Twenty
Nissaki Beach
Andras stood outside Mikalis’s Taverna taking it all in. With Tess and Sonya settled on sunloungers on the beach, he was going to try to make the most of his day. The taverna looked good, recently refurbished, just like he wanted to do with Georgiou’s. Everything had been painted a bright white – from the wooden ceiling to the struts of the frontage – and there were small pots of lavender everywhere you turned: on each table, hanging from hooks on the roof, by the entranceway. Plus the restaurant was busy, bustling with customers even now, mid-morning.
He stepped up into the building and had gone no more than a couple of paces before …
‘Andras Georgiou!’
He smiled as short, bald, rotund Yiannis Mikalis practically skipped across the tiled floor towards him, hands outstretched.
‘Yiannis.’ He greeted them with a smile as the man embraced him, slapping his back with two meaty hands.
Yiannis drew away, clasping Andras’s hands and squeezing hard, but with affection. ‘What brings you here? Spying on my restaurant?’ He let go of Andras and looked proudly at the interior. ‘It looks a little different from last summer, no?’
He nodded. ‘It looks wonderful, Yiannis.’
The owner nodded. ‘Sometimes you have to forget about what is going on with the finances of Europe and just carry on being Greek.’ Yiannis laughed. ‘This place had not had a facelift since 1990. It was time.’
Andras swallowed. His restaurant was long overdue an upgrade too. He didn’t want to go all sleek and ultra-modern like some of the other restaurants in the area had done, but perhaps a coat of paint and some new furnishings, maybe some cushions for the chairs and then, after that, there might be a chance to dream bigger.
‘So, how are the wedding plans coming along?’ Yiannis asked, beckoning him further into the restaurant and pulling up a chair. ‘Your brother has not been suffocated yet?’
‘You know about the wedding,’ Andras stated, sitting down.
‘Come on! Everyone knows everything on Corfu,’ Yiannis said, sitting opposite.
‘He is completing tasks on a list like he is searching for treasure.’
Yiannis clapped his hands together. ‘We have all been there, my friend.’
He nodded then cleared his throat. ‘Yiannis … I was wondering …’
‘Let me get you a drink. Ouzo?’ He clapped his hands in the air and a waiter headed straight towards them.
He was nervous but he wasn’t sure the alcohol was going to help. He was running out of options for the restaurant. He didn’t want his mother as his partner. He thrived on his independence and he didn’t want to have to compromise.
‘Yiannis, I’m looking for a business partner,’ he stated without prelude.
The other man began to cough. ‘I’m sorry. What did you say?’
‘Spiros is moving away with his new wife. He needs to free up his investment,’ Andras elaborated.
‘Well, I …’
‘I’m asking you, Yiannis, as I know what an astute businessman you are.’ He swallowed. He did respect the man but he was also thin on options closer to home. ‘And I also know you have an eye for potential.’
Yiannis went to speak but Andras continued quickly.
‘The restaurant is doing well, really well, I don’t really have the time to be away from it today but …’ Why had he said that? What was supposed to come next? He had to be here today because someone was pretending to be his girlfriend and in exchange he had taken them out on the boat? That didn’t sound professional at all. ‘It was necessary to … come to see you.’ A little flattery never hurt.
‘Andras—’ Yiannis began.
‘Think about it. You would not have to do a thing more than you are doing here, unless you wanted to, of course. My brother left the running of the restaurant to me and I am happy to continue that way, but I am also happy to change things, if that’s what you would like.’ He stopped talking, his mouth dry. Where was that ouzo, or water?
‘Andras,’ Yiannis started. ‘I am sure your restaurant, as always, is doing well. I just—’
‘I have plans for refurbishment and maybe some marketing. I just need a cash injection and I am certain I can increase profit.’
‘Andras.’ Yiannis placed a hand on his forearm as if to still him. He took a breath, sensing what was coming.
‘Just think of it,’ Andras said. ‘It would be such a great investment.’
‘Andras,’ Yiannis said again. ‘I have nothing to invest.’
He swallowed. He should have known this before he even came here. Greece was still under incredible financial pressures.
‘Everything I had I invested here.’ Yiannis spread out his arms like the restaurant was a choir of performers he was introducing. ‘This season I hope to make a small profit but there is no money for anything else.’
Andras nodded. ‘I understand.’
‘I am sorry, Andras. If there was a way I could help then I would.’
A waiter arrived with a bottle of ouzo, two small tumblers and a carafe of water.
‘There is one other thing,’ Andras stated as the waiter poured them each a drink.
‘Anything,’ Yiannis responded.
‘Do you know where I can get a donkey?’