The Butcher and the Baker
Chapter One
"So, you're backing out of the deal!? But… the space has already been paid for, interior designers have finished the work, stock is due to arrive any day now! We open in ten days!" Peeta Mellark blustered while gesticulating wildly with his hands. He let out a deep sigh and ran a frustrated hand through his blond hair.
"Something else has come up… I can't pass up this opportunity. Man, I thought you would be happy for me." Gale Hawthorne, Peeta's soon-to-be former partner replied helplessly. "Besides, the contract is still being reviewed with the lawyers and isn't final. I'm sure you'll find another partner; you've made quite the name for yourself in the culinary world." Gale continued acting as if the multimillion-dollar joint venture was not a big deal. Peeta stared at Gale in disbelief and Gale's gray eyes revealing almost nothing, looked back at Peeta with indifferent and maybe just a hint of smugness in his eyes. Peeta just shook his head feeling like he just imagined that look. He was at a loss for words.
"Peeta, I'm really sorry man, but opening a bistro in Paris is a huge deal. If you were offered this deal, you wouldn't look back either."
"Who is the investor?" Peeta asked out of curiosity.
"That's not important, what's important is that I'm not going to let this opportunity pass me by. I just came by to collect my knives and cleavers. Look, I'll contact you once I'm settled… I'm sorry." With that, Gale walked out of the yet to open "Sweet and Savory" and up to what he thought was a waiting Uber… instead, Madge Undersee stepped excitedly out of the black Audi, and threw he arms around Gale. Peeta stared in disbelief and concern, because something was off about this sudden offer, and if it involved the Undersee family, then his restaurant was doomed to fail before the first customers could even walk in the door. Peeta pulled out his phone.
"Pick up, please pick up!" He muttered as the number started ringing.
"Hello" A sleepy voice answered.
"Uncle Haymitch, wake up! I need you to do some investigating for me, it could mean me losing or saving my restaurant."
"How? Your restaurant isn't even open yet?" Haymitch Abernathy responded waking up more with the bomb that Peeta just dropped on him.
"Gale has backed out of the partnership and I think Marion Undersee has something to do with it. When he left just five minutes ago, I saw him get in a car with Madge Undersee. They've promised Gale a bistro in Paris, and Gale is technically under no obligation to stay, since the contracts were being finalized."
"Ok, I'll investigate, but I need you to gather all the receipts where Gale paid to put this place together, we'll need to know how much he's invested his own money into your place. Once that's figured out, you need to send him a check refunding all his money, but don't explain why you're doing so. Gale is pretty smart, but he isn't very nuanced, he'll just take it at face value as a refund in good faith… even though he's an asshole." Haymitch explained, coming fully awake.
"What am I going to do about a partner? I'm a baker, Gale handle the game and meat aspect." Peeta asked, by now he was pacing back and forth enough to start a groove in the floor.
"I may have someone that would be willing to partner in your place, let me call around. Talk to your lawyers about the contract and explain there will be some major changes, but before you do anything, get your accountant on the job I gave you. Get Gale his money back before letting the cat out of the bag concerning his departure."
"Ok, I'll call Johanna as soon as we hang up, she'll get the accounts in order concerning Gale as soon as I tell her what's happened."
"Oh, and one more thing…" Haymitch started and then paused. Peeta felt like the bottom was going to drop out with the next statement. "Scrap the menu, half those recipes belong to Gale, we don't want a potential lawsuit." Peeta, let out a stream of expletives that positively turned the air blue where he stood.
"Now you're finally angry. This is good, you'll need that fire to make your restaurant a success." Haymitch answered with a small chuckle, and hung up the phone. Peeta pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose and took a few deep breaths and called Johanna Mason, his accountant. The woman was a bitch on wheels, but she knew her job and exceled at her work. Jo was also one of his close friends from high school.
"J. Mason" She answered in her brisk professional tones.
"Hey Jo, its Peeta. Could you do me a favor and get all the accounts together where Gale paid for anything concerning the restaurant, any start up fees, anything at all, then calculate the cost and send him a check to reimburse him." Peeta rushed out in one breath.
"Why, what's going on?" Johanna asked, her confusion completely audible.
"He's decided he wants out of the partnership with the restaurant. He got an offer to open a bistro in Paris, Madge Undersee met him outside of my restaurant about a half hour ago." Peeta remarked. There was a very pregnant pause and then,
"That son-of-bitch! A bistro in Paris my ass! It probably is for the best that he's walked out before the place even opened. I'll do you one better; I'll wire the money to him and send him a message he'll never forget!"
"Jo, just send him the money, wire or check, I don't care. But you cannot let on that this is a big deal. Haymitch made an interesting point, so we're banking on Gale not being too bright about any money he's invested in this place being returned to him."
"Haymitch knows? That's good, he'll get to the bottom of this bistro bullshit deal. Unbelievable. I cannot believe you still kept in contact with that dick after that stunt he pulled with you in high school." Peeta stops Johanna before she can say anything else about that incident that involved the one girl that he truly liked.
"Yeah, that's in the past and I struck out with her. No need to revisit that every time Gale fucks up."
"Hmph, You're better than me. He's just as bad as Madge… don't get me started on that bitch and what her family has been doing lately." Jo responded. Peeta's ears perked up.
"What have the Undersees been doing? Haymitch said he had heard a few things and is going to investigate."
"Apparently, they're been finding ways to buy up all these food and hospitality small businesses that are in trouble… and yes, air quotes around the word trouble. It's all been a bit fishy, so much so that there are some deals that have come across my boss' table involving M. Undersee that he refuses to touch. The deals just feel a bit off, and you know how C. Snow is, he's extreme particular and never wasteful. If there isn't an iota of benefit for him or his company, he isn't going to get involved no matter what. Undersee has been practically pulling his hair out every time Snow refuses a deal. I don't think Undersee will be a client with Snow and Coin for much longer, if my guess is correct." Jo spoke thoughtfully.
"I wonder what is going on then. None of this makes sense. Anyway, just get that money wired with all the appropriate receipts and have the paperwork sent my way. I have a feeling I'll need it down the road." Peeta said.
"I'll keep you posted. Bye." Jo hung up the phone. Peeta pulled out one of the handmade chairs he'd invested in for his special concept restaurant, and plopped down. He just didn't understand why once again, Gale was pulling the rug out from under him and it once again involved Madge Undersee. With a deep sigh, Peeta pulled out his phone to make another phone call, when his phone chirped in his hand. It was a text message from Pollux and Castor Welding.
"Damn!" Peeta muttered under his breath. He called them instead of responding to the text. Pollux picked up on the third ring.
"Hey man, you didn't have to call." Pollux answered chuckling over the line. Peeta brought Pollux up to speed on the broken partnership.
"So, what do you want me to do with the current storefront sign? It's practically finished?"
"Scrap it. Haymitch is in the process of helping me find another partner and I have a feeling the whole name of the restaurant will change. I'm still determined to have this concept, but the name will more than likely change."
"You know, that's probably a good thing. Sweet and Savory was just too easy a name to land on, perhaps this new partner will help you think of something a bit more interesting." Pollux offered his opinion.
"You could be right, but right now, all I can this about is making these phone calls in order to get a chance to open on schedule. Are you and your brother up for a rushed job? I'll understand if it will cost more, just let me know." Peeta responded.
"Yeah, we could do a rushed job, but if you don't have a partner in a few days' time, your restaurant sign will have to go up after you open."
"That's fair. I hate to put you out like this." Peeta said.
"It's not you, its Gale… that Hawthorne character is a piece of work. Oh well, just keep me posted on what you want to do."
"Ok, bye." Peeta said. After hanging up, he dialed the next number he needed to contact. The phone was picked up after barely two rings.
"Heavensbee, Paylor and Crane?" an overly cheery voice said on the other end.
"Hello, this is Peeta Mellark, could I please speak with Plutarch Heavensbee?"
"Please hold Mr. Mellark." The song stylings of Ella Fitzgerald filled the silence, as Peeta held the line for Mr. Heavensbee. A few moments later;
"This is Heavensbee." A gruff voice stated over the phone.
"Hey Plutarch, it's Peeta, I'm going to need you to scrap the current contract as far as "Sweet and Savory" is concerned, Gale Hawthorne has decided not to continue with the partnership."
"Did he say why?" Plutarch asked.
"He got an offer to open his own bistro in Paris."
"Interesting. Should I look into the matter further, see if there is another form of breach of contract?"
"Not at the moment. I'm currently having the money he has invested wired back to his accounts, I have an investigator looking into exactly what Hawthorne hasn't said, and I'm currently on the hunt for a new partner." Peeta explained.
"Let me guess, Abernathy is looking into the situation? If so, have him call me, I may need to collaborate with him as far as legalities. I may have someone in mind for your partnership as well, I'll make a few calls. I'll send Hawthorne my bill for all my time and efforts with making the contract agreeable to his standards. Honestly, Mellark, you're probably better off. There was something about him that just gave me the feeling he's competing with you somehow." Peeta let Plutarch's comments sink in for a minute before responding.
"Maybe you're right, but I can't worry about that at the moment. I'm trying to keep my restaurant from failing before it opens." Peeta said and then stopped short as he remembered what Johanna had said.
"Plutarch, what do you know about Marion Undersee and his company?"
"Merchant Class Hospitality? They own some pretty amazing boutique hotels and eateries, really high-quality stuff, but they're garnering a reputation for some pretty underhanded ways. Why? You think Undersee may have a hand in this?"
"It's possible, when Gale left the restaurant, I noticed he got into a car with Madge, Marion's daughter."
"Definitely have Haymitch call me, we need to keep the fact that Gale has split before opening as quiet as possible. If Haymitch and I have the same idea, you should have a new partner before Saturday night." Plutarch barked out, suddenly more serious than his usual somber tones.
"But it's Wednesday, who are you going to find at such short notice?" Peeta implored.
"Don't you worry, just keep getting things organized at the restaurant, and we'll be in touch as soon as possible." With that, Plutarch, hung up the phone. Peeta was now more stressed than ever. Without another phone call to be made, Peeta set about opening deliveries and getting stock arranged. There was really nothing else to do, but wait. Waiting, he knew wasn't the hard part. I was what happened after waiting that always made things interesting.