"Bruce Holland Rogers - Wind Over Heaven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rogers Bruce Holland)

was, he ate only to absorb, to acquire.
 "What about the salad?" It was Belgian endive and fennel, with a very light vinaigrette, a
palate-clearing course between appetizer and main course.
"We're importing this endive." Sutherland took another wolfish bite. Eric had hardly started on his own
salad, and Sutherland's was nearly gone. "I mean, it's salad, Eric. And you're ordering from Europe?
They grow this stuff in California, now. Cheap."
"It's called Belgian endive for a reason." Eric pointed with his fork. "See how the stalk has this closed
shape? Around Brussels, they grow it underground, in heated soil. Growers in California don't take the
same care."
"I know all that," Sutherland said. "But it tastes the same."
"The presentation is different."
Sutherland rolled his eyes.
"The reason this restaurant has the reputation it does," Eric said, "is that we take pains with detail."
"Yeah, well, it's a little hard to keep up with detail that you can't pay for." Sutherland pushed his plate
aside. "I mean, you want to keep The Tarragon Leaf afloat, right?"
Eric's jaw clenched. "We're doing as much volume as ever," he said. "I don't see where this cash
crunch has come from, unless you're doing less business at Southern Exposure."
"My place is doing fine," Sutherland said. He always spoke about The Tarragon Leaf as our restaurant
and the Southern Exposure as mine, Eric realized. That wasn't the only inequality. He insisted on changes
for The Tarragon Leaf, but wouldn't listen to the suggestions Eric had made for Sutherland's Southern
Exposure steakhouse. The partnership was supposed to be collaborative. Advisory. At least that's how
they had talked it out before signing the papers.
"You've got to understand, " Sutherland was saying, "that there are certain administrative costs built in
to the partnership."
"This merger was supposed to save us money. Both of us."
"And it will, eventually," Sutherland said. "Look, you yourself admitted to me that accounting issues
weren't your strong suit, right? That's why we're in business together, to benefit from each others'
strengths."
How could Eric ever have trusted him enough to tell him that money was the one thing he had trouble
with? Not that there wasn't plenty coming in. The Tarragon Leaf was a success by any measure. But Eric
had always found keeping track of money such a headache. It was the food he cared about. The food,
the presentation, the atmosphere...
"It'll be all right. Trust me on that. But for now, I'm trimming your budget."
"Trimming my budget?" Eric said. "You can't do that!"
"Eric, read the agreements. You're in charge of operations. I'm in charge of budget and accounting. If
you don't like it, sell out to me. You've heard my offer."
Eric's hand closed around a butter knife. He brandished it, then looked at it and put it down. "I'm
bringing in an auditor."
Sutherland froze for half a second. He looked at Eric as if reappraising him. "You can't do it. We can't
spend on something like that. We have to economize."
"I can do it. I am doing it."
"Eric," Sutherland said, "we're partners." He shrugged. "But I see you're going to insist. All right. At
least pick someone good."
"I have. His name is Webber."
"Richard Webber?" Sutherland's teeth were big and white when he smiled. "I know Dick. He'll do a
fine job. A fine job. Then you'll feel better. And you'll see that I'm right about cutting back a little, just
temporarily. To keep us in the black." Sutherland lifted his wineglass and drained it. "Where's that waiter
with the next course?"
***