Flying the Dominant Billionaire

An Irresistable Offer

Leonardo

Leo went back into the kitchen to call Raj and Carlos. He wanted them to meet his grandpa. Today was his last day at Papa John’s as an intern and he wanted his two co-workers to know the real Leonardo Lombardi Jr. Friends were to be cherished and the last thing he wanted was for them to feel betrayed.

At 73, his Nonno was as fit as a fiddle. Every day, 10 laps in the heated swimming pool at his luxury Manhattan apartment. 3 times a week of golf and lawn tennis. William Lombardi III, Bill for his friends and family, was a health and fitness freak. If he would have been into yoga and Ayurveda, he would have been a bio hacker, Leo chuckled. He was amused at his own thoughts and yet proud of how his grandpa looked.

“Guys, I need to apologize to both of you. I kept something from you I shouldn’t have.” Leo said sheepishly as he led Raj and Carlos out of the kitchen into the main restaurant. “It would play on my conscience forever if I did not tell you now.” Carlos and Raj peeked at each other, a little nervously, oblivious to what was coming next. They shrugged and shot him a stink- eye, knowing his cheeky nature.

Guilt and anticipation clawed at his gut as they neared the man in the Yankees jacket and cap. Were his friends going to understand his reasons for keeping this from them? He wrung his hands and called out, “Nonno, meet my friend Carlos, head pizza chef, and my Guruji, my boss and mentor, Raj.”

The two nodded at Bill respectfully. Raj stretched his hand out at Nonno as Leo continued, “Meet my grandpa and President of Papa Lombardi’s Pizza.” He looked outside the glass window, suddenly interested in the Somerset Plaza neon signpost in the driveway and avoided meeting the gaze of his co-workers.

He looked at Carlos and felt wrong seeing his blank expression. The big yet simple man was still trying to grapple with what Leo had thrown at them.

Raj recovered faster and exclaimed, “I knew it! Lombardi’s is not such a common last name in the United States. In India, we can predict where a person is from with their last name.”

“So I guess your grandson wouldn’t be interested in a permanent position at Papa John’s in Somerset.” Raj winked at Leonardo.

He sighed, relieved at Raj’s light- hearted sarcasm. “If you guys ever want a change of place, you would always have a Papa Lombardi outlet of your choice to get to. No matter what, there will be a job waiting for you at Papa Lombardis.”

Nonno got up with a smooth, slow swagger as if he owned the place. His imposing aura demanded immediate respect from the boardroom to the parking lot at Lombardi towers. The guy sure knows how to carry himself, a tux or a friggin base ball jacket! Always suave! Leo smirked as he thought about his young at heart grandpa.

William aka Bill put a reassuring arm around Leo and looked his coworkers in the eye. “Thank you for giving Leonardo the opportunity to learn from you. I am sure this experience will help our would- be CEO take our pizza business to new heights,” he intoned as he looked at Carlos and Raj.

He turned to Leo and smiled lovingly. “I am really proud that Leonardo chose to do this!”

Leo fished out two official Papa Lombardi’s gift cards from his modest work backpack and handed them over to Carlos and Raj. “As a gesture of friendship and for the wisdom that you have given me for the last 6 months, please accept this little gift. Each card contains a 6 months' supply of pizzas from any Papa Lombardi’s outlet anywhere in the United States and Canada for you and your family.” Leo was genuinely grateful to both of them.

Carlos nodded, and Raj gave him a hug. The vibes of camaraderie coursed through him. He wasn’t used to such spontaneous warm- heartedness, but welcomed it.

“Keep them doors open, my Main Man,” Raj said, "I am going to come knocking after I finish my MBA at Harvard."

Nonno exchanged a purposeful glance with Leonardo.

I know. We had gone over this. Make your move, old man. Leo shrugged, giving his approval, knowing very well what Nonno was thinking.

He used to speak to Nonno about Raj and Carlos from time to time. Their humble backgrounds, their struggles, their resolve in the face of adversities and their unwavering integrity. “Why don’t you make them an offer to join us?” Nonno had asked flatly during one of their discussions.

Leo was against poaching talent from competitions. He vehemently refused. “I don't want them to think I am a condescending prick. Waltzing in and offering them a job because I feel sorry for them. I am sure they will find it disdainful.”

Nonno had a different perspective to offer. “If an employee is ready to move if they have a dream that the current employer cannot fulfil and someone has spotted something in them that the competition has not been able to see, what’s the harm in offering someone a position? They always have the choice to refuse.”

Leo was not quite convinced by this theory. He simply put the matter to rest by articulating his reservation. “I am not sure it will play out that way, Nonno.”

Leo distinctly remembered Nonno's logic about making an offer and saw how it had played out tonight.

He returned Nonno’s glance approvingly, “Maybe you can consider a position at Papa Lombardi’s HR or Operations COE (Centre of Excellence) and consider a fully paid executive program at Harvard!” Nonno passingly mentioned to Raj as they moved out of Papa John’s.

The Rolls Royce Silver Spirit hummed slowly in the driveway.

Leo looked at Raj over his shoulder. The man stood rooted to his spot, his mouth agape in surprise and black eyes opened wide as an incredulous look spread across his dark face.

The sincere and honest man from a tiny village in India was having trouble coming to terms with his good fortune.

Leo felt terrible about this open poaching. “Think about it, Raj. There is no obligation, but we would love to have both of you in our camp.” Astonished, Leo couldn’t believe he'd said that while Noono smirked at him knowingly.

Nonno’s headhunting moves must be rubbing off on me. He rolled his eyes in his head.

He opened the front door to step in as Nonno sat at the back of the waiting luxury sedan. Raj’s voice quivered as he spoke, “I do not know how to respond! I just hope you are not making a mistake choosing me to walk with you. It’s an offer I can’t refuse. Not because of a permanent position in your COE, nor the Executive MBA. I am just humbled that you found me worthy!”

Leo left the door ajar, as he went back to Raj and gave him a bear hug. "Trust me, Guruji, you’ll do just fine!"

The big Sicilian man standing next to them smiled.

***