taking another look through, I realize quickly that he’s right. Within the past few weeks, we’ve gotten a handful of shitty reviews talking about the food quality, the atmosphere, and the poor customer service.
“No, no, no.” I mutter, reading them more in-depth.
Paul sighs, sitting back. “Seems to me, the busy season has been taking a toll on you.”
I rake my brain. I thought everything was going fine. But then again, I guess I’ve sort of been…distracted. Not paying close attention to what’s been happening. I could probably be more present.
But how!? How when I’ve got so much going on!?
“I’ll do better.” I rush out.
Paul stands up from his chair, takes back his phone and gives me a sympathetic smile. “Don’t do it for me. But, if I were you, and this restaurant means a lot like you say it does, I’d be talking to Elijah again about our deal. Support isn’t a bad thing.” He shakes his head.
I rub my hand over my mouth, sitting back in my chair. “Yeah…okay, I will.”
Walking over to the door, Paul rests his hand on the doorknob. “Oh, and Tobias?” He turns to look back at me. “Come the new year, if you still don’t want to do this, I’ll be moving on.” He shrugs.
Fuck.
I nod simply. “I understand.”
Paul gives me a curt nod before leaving my office.
Of fucking course he’d be moving on. It only makes sense.
Why does that thought make me feel disappointed?
I rub my hands down my face.
Of course Jude’s Place means a lot to me… but if I keep going the way I’m going, I’m scared that I’m going to run this restaurant into the ground.