Domination (Explicitly Yours 2)

“I thought the hard part was over,” she said. “But we still have a lot of work ahead of us.”

“It’ll all come together, babe. Don’t stress.” He massaged her, and she relaxed back in her seat. “Sure you don’t want to come? Just for a few hours?”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll get everything in order, and we can sit down when you get home.”

“Cool. They’ll be pissed about the potato salad,” he teased.

She smiled a little. Potato salad didn’t seem like such a big deal anymore, now that she was lying about a death in her family. “Swing by Pavilions on your way. Nobody’ll even know the difference.”

He kissed the top of her head and lingered there a moment. “Of course they will. You make it the best.” He straightened up, ruffled her hair and left the kitchen.

Lola glanced at her computer screen. When she’d researched Beau before their night together, she’d come across a feature a few years back naming him as one of Los Angeles’s top investors in startup companies. Lola searched for the article. Each featured investor had been quoted alongside their stats. At the time, she hadn’t given Beau’s piece much thought. But now it seemed worth revisiting.

“I’m looking at the people just as much as the project. Without those who are willing to work hard and sacrifice, a company won’t make it. There’s no lack of good ideas or passion out there, but building something with your own two hands takes endurance.”

Beau had passion for his work. She hadn’t realized it until they’d talked about it at the gala. He’d also toiled, stayed dedicated, overcome defeat. Regardless of how he flaunted his money or that he’d treated her like a commodity, he’d earned all of his dollars, and there was something to be said for that.

Having passion was the easy part. If she and Johnny didn’t even have that, how would they make this work?

* * *

They went to Mitch that Tuesday afternoon. He listened to their offer, his face more saggy than normal while he stared at them across his desk. When Johnny finished, it was a few moments before anyone spoke.

“I’m just a little…” Mitch seemed to struggle for words. “I didn’t really expect you to pull this off. Where’s this money coming from?”

“I told you Lola’s relative passed away,” Johnny said. “He also left her some money.”

“I thought you said you found out about him this weekend. You came to me last week and asked me to wait for your offer.”

“Well, we found out last week,” Johnny said. “We just weren’t sure if the money would come through, but it will. It didn’t really hit Lola until Sunday, which is why she needed me there.”

“Right. Sorry to bring it up. Lola, this is what you want to do with your money?”

“Yes. And it’s our money,” she said. “This is Johnny’s dream. I don’t want there to be any question about who’s in charge.”

“What about you?” Mitch asked.

The night before, Johnny had caught Lola on the Santa Monica College website, browsing through the degree programs. “I’m thinking of going back to school,” she’d said.

“But Hey Joe will require all of our time and money now,” he’d said. “Your words.”

It was true—she’d said that. And school would always be there. But they could end up in trouble if they weren’t careful, and neither of them had any business experience. She’d agreed and let it go. She’d already missed registration anyway.

“I’m completely on board,” Lola said to Mitch. With or without the education, she was dedicated to making this work. “But Johnny’s the one sailing this ship.”

“Six hundred K,” Johnny said. “That’s a pretty sweet offer, Mitch.”

“It is, but—”

Lola curled her hands in her lap. “But what? You said that would be enough.”

“I did say that, yes. When Walken found out I needed more time because I was hearing another proposal, he upped his offer.”

“To how much?” Johnny asked. Lola closed her eyes.

“Eight hundred,” Mitch said.

The room was quiet. Lola shook her head and looked at Mitch again. “That’s ridiculously high.”

Mitch shrugged. “I know.”

“I researched the value of nearby businesses,” Lola said. “Six hundred was too high. Eight hundred is just…”

“Too much,” Mitch said.

“Hank can’t possibly think he’s getting a deal.”

Mitch nodded. “I’m agreeing with you. But I’m going to turn down an extra two hundred because the guy’s an idiot?”

“We can do eight hundred,” Johnny said.

Lola turned to him. “Johnny—”

“Mitch, listen to me,” Johnny said, putting his hands on the edge of the desk. “We’ll take it for eight hundred. We’ve got our hearts set on it. But please don’t let Walken drive it any higher. Promise me here, now, as my friend of over twelve years—this is everything I’ve got.”

Mitch sighed. “I can’t promise—”

“Mitch.” Johnny leaned forward. His fingers pressed down until they were white. “Do you really want to see your dad’s place ruined for a little more money? Don’t get greedy, man. Don’t sell out. You know Lola and I will keep your dad’s vision alive.”

Johnny was at the edge of his seat, practically falling forward onto his knees. The last time she’d seen him so impassioned was when he was asking her nineteen-year-old self to quit her self-destructive lifestyle so they could be together. This big-picture excitement was what she needed from him, but it had to trickle down to the routine parts of running a business too.

“Son of a bitch,” Mitch said. “You’d better not let me down.”

“So we have a deal?” Johnny asked, standing.

“Just don’t mention that last part to Barb, all right?” Mitch said. “She finds out I could’ve gotten more money and she’ll have my neck.”

Lola wasn’t sure what to feel. It was what they’d wanted, but that money would cut into their already limited budget.

“I have to tell you, tho

ugh,” Mitch continued, “the landlord’s wary of the whole thing. His dad dealt with my dad, and our families have done business since opening day. He wants six months’ rent upfront plus a security deposit.”

“What’s that look like?” Lola asked.

“Deposit is thirty grand, and with half a year’s rent you’re looking at over a hundred K.”

Lola and Johnny exchanged glances. That would mean they’d be going forward with less than a hundred thousand to fall back on. It didn’t seem like enough.

“It’s not a problem,” Johnny said.

Lola touched his forearm. “Maybe we should take a minute and think about this.”

“We’ll still have enough,” he said quietly. “It’s not as much as we set aside for renovations, but it’s enough to get started.”

“What about advertising?”

“We’ll worry about that later, once we get some profit coming in.” Lola was about to explain there might not be any profits if they couldn’t get customers in the door, but Johnny cut her off by reaching out to shake Mitch’s hand. “Thanks, man. Really, I mean it.”

“Can’t wait to see what you do with the place. Why don’t you two take the night off? Go do something fun.”

“You’re giving us another night?” Lola asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Just one. As a congratulations.” He sat back at his desk. “It could be a while before you both get another night off together.”

They thanked Mitch and headed out to the parking lot together. Time alone was just what they needed. It was what they deserved after everything they’d been through.

Johnny surprised Lola by picking her up and spinning her around. “Can you fucking believe it?” he said, grinning. “We’re doing it. Buying a goddamn bar.”

Lola smiled despite the pit in her stomach. “I think I’m still in shock.”

“Not me. I’ve been ready for years.”

“We should change the name to Hey Johnny,” she joked.