AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Giving a meek wave, I say through a mouth that feels like I ate cotton, “I’m Journey. Nice to meet you all.”
Cash and Jason stare at me. “Journey, why don’t you tell everyone a little something about you, as you’re going to be Jason’s right-hand man. Woman. Sorry.”
I swallow. “I’m Journey,” I say again, pretend-brushing away a stray hair from my face, one of my nervous tics.
“Yeah, you said that,” Cash says.
To my surprise, Jason shoots his business partner an evil look that satisfies me. But only for a moment, because Jason has a lot of explaining to do to me. A lot.
“I’m from a little town outside of Des Moines. I graduated last May from the Culinary Institute of America. I interned in the Bay Area and hope to bring some of those ideas to Dallas. But I haven’t spoken to the Rushmore Group about growing an urban garden on the roof yet, so maybe Chef Jason can put in a good word for me.”
Wow, that actually got some laughs and a few claps.
My shoulders relax. Jason turns to me and gives me the official handshake. The familiar texture of his two big hands covering my small one conjures up so many recent memories from last night that I’m shaken to my core. His face is unreadable.
I stand there silently as Jason moves on to talk about tonight’s service, running down the menu for me and the servers.
As for me, I don’t hear a word he says.
Whatever. I’m in shock. None of this means anything.
I’ll get through tonight, go back to my crappy hotel room in Plano to get my shit, and then I’ll hightail it back to Iowa.
What other choice do I have?
The room quiets down when Jason steps forward. With his arms folded across his chest, the chef meets the eyes of each staff member one by one.
I hate that I love this.
“The first thing I need every day when I walk into this place is a clean kitchen.”
Silence.
The perky blonde raises her hand.
“What’s your name?” Jason barks.
“Bethany. We just met, remember?” Bethany tucks a lock of hair behind her ear flirtatiously. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
Jason is straightforward and doesn’t acknowledge his mistake. This is a power move, for sure. “Do you have a question, Bethany?”
“It’s just that, um, the cleaning crew does all that every night after service,” says Bethany, looking stricken that Jason Riggins doesn’t remember meeting his apparently biggest fan just a minute ago.
Some of the staff murmur in agreement.
Jason clears his throat. “This is how it’s gonna go. Today, everyone pitches in. I want that kitchen scrubbed from top to bottom. That means light fixtures, walls, and underneath the mats. I want the fucking light switches to shine. And then I’m reorganizing everything in that mess so none of you remember Richard was even here.”
He didn’t use the title “chef” in reference to Richard. Another power move. I would love this man if I didn’t hate him so much.
“And from now on, I want that kitchen run as if you don’t have a cleaning crew coming in to mop up after you. In fact, let’s all pretend I fired them. Cooks, I want those stations clean as a whistle before you leave at night.”
A few line cooks, respond with a meek, “Yes, Chef.”
“Did everyone hear me? Because I didn’t hear you,” Jason says, loud enough for everyone to hear, even the stray cats in the back alley.
I think a few of the servers jump before they respond. “Yes, Chef!”
“That’s better. Now get going so I can start cooking already.”
