Goddess of Spring Read Free

thought he looked a little like a gangster-wannabe. Today his black pinstriped suit and his slippery demeanor did nothing to dispel the image.
    â€œYour bakery did very well last year, Ms. Santoro. Actually, you more than doubled your income from the previous year. When we’re talking about a major increase in figures, it is easy for mistakes to happen. I think that what would be more productive for us now is to focus on how you can pay what you owe the government instead of casting blame.” Before she could speak he hurried on, “I have drawn up several suggestions.” He pulled out another sheet of paper filled with bulleted columns and numbers and handed it to her. “Suggestion number one is to borrow the money. Interest rates are very reasonable right now.”
    Lina felt her jaw clench. She hated the idea of borrowing money, especially that much money. She knew it would make her feel exposed and vulnerable until the loan was repaid. If the loan could be repaid. Yes, she had been doing well, but a bakery wasn’t exactly a necessity to a community, and times were hard.
    â€œWhat are your other suggestions?”
    â€œWell, you could introduce a newer, more glitzy line of foods. Maybe add a little something for the lunch crowd, more than those . . .” He hesitated, making little circles in the air with one thick forefinger. “Baby pizza things.”
    â€œPizette Fiorentine.” She bit the words at him. “They are mini-pizzas that originated in Florence, and they are not meant to be a meal, they are meant to be a mid-afternoon snack served with cheese and wine.”
    He shrugged. “Whatever. All I’m saying is that it doesn’t draw you a very big lunch crowd.”
    â€œYou mean like a fried chicken buffet would? Or maybe I could even crank up the grill and churn out some burgers and fries?”
    â€œNow there’s an idea,” he said, totally missing the sarcasm in her tone. “Suggestion number three would be to cut your staff.”
    Lina drummed her fingers on the top of the conference table. “Go on,” she said, keeping her voice deceptively pleasant.
    â€œNumber four would be to consider bankruptcy.” He held up a hand to stop her from speaking, even though she hadn’t uttered a sound. “I know it sounds drastic, but after those expensive renovations you just completed, you really don’t have any reserves left to fall back on.”
    â€œI only commissioned those expensive renovations because you assured me that Pani Del Goddess could afford them.” Lina’s hands twitched with the desire to wrap themselves around his neck.
    â€œBe that as it may, your reserves are gone.” He said condescendingly. “But bankruptcy is only one option, and not the one I would recommend. Actually, I would recommend option number five—sell to that big chain that offered to buy you out a couple months ago. They just want your name and your location. Give it to ’em. You’ll have enough money to pay your debt and start over with a new name and place.”
    â€œBut I’ve spent twenty years building up the Pani Del Goddess name, and I have no desire to move.” If Frank Rayburn had been the least bit intuitive, he would have recognized the storm that brewed in Lina’s expressive eyes, even though it had not yet reached her mouth.
    Frank Rayburn was not intuitive.
    â€œWell, I just tell ya the options.” Frank leaned back in the plush chair and crossed his arms while he gave Lina what he liked to think of as his stern, fatherly look. “You’re the boss. It’s your job to decide from there.”
    â€œNo, you’re wrong.” Lina’s voice was still calm and soft, but it was edged with steel. “You see, I am not your boss anymore. You are fired. You have proven yourself to be as incompetent with my business as you are with your choice of attire. My lawyer will be in