Part 3
[May 2nd, 2010- 10:18 a.m.]
“Robbie, where’s
that filet? I asked for that beef five minutes ago!” Xavier Stone called as she
rushed to the back of a large stainless steel kitchen.
Her kitchen.
She rushed past a
tall waiter, scanning each station. Beef, poultry, starches, vegetables,
desserts and garnishes.
There was a method
to her madness.
“Xavier?” A
waitress called from the double swing doors.
“One second,
Tracey,” she called over her shoulder. “Robbie, get that beef out right now!”
“On it boss,” a
man called from a stovetop grill. Xavier nodded to the garnish and starch
lines.
“Keep it up.”
“Xavier?” The girl
called again.
“Tracey, one
second please,” she begged, stopping at the poultry station. “I am swamped and
it’s not even lunch time yet.”
“I know,” the
waitress replied. “But someone is here to see you.” Xavier had a butcher’s
knife in midair when she looked at her.
“A customer?” The
waitress shook her head. “If it’s a sales person tell them…” the waitress
interrupted her.
“I don’t think
she’s selling anything. Chuck said she looks like a…HI.”
“Health
Inspector?” Xavier deciphered. She nodded her head. Xavier set down the knife,
removed her soiled apron, displaying her crisp red chef’s jacket with her name
in elaborate cursive next to an embroidered bamboo stalk and cherry blossoms.
She pushed through
the double doors and stared down the length of the isle. A slender woman stood
at the front wearing slacks, a white blouse and a smile when she saw Xavier.
“Karen, hi!”
Xavier smiled.
“Hey X, did I come
at a bad time?” she asked, looking around the packed restaurant.
“Oh no. Not at
all. What’s up?”
“I have some news
for you,” she grinned. “Can we sit for a second?”
“Is it good news?”
Xavier quizzed. Karen flashed her bright green eyes. “Well let’s have a seat
then.” She led the way to a closed off area, sealed off with a red velvet rope
and marked:
RESERVED
The two women had
a seat across from one another and a waiter approached.
“Can you get you
anything ma’am?”
“Yeah,” Karen
smiled. “Two mimosas.” She said. Xavier raised a thin eyebrow.
“Right away,” the
waiter said then turned away.
“Karen, what’s the
occasion for having champagne and orange juice before lunch?”
“Well, you
remember that tasting I booked you for?”
“Yeah, that was
about a month ago right?” She nodded; her smile growing larger with each
second. “What about it?”
“You got it, X!
You got the chef position for the tour.” She exclaimed.
“What? Karen are
you serious?”
“Yes!” she
laughed.
“This is great
news! When do I start? When do I meet the client? Oh my goodness, I have so
many questions.”
“I’m sure you do.
I have arranged a meeting for you to meet with the clients to go over some
potential meal plans for them This Friday. I have their basic rider lists here
so you can get a basic idea of what they love to eat.”
“Wait a minute.”
Xavier paused. “They?”
“Yeah. Here are
their rider lists.”
“Karen, who is the
client?” Her smile spread as far as it could and her face had a pleasing glow.
“You are gonna
freak. Open it.” She urged. Xavier placed the laminated booklet in front of
her, drew in a deep breath and turned the page. “What do you think?” she
beamed.
Xavier stared down
at the picture that started the rider list.
Five men.
Smiling.
And him.
The memories
returned.
“This…is the
client?” she swallowed.
“Yes! Can you
believe it? The founder of Cherry Boo is gonna be the personal chef for the
Backstreet Boys!”
Joy was lost among
the sea of emotions that flooded Xavier’s brain; a wave of sadness washed over
and a flood of tears begged for release. She had tried to best to forget him
but her heart never could and now, she would have to deal with him, the
memories and possibly the heartache head on.
Was she ready?
***
