“It is," the hostess answers. “Thank you for coming," Ethan says. He glances at the menu, then closes it. “I'm not here for food."
“Soup for me," Caroline says. “And bread."
“Tea," Natalie says. “House mint."
Ethan nods to the server. “Same."
“Good plan," Ethan says. “I'll be quick." He looks at Natalie. “Thunderbolt backs your blends. Lab, equipment. You lead formula, sourcing, quality. You choose the name. You own the IP. We take a minority for space, staff, distribution. You keep control."
Natalie listens without blinking. “Why me?"
“You make teas that work," Ethan says. “And you talk to people like adults. 'Three minutes steep, not five' is not marketing language. It's respect."
“It improves it," Ethan says. “My apothecary looked at your blends. She said, and I quote, 'no ego in
