Roberto looked pointedly at his watch again. ‘We were expecting you twenty minutes ago.’
‘Well, I’m here now, so we can get started, can’t we?’
‘Yes, let’s, because I for one have other places I need to be,’ Roberto replied.
‘I’ll make this as quick as possible then. Liz, Jay, we’re here to discuss the changes to your contract.’ Tia continued unruffled. ‘As I have intimated before, you have been using Diva’s kitchen to fulfil your own business needs as well as ours.’
Jay tried to defend them. ‘That’s not true—’
‘And as such, we feel that as part of this contract renewal we need to discuss what level of rent we will charge you in order for you to continue working here.’ Tia ignored him.
‘Where’s the “we” in this?’ Roberto asked. ‘Liz, Jay, I just have to say that this proposal has come from Tia and is not something Alex or I, as her business partners—’ he glared at Tia — ‘have had any input on.’
‘That’s correct,’ Alex said. ‘So, Tia, as we have finally pinned you down today, I think the three of us need to talk when we have finished our meeting with Liz and Jay. Roberto and I are very keen to discuss the future of our own partnership.’
‘Well, let’s deal with our business here first, shall we?’ The look she gave Liz and Jay could only be interpreted asnot in front of the servants. ‘So, let’s get back to the subject of rent.’
‘I don’t agree with the idea of charging rent,’ Alex said. ‘Liz and Jay are doing an excellent job catering for the functions at Diva’s and I know for a fact that they use their own kitchen for their own functions. So for them to incur an extra cost would be counter-productive to the current working relationship.’
‘Thanks, Alex.’ Liz smiled at her husband. ‘But I have been giving this matter some thought. And I’m not completely opposed to the idea of paying rent.’
There were several shocked gasps around the table, especially from Jay.
‘I’m sorry, Jay, I haven’t had a chance to discuss this with you before as it only occurred to me on the way in this morning.’
Jay nodded at her. She was glad he had her back even though he had no idea what she was about to say. Liz looked to the others. Alex and Roberto both had confused frowns on their faces, while Tia was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
‘Well, Liz, I can only say that I’m glad you’ve come round to my way of thinking,’ she said.
‘Actually, Tia, I haven’t quite finished,’ Liz said. ‘If we were to pay rent to you, then we would become your tenants instead of your contractor, and, as such, what we really need to be discussing here are the future lease terms, not contract-renewal terms.’
The smile slipped from Tia’s face. ‘I don’t understand.’
Alex interjected as he caught on. ‘What Liz means is that, if we charge rent, they will require a legally binding lease setting out the terms of how, and for how long, they are entitled to occupy their part of the building. As such, we will become their landlords and we will have no say in how they run their business as long as they operate within the terms of the lease.’
‘But the deal is they cater exclusively for Diva’s customers.’
‘That’s exactly my point, Tia. You can’t charge us rent and then expect to have a say in how we run our business. Of course, we owe a certain amount ofloyaltyto Diva’s, and I’m sure we can come to some kind of preferential agreement with yourselves to cater for Diva’s clients.’ Liz looked to Jay, who nodded in agreement and smiled. ‘But effectively we would also be free to cater for our own private clients in the space we occupy and pay for, and charge at our own pricing points.’
Tia looked outraged. ‘No, that’s not what I was suggesting at all.’
‘It’s quite clear that you need to decide on one way or the other. You can’t have both, Tia.’
Liz smiled inwardly at the way Tia’s lips puckered in disapproval. If she hadn’t been sitting down, Liz could imagine her stamping her foot in frustration at not getting her own way.
‘I suggest that Jay and I leave you to your discussions,’ Liz said. ‘Although if we could reach a decision quickly, I would be grateful. I’d really like to get everything finalised as soon as possible so that I can then get everything in place before I go on maternity leave.’
Alex reached for his phone. ‘I’ll book a taxi for you on my account, seeing as I won’t be able to drive you back as planned.’
‘No need. I’ll see Liz back home,’ Jay said.
‘I’m not a child,’ Liz replied, feeling indignant.
‘No, but we have plenty of things to discuss along the way.’
* * *
As Jay drove back to Liz and Alex’s flat, he said, ‘Well, I have to admit it, you played a blinder in there.’
