Jack flicks his eyes to me, briefly, and I relax. Nico is going to take this deal.
Perrin flashes his disarming smile. “Well, a franchise is great if you have the time and effort to make it succeed and get people on board. But if you just want to make money and then have time to enjoy it? A fast nickel always beats a slow dime.”
“Like with most family businesses, this is has been a long time coming,” Nico agrees. “A bakery franchise was the wise way to go, until your offer.”
“I understand,” Jack adds smoothly. “Here is our final proposal, given what we have passed back and forth over the last week. One deal for the business itself of Donahue’s Bakery and one for the physical business properties located in Little Rock and Fayetteville. We would like to be our own landlords.”
“Understood.” Not bothering to look at the papers Jack slides over, he hands them to Katherine.
“So, you are offering to pay a sum certain up front and then also a percentage of profits over twenty years?” Katherine glances up from the paperwork.
I field this one. When Nico Donahue gets screwed, I want him to know I was the one who screwed him. “We are. Nico mentioned having income over the next several years was an appealing part of franchising, versus selling outright.” I can see Nico making the calculations, and so is Katherine.
Jack slides over another sheet of paper. “The business valuation came back lower than I think you were looking for, and so our initial payment may be lower as well. This deal could potentially make up the difference, possibly even more, over time. Our offer is for the low end of the appraisal to be paid today and then the rest as a percentage of future profit.”
Nico side-eyes his lawyer. As much as Nico Donahue deserves to walk out of here without a dime, Theo would never forgive me for treating someone poorly, even Nico. I don’t want him destitute; I just want him out of Theo’s life. Besides, if Frank’s will had been divided properly, the way Theo was told it would be, Nico would have received about this estimate. The balance feels right.
After reviewing the contracts, Katherine tells him it’s in order.
Quinn’s assistant comes in to notarize the documents. Nico looks surprised when I sign for the real property and the business, instead of Jack. “Are you getting into the bakery business? I know you have made a name for yourself as a Chef.”
“Not exactly.” I slide the completed paperwork over to Jack with a sharp smile.
Jack approves the wire transfer for the few hundred thousand we are paying today, a very low end of the business valuation, and Katherine confirms its receipt. Suddenly, there is nothing to do but wait for copies of everyone’s files.
“Can I ask what the plan is regarding the bakeries? I would love to follow the progress.” Nico leans back, steeping his fingers. Something tells me he’s already spent most of the wire transfer. What he’s banking on is a percentage of profits from something with the Mann family golden touch.
I get a confirming nod from Jack. The deal is done. “There are no plans.”
“No plans?” Nico’s smile falters.
“You sold us the business, Nico. And it now has a new owner, so you would have to ask him.” I gesture to the second set of paperwork I signed along with Nico’s.
He carefully sits up, looking over at Katherine. “But you want to open additional locations—the dealwas for the profit percentage of every location.”
“It was. And nowhere does it say we are obligated to actually open additional locations. You should be advised that we in fact do not plan to. Ever.”
I try my best not to smile as Nico’s face pales and he calculates five percent of zero over the next twenty years.
“That’s fraud,” Nico sputters.
Jack smiles at Katherine. “Is it, Katherine? Or is your client mistaken?”
Katherine slowly clears her throat. “It isn’t fraud. They bought the business and can deal with it as they like.”
Nico’s hands are on the table, his mouth working to get words out for a moment. “Are you saying that’s it? Is that what they are saying, Katherine? Because there’s no deal just for what you paid today. Donahue’s Bakery is worth much more than a few hundred thousand.”
Jack’s voice is ice cold. “The deal has been completed. Matt owns the business of Donahue’s Bakery and the real property on which the current locations operate.”
“I’ll sue you before I even make it home.”
“Do it. And I will bury you in legal fees and still win.” Jack doesn’t get up from his seat, not even changing his tone. “You did your research, and you know I can. Just like you knew we could make a cash deal today. You sue, and it stays in court limbo for years. I’ll demand every dime you were just paid go into escrow with the court. And that’s just fine with me, Nico, because the only one who wants a resolution is you. The only one who needs that money is you. I’ll draw out any litigation you start for at least a decade and do it with a smile on my face.”
“You would put your reputation on the line? The Mann Family reputation?” Nico sneers, disbelieving. Did Deny share his misjudgment of Lucien and us with Nico? Maybe they both thought we would be easily exploited.
“What I will do is question even your very ownership of the business, Nico. And that means all the power of court-ordered discovery directed at you and at the will of Frank Donahue.”
Nico freezes, going even paler, at Jack’s words. “What’s he talking about, Katherine?”
