Chapter 14

Michelle met with the contractor several times during the first two weeks of the year. She then went to an industrial kitchen equipment supplier to start trying to put a restaurant kitchen together. She started with three commercial gas ranges and one commercial deep fryer. Then looked at gas ovens and several commercial microwaves. She then looked at two fifteen by fifteen foot walk in coolers and several industrial dishwashers. As the two of us brainstormed the opening of the restaurant at night on the sofa, these numbers were really adding up. We had not even scratched the surface and we had accounted for two hundred thousand dollars.

About a month later, the contractor came in with a price of one hundred and forty thousand dollars to renovate the inside of the building. This included the portioning and erection of the kitchen, small office, the dining area, two employee restrooms and two large customer restrooms. All new sheetrock, paint, hardwood floors, lighting, electrical and plumbing with fixtures.

The extra kitchen equipment came to seventy-four thousand dollars with room to expand the kitchen as business grew. The kitchen was four thousand square feet with the rest of the building dedicated to the customers.

We then went online to find dining tables and chairs, dishes and silverware. Then Michelle met a graphic designer for the menu and restaurant logo. Michelle still had to secure knives, spoons, and smaller kitchen utensils as well.

As Michelle and I sat down to put the numbers together we realized that to get this thing started properly we were looking at around four hundred seventy five thousand dollars. We had to hire staff and have at least two months wages in reserve to pay them. Then the first food order was going to be huge. I could financially swing this, but I was going to be cutting it close.

I was in my office mid-week still staring at the notepad in front of me when Mary Stein popped into my office.

“How’s my money man?” Mary laughed.

“Mary, please come in. It’s so good to see you.” I replied.

Mary walked in carrying a purse and an old leather briefcase. She sat down on one of the chairs facing my desk crossing her legs. She mentioned she had been upstairs to talk to Richard Butler about a matter and wanted to say hello before she left the building.

“Any progress on the restaurant?” she asked.

“We have secured most of the cost to start it up. Came to a little more than I thought but we should start construction on the building in about two months.” I replied.

“That’s exactly why I’m here. I just had a talk with Richard and I finally got through unpacking and throwing away stuff from the house that I took with me. Anyway, this was in my closet at the old house. I never even knew it was there, it was buried under a few blankets. I finally opened it about a month ago and I was shocked.” she said, putting in on my desk.

“More paper work I have to deal with?” I replied, turning the case around and opening it.

As I raised the cover of the case, I simply couldn’t believe what was there. The entire case was overflowing with money. Stacks of one hundred dollar bills, twenty dollar bills and fifties all secured by rubber bands.

“Holy crap.” I laughed.

“Tell me about it.” Mary replied.

“Do you have any idea how much money is here?” I asked.

“Nope and I don’t care. Use that to help with the restaurant. I already bought my lawn care guy a brand-new truck and trailer with new lawn equipment. I have a maintenance guy who does odd jobs for me at my new job, I just bought him a truck and tools. I can’t deposit that much money because it will draw attention to me that I don’t need. You take that and pay cash for as much of the restaurant as you can.” she stated.

“Mary, I can’t accept this ... you have already done too much for me as it is.” I protested.

“Well, then you give it away, go to Vegas ... whatever.” she stated, walking out.

I know I sat there just staring at the money in that briefcase. I was never comfortable with people helping me, I was always proud that I managed on my own. I closed the briefcase and set in under my desk to the left of my legs. I quickly called upstairs to Richard Butler. Apparently, he was waiting for my call.

“Let me guess Tim, you refused the money.” Richard laughed.

“Yes, I did. But she walked out and told me to give it away if I don’t want it.” I answered.

“Tim, don’t be a fool, take the money. She will die leaving millions to charity. Open your restaurant, give your lady her dream.” he replied.

I went home that evening carrying more money than anyone could dream of having in their vehicle at one time. I went inside and went into the office where I always put my briefcase, pens, business card holder, wallet and watch. I also set the briefcase that Mary Stein had left with me on the desk as well. Michelle wasn’t home yet she had mentioned that she wanted to look at the design for the plates she thought of having made for the restaurant. I went to the master bedroom, changed into shorts and a t-shirt then went back to the living room. About thirty minutes later I heard the front door open and close. Michelle walked into the living room and over to where I was sitting, leaning over and passionately kissing me. This was a ritual with Michelle. Every time she kissed me, I knew it was real.

“Hey baby, how was your day?” she asked, heading to the kitchen.

“I know really don’t know how to answer that...” I replied.

She came back into the room with a glass of iced tea with a strange look on her face. She sat down next to me and grabbed my hand, something she always did as well.

“You don’t have an answer?” Michelle giggled.

“Not in my wildest dreams could I come up with an answer...” I responded.

“You fucked my sister at work.” Michelle giggled.

“Uh no ... better.” I laughed.

“Hmmmmmm ... you got a raise?” she asked.

“Nope.” I replied.

“Well fuck ... just tell me then.” she giggled.

“Wait right here.” I urged.

I got up and walked to the office, up to the desk and grabbed the briefcase then walking back into the living room. I walked around the sofa and sat next to her placing the case on the ottoman in front of her. I sat back and looked at her.

“What is this?” she asked.

“Open it.” I quickly answered.

Michelle looked at me strangely then leaned over slightly towards the case. It took her a few seconds to negotiate the two locking mechanisms on the case, but she finally opened it. She lifted the top of the case and her reaction was much like mine only hours before.

“What the fuck?” she screamed.

“I know.” I answered.

“Where did you get this ... how ... holy fuck.” she babbled.

“This is a gift from Mary.” I replied.

“Tim, this is insane ... she already gave you a building. Now this?” she shouted.

“I know Michelle but she told me use or give it away?” I stated.

“How much is here?” Michelle Asked.

“I don’t know, never counted it ... I don’t think she did either. Her husband buried the case in her closet for reasons I became aware of during the meetings.” I said.

“So what do we do?” Michelle giggled.

“First thing you better do is count it. After that, we pay cash for everything for the restaurant. If I deposit this kind of money in the bank, red flags go up.” I warned.

Michelle reached into the case and began taking out stacks of money placing them all over the ottoman. It is hard to fathom that someone could make such a vast sum of money and then just put who knows what in a brief case in a closet. But after all, when your net worth is close to one hundred sixty million dollars what’s few thousand here and there?

It took Michelle and I, close to four hours and two legal sheets to count the money. We pulled every bundle apart and recounted it. At the end, the tally came to six hundred eighty thousand dollars. We decided to pay cash for everything for the restaurant if the vendor agreed. What I could not pay cash for, I would write a check then slowly put the cash back in later.

I did however want to give Richard Butler, Jeremy Land and Carlos Reyes a gift for taking a chance on me. I grabbed ten thousand dollars from the case and put it in my regular briefcase. The next morning, I went to the bank next door to the firm and obtained a safety deposit box. I emptied the rest of the money in the box and went to work.

Michelle talked to the contractor and he agreed to take his payment in cash. The industrial kitchen supplier agreed to the same as long as we paid the taxes, which was not a problem. A few weeks later construction began on the restaurant as planned.

On my twenty ninth year on earth, it just seemed everything had come together for me. I was in love with a beautiful girl, owned a nice home, had a great job, money in the bank and was on the verge of launching a new restaurant.

Of course, our life together lately had become more of a hit and miss meeting type thing. I worked all day and sometimes Michelle was out until late at night finalizing things for the restaurant. She would then come home and we would sit at the kitchen counter assembling a menu and design ideas for the restaurant.

Michelle had designed all our plates, serving trays and platters with cartoon images of crawfish, shrimp, crab and alligators. Michelle decided to call the restaurant Mon Amour which was Cajun French for My Love. We had regular glassware for drinks, but she also ordered the mason jar glasses for the iced tea she planned on serving.

On November the second, I was standing in the completed restaurant with Michelle, Stan and Beverly Woods, Robin Woods and a few other relatives of Michelle’s. The contractor had done a great job on the remodel. We had sixty-four tables in all that could sit four people each. The guest bathrooms were incredible better than most restaurants, I had been in. On last minute decision, the way the tables were laid on we wound up with a hallway type space to the right on the entrance. Michelle decided to install custom made cushioned benches so people who were waiting for a table could be comfortable. All in all, we figured at least thirty people could sit comfortably. Then she had six benches install outside, three on wall that could hold at least twelve more people.

Michelle had hired three short order cooks, one fryer and two trainees for the kitchen. In addition, she had hired a hostess and eight waitresses. Michelle decided to start working four waitresses per night and adjust when necessary. She decided to just start serving dinner only. She would open at twelve o’clock noon and beginning serving at three o’clock until ten that night.

Michelle opened the restaurant on a Friday night with family, friends and employees of Butler Land and Reyes in attendance. At seven o’clock, the tables were few to be seen with everyone scurrying around waiting on tables. I sat at one of the tables with Stan and Beverly Woods watching their younger child interact with the customers. There was no doubt Michelle Woods was doing what she loved, the sparkle in her eye gave her away.

She arrived home that Friday night about eleven thirty that night. I was already in bed when she came in and headed straight to the shower. She got out about ten minutes later wrapped in a white towel. She walked to the side of the bed and dropped the towel to the floor revealing her gorgeous body. She climbed in bed and gently laid on body on top of mine her face inches from mine.

“Tim, I don’t know how or why I am here today other than pure fate. I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you with Robin. You are the kindest, most loving and caring man I know. You believed in me and you made every dream that I had come true. You have never asked me for a thing, but you have given me everything. I will always love you, Tim. No matter what.” she said softly.

“I love you too, Michelle. I want you to be happy.” I replied.

She moved down my body quickly and took my cock into her warm mouth. In just over a minute, she had me erect and throbbing in her wet mouth. She moved back up and straddled me inserting my hard shaft into her wet opening. She leaned slightly forward moving back and forth on me slowly. Michelle had a way of looking at you during sex which was indescribable. It looked as if she had surrendered herself to your every wish.