"CHEF VINCENT DEL CARMEN 2"

“Anyway,” Randy said, his voice shifting back to its usual easygoing tone, effectively breaking the lingering tension. He leaned forward slightly, his expression sharpening. “Let’s get to business. About the restaurant…”

His words snapped Vincent’s attention back to the matter at hand. The casual conversation they’d been having seemed to fade away, replaced by the business proposition that had brought him here in the first place. Vincent had been expecting this—Randy had mentioned wanting to talk about Festive in their earlier messages, but hearing it now, spoken so deliberately, immediately grabbed his focus.

Vincent straightened, his posture becoming more professional as he pushed his glass aside, attention fully engaged. Randy’s offer was not just any business deal—it was Festive, one of the country’s most celebrated buffet restaurants, known for its innovative approach and large clientele.

It was a high-profile establishment, and for someone like Vincent, with the ambition and resources to match, it presented an opportunity that was hard to ignore. The restaurant had garnered a reputation over the years, attracting food enthusiasts and tourists alike. Taking ownership of it would not only secure Vincent a lucrative venture, but also cement his position in the country’s culinary scene. He could almost taste the success already.

“Why are you selling it?” Vincent asked, his voice steady but laced with curiosity.

Vincent’s fingers tightened around his glass as he took another sip, the taste of the wine now faint against the swirl of thoughts in his mind. Randy’s explanation was unexpected, yet it made sense in a way that Vincent hadn’t anticipated. The business-minded part of him admired the decision—focusing on the family business showed a level of responsibility and commitment that he hadn’t associated with Randy before. Vincent had always seen his friend as a man driven by the next thrill, the next conquest, never one to hold onto something for long. But this… this was different.

“My parents want me to focus on the family business,” Randy continued, his tone shifting slightly as he spoke about his parents.

There was an uncharacteristic sincerity in his voice, one that spoke of a deeper level of responsibility that Vincent hadn’t fully realized was on Randy’s shoulders.

“They’re not getting any younger, and I can’t handle both ventures at once. So, I chose the shoe factory—they’ve poured their lives into it, and it deserves my full attention.”

Randy’s words hung in the air, and Vincent could see the shift in his friend’s demeanor. Gone was the carefree, adventurous Randy he’d known in college. In his place was a man facing the weight of family legacy and duty.

Vincent let the silence settle for a moment as he processed what Randy had said. The idea of Randy stepping away from Festive, something he had worked so hard to build, made Vincent realize just how far his friend had come. It wasn’t just a simple business decision; it was a personal one, one that reflected the changes in Randy’s life. Vincent’s admiration for his friend grew in that moment. This wasn’t just about profit or convenience—it was about honoring his family and their sacrifices. For someone like Randy, who had always been focused on his own pleasures, it was a rare show of maturity.

After a brief pause, Vincent nodded, offering a quiet affirmation of Randy’s decision.

“Fair enough. I’ll have my lawyer look into it,” he said, his voice steady as he set his glass down on the table, his focus now fully on the business at hand. “Let’s finalize this soon.”

The finality in his tone made it clear that he was serious. Randy seemed pleased by the response, his earlier vulnerability now giving way to his usual confidence. He grinned, raising his glass in a gesture of celebration, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and relief.

“Cheers to that. And to my future wife!” Randy added, his voice light again, as if to bring a bit of levity back into the conversation.

Vincent couldn’t help but smile at the shift in energy, but something in his chest tightened once more as he watched his friend, the layers of complexity in their conversation settling in the back of his mind. He chuckled, clinking his glass against Randy’s.