Simmer

Dream On

Jacob Arness, the king of soul food in Cincinnati, never expected to be here. He loved cooking soul food and had never considered trading the kitchen for the corporate world.

However, he had to do what was best for him and his son, Cliff.

"Mr. Arness, I'm Mr. Tolliver."

Jacob sat at a small table in his only expensive restaurant.

He hated this place.

This restaurant had been his dream.

It was a large, elegant soul food restaurant with large crystal chandeliers suspended from the red ceiling. The tables, which varied from large to small, were gold. The chairs varied from suede, off-white, cushioned chairs to wooden chairs with red cushions. A mahogany bar was located towards the back of the restaurant.

Jacob stared at the white wall with a red strip in the center.

He needed to remodel.

Back then, he'd wanted to go big.

He shrugged.

On any given night, this place was his money maker.

However, he preferred his other inexpensive, family restaurants. They were smaller, more intimate, and relaxed.

They were more affordable too.

Jacob exhaled.

He had chosen this location for a reason.

Jacob had the most important meeting of his business career.

He had to impress.

A balding, tanned black man approached as Jacob loosened his tie.

They shook hands.

Mr. Tolliver quickly took out his papers and displayed them on the table. He frowned and then shuffled some papers together.

"Do you need more room?" Jacob glanced around. "I don't have an office in this restaurant, but you're welcomed to go somewhere else."

Mr. Tolliver shook his head. "The table is fine."

Jacob nodded.

Jacob hadn't been nervous until now. He was a self-made man who wanted more out of life than the trailer- park living from where he came. He smirked.

His story was nothing special compared to any other. He'd loved soul food from the first moment his parents took him to Heavy's' in Over-the-Rhine. In fact, he became obsessed with the idea that he just wanted to cook.

"Mr. Arness, I've eaten at Cincinnati's Potlikker several times, and I have to say you do a great job."

Jacob nodded. He appreciated the comment but needed to test his future business partner. "Which Cincinnati's Potlikker did you go to?"

Mr. Tolliver didn't hesitate. His close-set brown eyes sparkled. "The one in Bond Hill in Jordan's Crossing. It's closer to my son's home, and since my daughter-in-law can't cook, I eat there to avoid her cooking."

Jacob laughed. "Well, I appreciate that."

He listened as Mr. Tolliver rambled about living in San Diego and visiting his son and daughter-in-law. "After a couple of times eating there, I had to tell the higher-ups about you. Mind you, we're a smaller private equity group than others in the restaurant business, but we're looking to increase our presence in the industry, and Cincinnati's Potlikker is just what we need."

Jacob looked out the window of his downtown Cincinnati restaurant. Thoughts of Devon flashed through his mind. He was grateful to Devon for two things in his life-- the second was when she fired him.

Jacob wrung his hands. He couldn't deny he'd been fueled by revenge. He'd wanted to prove to Devon that race had nothing to do with cooking. Devon.

She'd made him ache for what only she could give him.

In fact, ten years later and he still couldn't let her go.

"Well," Mr. Tolliver broke the silence. "Shall we get started?"

Jacob nodded and then ran his fingers through his hair.

Mr. Tolliver didn't look convinced. He placed a stack of papers on the table and questioned, "Are you sure?"

Jacob flashed a smile. He had no doubt about the first part of his plan.

He had to do this.

When Mr. Tolliver first approached him about selling his restaurants and becoming a minority owner in the private equity group, Jacob had to admit he'd had reservations.

It wasn't until Mr. Tolliver told him they could work out his revenge plan.

Devon.

The only thing he didn't count on was Devon's firing.

He wanted to see the look on her face when he walked into Shack's restaurant and announced he was the new owner. He wanted to see her expression when she realized she had worked for him.

Maybe her surprise firing had been for the best.

Although he wanted that moment to happen, he didn't need it. It would ruin the most important thing Devon had given him.

Besides, she made revenge sweet, but Jacob's target was something else.

"You can stop this now. You don't need to take over the Shack's restaurant chains," Mr. Tolliver advised him. "Maybe the second part of the deal will be more satisfying. I know transitioning to become the face of your restaurant and—"

"No." Jacob hit the table with his index finger with each word he spoke. "Let's do this thing."

Mr. Tolliver nodded, but he didn't look convinced. He picked up the stack of papers. Let's begin, shall we?"