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I nod, hoping to remain as neutral as possible while trying to catch the wild horse of my heart. I clench my fists a few times. “Phillip hired her.”
“How are you getting along? You couldn’t get out of their house fast enough at the wake.”
“I really have to go now, Mom.” I open the door and wave at the driver who’s been waiting for me as if my flailing arm could speed up the departure.
“I saw how you looked at her. You may pretend you hate her, but that’s a lie.”
Fuck.
“She’ll be gone soon enough, so you don’t need to analyze it much, Mom.”
“And who will help you pick up the pieces this time?”
ChapterEight
Massi
“For the next two weeks, Gina will manage the dining room,” Phillip says, his eyes darting to me, coveting my support.
I protested this development half-heartedly already. I hate that I have no reasonable business argument against this decision, so I reluctantly accepted it. Or rather, swallowed my pride and decided not to sabotage it.
Our staff sits around the tables. Some of them gasp at Phillip’s announcement. All of them move their gaze to me. Fifteen pairs of eyes are waiting for my outburst or signs of humiliation. Potentially for my approval.
Phillip clears his throat. Gina and Mila stand at his side. The blond is beaming at me, as usual, completely unaffected by my temper. I’m good at spreading fear, but Mila is immune.
Gina is studying the faces of the team she’s about to lead, clearly using the moment to read their reactions. For some reason this pisses me off, because it’s exactly the right move on her part. While everyone is struggling with the announcement itself and focusing on my reaction, she is identifying her allies and potential troublemakers.
Damn her. With all her experience and all the right moves. Fuck.
Lena, who stands behind me, always finding her spot to shine in my shadow, touches my arm, trying to stop the silence from stretching to its already uncomfortable reality.
I know I’m expected to set the tone. To endorse Gina, but also to suggest I’m prepared to make the effort to create a better work environment. I’m not sure if Phillip or Gina really expect me to promise to these people I won’t yell at them, but if they do, they’ve lost their minds.
I step forward. “I understand we have room for improvements here. I also understand Gina is the best to help us organize our processes and standards here on the floor of the dining room. I ask you to cooperate with her with the single objective of making this restaurant the best fucking experience on Earth.”
Phillip claps and a few members of my kitchen staff nod.
“Now, some of you are stressed working with me. If that’s the case, you should perhaps consider a different job.”
Phillip groans beside me and I swear Lena chuckles.
“I have a temper, but let me ask you this: how many of you have I reprimanded for something?”
All of them raise their hands.
“How many of you feel you’d done nothing wrong when I yelled at you?” All hands go down except one. I look at the young man who started three weeks ago and has spent most of his time on smoke breaks. “Sorry for the misunderstanding. My money is on you not surviving the next two weeks under Gina’s leadership, but if you do, I’ll apologize for any wrongdoing toward you.”
I would wipe the smug look from his face with a dirty dishtowel, but there is no need. He is hours away from getting fired without my intervention. I might not reward good work ethics with praise, but I know when someone is taking their paycheck for nothing.
“My only goal here is to provide the best experience possible for our patrons. It’s my aim during my morning walk to the market to select the best ingredients. I think about that when I’m planning daily specials. It’s on my mind when we’re prepping the food or finalizing the dishes. It drives me and it should drive you, whether you want to be part of the success or just learn from the best before you move on. I won’t promise not to yell because it would be a false promise, but I’ll attempt to point out the good, not just the bad.”
Everyone fidgets in their seats and someone claps. I raise my hand to stop them. “Okay, if you’re here to make this place a success, stay, learn, follow, endure. If not, you can leave right now. Gina will work with all of you, and at the end of the next two weeks two of you will take over managing the floor and continue applying the changes we’re about to implement.”
Some nod, some straighten up, some move their attention to Gina. It’s clear some of them won’t be here in two weeks, but I’m okay with that. Gina will be gone too, which I’m more than okay with as well. And hopefully, in the wake of all the changes, we’ll have better service.
“Don’t fuck up,” I holler just for the fun of it. “I’ll let Gina address you now.” I don’t look at her.
I turn to sit on the stool behind me and catch Lena rolling her eyes. I frown at her and she rolls them again. I love that woman. I wish she’d stay on here because I won’t find another sous-chef who can handle me as easily as she does. Most of her predecessors came to learn from me and moved on too fast.
