Entirely sensible.
Probably.
12
Officially Happy. Mildly Terrified.
Geoff
Theo calls it aquarterly business meeting.
What it actually is, is an excuse to feed us for free and force Jasper and me to admire spreadsheets.
We’re at the café after closing, chairs stacked, lights dimmed to that warm, conspiratorial glow that makes everything feel more important than it is. The espresso machine is cooling with occasional threatening hisses, like it’s offended we’ve stopped using it.
Theo stands behind the counter, sleeves rolled up, laptop open, posture straight. He looks irritatingly competent.
Jasper and I sit at one of the small round tables, plates already in front of us. Viennese pastries. Savoury things. Something with cheese that definitely didn’t need to exist but I’m glad it does.
“Before we eat,” Theo says, holding up a finger.
Jasper and I exchange a look.
“No,” Jasper says. “No graphs before strudel.”
Theo sighs. “You’re investors.”
“We’re siblings,” Jasper replies. “The hierarchy is clear.”
Theo ignores him and turns the laptop around. “If you’ll just look at the figures—”
I pick up a fork. “I trust you.”
“That’s not the point.”
“It is to me.”
Theo pinches the bridge of his nose. “You both put a significant amount of money into this business.”
“And we have zero regrets,” Jasper says, already halfway through a pastry. “Because you are like this.”
He gestures vaguely at Theo’s whole being.
Theo glares. “I amprofessional.”
“You alphabetised the cleaning supplies,” I say.
Theo straightens. “Organisation is not a flaw.”
“It is when you expect applause for it,” Jasper mutters, mouth full.
Theo clears his throat and launches in anyway. “Revenue is up twelve percent quarter on quarter. Footfall has increased. The new breakfast menu—”
“Delicious,” I say.
“—has exceeded projections,” Theo continues. “Supplier costs are stable, margins are healthy, and we’ve built a decent buffer.”
He looks at us expectantly.
