He’s a bit taller than Nick, but they’re both in Wranglers, flannel shirts, and sporting a five o'clock shadow. You know, the cowboy uniform.
"I believe in this idea, so at least let me give you my spiel before you kick me out," I say, stalling them as they open their mouths.
"Fine. You can talk as we set up the bar,” Jason says.
I launch into my pitch, telling them how being a part of a franchise in Texas will benefit them. Nick will create all the signature recipes, and they’ll have control over designs, as well as being the face of the company, while we provide the financial backing and split the profits. I lay it all out, complete with graphs, predictions, and marketing.
They let me talk and look over it all, but the moment I'm done they don't hesitate. "Our answer is still no. I'm sorry you wasted your time today," Jason says. Nick nods his head in agreement.
I cock my head. These two are hard to read. Usually, something in my presentation catches a client's interest but they couldn’t have cared less.
"Can I ask what you don’t like about my proposal?" If I know their objections, I have something to work with.
"We’re small town folks,” Nick says. “I could work in any restaurant in Dallas, but I stay here because of my family and the people."
"When I inherited this place it was just some hole in the wall,” Jason adds. “Yeah, I've expanded it but it's still WJ's Rocks Springs. You want to take the personality out of it and mass produce it. You want to take it from a mom and pop place to a major chain. Look around this town. There’s nothing here. No chains but the Dairy Queen."
"All this corporate stuff isn't for us. Let me walk you out," Nicks says.
"I'll take her. I need to go talk to Ella, anyway,” Jason says. “She and Megan will be wanting the gossip as soon as this one leaves town."
"Tell Ella to pass it on to her sister so she isn't hounding me all day, too," Nick smirks.
They must read my confusion as I'm packing up my papers.
"Nick is married to Megan, who’s my wife's sister," Jason says.
"Business partner and family. It really is like an old country song," I say as I turn to leave. "Thank you for your time. But I don't give up so easily."
"Don't suspect you do. It’ll take a lot more than you’ve come up with to win us over." Jason opens the door for me.
I walk across the dirt and gravel parking lot and turn to tell Jason I’ll talk to him soon when it all happens in slow motion.
As I turn, the rocks under my foot move and my heel catches. When I try to steady myself with my other foot, it ends up in a small pothole and twists. I hear a snap and my legs give out.
Jason can't get to me fast enough and a searing pain hits my temple as I fall. Then the world goes black.