Sunset Cove. Rookie School

Chapter 4 Glamorous Banquet

Banquet set up takes a lot of time and a lot of workers. Tonight’s event was to be glamorous. All in lavender and white all the way down to the rose centerpieces on the tables.

Sarah and Denise showed up eight in time for their shift.

“Thank God. It’s just a buffet”. Sarah told Denise.

“I know right? The only thing is there is so much to do to make this special the way they want.”

Denise pulled the “BEO” for both of them off the wall. A BEO is a banquet Requisition Order. It tells exactly how the room is to be set. It tells if there is a band or a DJ. It tells everything that is supposed to go in that room. From the center pieces, the dance floor, to the menu. How the Schaffer’s are to be lined up on the buffet. How the night is supposed to go, in order. Rarely happens exactly right.

As Sarah looked at her she thought aloud. It’ll take 80 severs at least, if not more, to do what we have to do tonight. We’ll need 4 bartenders and around 5 to 6 house men. To help with the bars.

Denise interrupted her thoughts again saying she thought it would be easier with the buffet table.

“Well that part of it won’t be hard. We don’t have to serve out if that’s what you’re thinking. We have 4bars, a dance floor equipped with a disco ball, 3 soda stations, 1 tea and water station, a chocolate fountain with fruit, and that doesn’t include the decorations, 3 ice sculptures (one with dolphins, one with killer whales, and one with mermaids). The D.J. usually sets up his own booth so we don’t have to worry about that. We still have to polish silverware and skirt the main table where all the leaders set. The decorations are more graphically designed than what than we usually work with. For starters there is a waterfall made of wood layers over in the corner, lavender and white tablecloths, along with center pieces have white and purple roses (that we have to cut).

Mirrors, pebbles, and confetti has to be placed in just the right places. There are white silk covers that fit over the chairs and then satin purple bows we have to tie in the back towards the center of the chairs.

Well it was 2:00 p.m. and the temps started filing through the door. Some of them were carrying tray jacks, trays, pitcher’s full of boiling hot water, bus tubs of silverware. This is what the banquet servers love to see. That means they have been there before and semi know what to do. First things first ever piece of silverware must be polished.

Brandie met everyone in the back hallway trying to settle down 80 people so that they could get instructions on what they were supposed to be doing. She started the temps on polishing silverware when she walked into the room with everyone was surprised some of the temps were already polishing and had their stations all set up to do what needed to be done. Which that left her workers to-do what they needed to get done. She put Denise and Sarah doing the chairs. Tammy and Christina folding napkins.

“Does this mean we’re still setting silverware like normal, which is 3 forks, 2 knives, and 1 spoon, what fold are we doing?” Tammy asked.

“Yes it does. The rose fold.” Brandie replied.

So Christina and Tammy went to the backroom to hunt down the napkins. They found some but not nearly enough so off they went to the laundry. It was right off the back hallway. That back hallway is at least a mile long if not longer.”

“Brandie got all of her worker lined out doing something. Now you guys are welcome to turn the boom box, but not so loud you can’t hear if there is an accident. This is hard work I know. We, however, believe in having fun at the same time. We want to see all you back. It really does make it easier. Just follow the rules. Don’t make your own self crazy. If you’re not sure what you need to be doing find Christina or Tammy they are the captains of this room. Find me if you can’t find them. Lynn is another captain she can help to. If we’re not available just ask one of our employees too. They can help you out and get you back on track. We have a sample table already made up over here so that when you get to the point where some of the silverware down. Some of you break off and start at one side of the room and work to the other. Take a look at the sample table first so that you’ll know what you’re doing the first time and not having to back track. You’ll see if that happens it is definitely a pain in the ass. You’ll find this is an exciting place to be if you’ve never been here just ask around and they will tell. What some of my own people have told me, it is like getting into the parties that you would never be invited too”.

Finally Tammy and Chistina made it back. Meanwhile Denise started with their employees. After reading the BEO she knew what was going to have to happen to make this room pristine before everyone shows up at 7:00. The house men put in the tables and the chairs. They put the white table clothes on the bottom and the lavender ones cat corned so that both colors showed. There were more house men putting down the dance floor. Then there was a crew doing the lighting. Which is also a must it turns that dance floor into a ballroom.

However they did not put on the satin elastic white chair covers or add the purple satin sashes that tied in the back to make a perfect bow.

Denise said, “I need about 15 of you to help Sarah and I with the chairs.” People began to move forward. We’ll take you fifteen and see where we’re at in an hour. Then we can add more if we need to.” She demonstrated how to do it a couple of times and then everyone got started. “Remember to start at one end and work steadily and make sure you finish every chair at that table before moving on. Just try to keep a steady pace so that everyone gets a break and that those doors are open with greeters 30 minutes before the gala is to begin. Have a great evening and if you have any questions find one of us in the black and we will help you out. Don’t ever forget NO question is a stupid question except the one that goes unasked. Let’s get to work and have fun with it. You’re welcome to talk to each other as long as you’re moving forward at the same time.

Bridget and Johnathon made their walk through.

“It is so great that we have such a wonderful staff. We need to do something for them sometime to let them know that we haven’t forgot about how hard they work. So that they understand how appreciated they are.” Johnathon said looking around the room at everything it takes to get a ballroom ready for the ball. He was in total AWE.

“Maybe when we get rookie school started up and going good we should do just that. For our workers and the temps. We’ll keep it on the down low for now. We’ve plenty of rookies that can help out with that job.”

“ Bridget, you are always so thoughtful. Not to mention good to all. Just like thinking of the temps and including them too.”

He gave her a kiss on the top of the head and loosely wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“I try to be. Let’s get out of here and get a good swim in before we have to get ready for our evening.”

“You go ahead and I’ll just catch up with you later. There is someone I want to go to see.”

“Alright. Could you check in here a couple of times and make sure it is going well.” She asked.

“Sure,” he replied I’ll see you later.

He headed out the door and down the hallway. He had to see her again. What excuse does he have this time? It’s okay he thought I’ll make up something before I make it to her door. Maybe she still hasn’t seen the rest of her apartment yet. Oh that’s just wishful thinking. Now you are at her door normally that walk would take forever. Right now he was on a mission and every step was actually two. What are you going to say? He kept asking himself the whole way and he was here now and still had no clue. He knocked anyway.

She had just had takin off her rollerblades and all she could think of was man I am popular today. I wander who it is this time. She opened the door and was so surprised to see him standing there again. She was just hoping he couldn’t see her heart throbbing under her shirt. It was awful thin. That heart was racing.

“Hi,” she said softly. “What did I do to get you knocking on my door twice today?”

“I just couldn’t stay away,” he replied “I’ll just have to come clean. I think you may have the best beer and conversation than anyone in this place.”

“Is that a fact? I’m not surprised. People tell me that all the time. Are you going to just stand there in the hallway or did you come by to come in?” she asked smiling.

He stepped in. “So you probably already took that tour I was supposed to give you.”

“You won’t believe this but no I haven’t. Remember earlier when Juliann and Kiara came by. Well we all went shopping for tonight. I just now walked in the door. Actually I rollerbladed in. I took them to the sporting goods store after they took me to the bridal and dress shop.”

“Looks like you got your hair and makeup done too.”

Oh yeah, she totally forgot all about that. She held out her nails to him we went all out. “I guess we are the perfect combination. We figured if we were going to do it we had to just go all the way.”

His eyes twitched and he replied, “Good to know.”

“So then how about that that tour,” he asked.

“Sure I am still really excited to see it I just haven’t gotten that far yet.” She said.

So they took off through the door that separated the front of the apartment to the back. She shut it behind her and flipped on the hall light. Thank God the switch was right there because you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face without it. It was definitely pitch black.

“I know these halls are quite dark but you will be glad when you’re trying to sleep. Not that you should have any trouble by the time everyone closes their doors at night it’s midnight or later and then 5:00 comes mighty early, but your body will adjust and you will just fit right in. In the beginning it’s hard work. Nothing will be you’ve ever done can compare. She opened a door to the first of two bathrooms. He was sure to let her know this. This is where when you’re entertaining your friends can go. It had a garden tub with a shower in front of it built separate. It was in bright yellow and neon green. The towels and wash cloths matched.

“Are you sure you didn’t call my mom before you decorated this place?” she asked laughing.

“Just keep going,” there was another room that was in black and white. An office desk with a laptop set up on it. There were all types of books on the shelves around the room. Anything you could think of mystery, suspense, and love. There was a whole section of Nora Roberts’ books on the west wall. There was a window in the back of the desk that was letting in the light from the mansion chandlers it wasn’t the daylight but it was so bright it could have been.

“Now I know for a fact you had to have talked to my mom.”

“I won’t lie. Maybe she did give me a little of her advice. The rest I did and picked out on my own. Do you like it so far?”

“Of course I do what’s not to like? I still can’t believe you talked to my mom. That is crazy.

“I think we all do that. We are all assigned a person. Bridget and I are the only ones who get to pick them personally. Everyone else is just assigned to someone within the group.”

“First I had to talk to your coach and he was the one who recommended you. Then he sent over all of your paper work, news clippings, you know that kind of stuff. He spoke very highly of you. When I received your information it had quite a few of your pictures attached. I don’t know but something I felt was drawing me to you.”

“You know what I felt the same way when your eyes met mine in the round room today. It was like a pull. I thought maybe I just imagined it.” She replied blushing.

“No I don’t think you did. I felt the draw too. It’s not just you.”

About that time she opened the door to the bedroom. Her bedroom. It was all decorated in lilac, lavender and deep purples. Her bed was a king size waterbed with the mirror lighted up on both sides with shelves and drawers underneath for her things. It had glass night tables on each side with lilac and lavender with tablecloths over the top. The underneath one went all the way to the floor with a ruffle around the bottom and the top just went halfway down with a smaller ruffle on it. The closet was huge. It even had a wall of shoe racks. A shelf made with different size holes. So that you could put what you wanted where you wanted it and it would fit. It reminded her of the different shows organization. With a closet like this one she would try. I mean really do it.

He was just watching her every expression like he wasn’t even there as she got the feel of her new bedroom. Last but not least was a bathroom big enough you could actually play baseball in. She just loved Kidd Rock. Anyway. It had double sinks one huge mirror which head light bulbs with blossom lampshades coming down. There was a hot tub big enough for 4 people to fit in with a seat for everyone. It was already filled up and you just had to push the control buttons on the side of the tub to make the jets come on. A nice walk in shower that was a marble purple it matched the hot tub. The inside of it was all the shades of purple in the bedroom. She wanted to hug him so badly, but she was going to hold herself back. Only this was another one of those what the hell moments. She wrapped her arms around his waist. For a split second he was just holding on to her. The whole world seemed to disappear while she was in his arms even if it was just a hug.

“I take it you like it?” he asked.

“Yes, Yes, and Yes.” She replied. “Hey do want me to mix us up some mixed cocktails and we can just talk for a little while.”

“He took a look at his watch. I’ve got about 30minutes to spare before I have to go and poke my head into the ballroom and see how it’s coming along.”

So they moved towards the bar shutting the hallway door as they went into the actual living quarters. That is how she felt to like she had just stepped out of an antiquated novel.

She loved it. Just more point for him. He wanted a rum and coke and she made herself a tequila sunrise.

Meanwhile back in the ballroom. Ryan, team Captain of the house men stuck his head into the room just to see what needed to be done next. The table cloths were all on and straight. The dance floor was in place. The lighting crew was almost finished with the lights. Next step was to get everyone on tables they still needed tables for the chaffers they had to be draped. They needed 4 round tables for the cashier at the bar. The head tables and they also had to be draped. 4 soda stations 2 tea stations, 3tables for the ice sculptures, and the DJ’s booth.

Ryan got on his walkie , “Scotty are you there.”

“Yeah boss what do you need?”

“I need for you to gather everyone up and have them start bring in the tables. Then I need for you to meet me upstairs. We have to start pulling table cloths and skirting for the master tables.”

“Okay, see you upstairs.” Replied Scotty putting his walkie back in his waistband.

The captains had completely changed their minds again. The silverware was now being rolled and put at the ends of the buffet in cloth draped baskets. The rolls were also going out on the buffet. The only thing besides the centerpieces, salt and peppers, butter and lemon slices, was the tea and water glasses filled.

Denise and Sarah began moving mirrors to the cart, along with the salt and pepper shakers, and sugars they didn’t want to over load the cart so they would have to come back for the flowers until they happened to see Donna passing by with an empty cart. Hey, would you go to the refrigerator and grab the roses out to the ballroom. After we set mirrors would you mind going behind us with the flowers?”

“Yeah, sure sounds like a plan. I’ll meet you guys in there.”

She started to walk off until she heard Sarah yell “Hey.”

Since this is a buffet the tables didn’t have to be set as normally they are. So this really speeded up the process. They began putting out the mirrors with a splash of graffiti on them and the tables. They went on to add the salt, pepper, and the sugars to the tables. About the time they needed to reload Donna showed up with the flowers. It was perfect timing it couldn’t have been better if they had planned it themselves.

Tammy and Christina were working on the butters and lemon slices in the back hallway. They had almost finished and had their cart and was getting ready to will it out and then Lynn came by, “When you two finish that will you start on the creamers?”

“Sure thing Lynn you know we got this. This isn’t our first rodeo."

“Thanks girls, she said. Shaking her head and laughing under her breath just thinking. Those two can make me laugh. Anytime, anyplace, and anywhere I just don’t quite know about them. She thought about it for a minute and then a thought occurred to her. Anytime anyone was feeling down or stressed out she would just send them their way. Because it don’t take long and they’ll have them laughing or at least smiling.

Jake and Trixie were setting up the tables with chaffers, rolled silverware, and signage. It always takes at least two people for that particular job, because the chaffers are heavy. Not that one person can’t do it if they absolutely have to, but it is always safer with two. Which has been known to happen often when there is only one working a party of 100 or something like that. Tonight they were just lucky to have enough staff.

It wasn’t a huge banquet right around 600 give to take a few. Everyone was excited about the gala.

One or two speakers and then dinner, drinking, and dancing all evening long. It was taking place in the main house ballroom. Even the ones that had to walk didn’t have far to go. Lined up around the walkway to the main house were beach cottages, of the other lifeguards, on both sides. The food looked exquisite too. From the salads all the way to the dessert. The smell of the entrée’s filled the room.

Denise was standing beside the linen closet when Ryan snuck up behind her and pushed her into the closet. Then quickly slammed the door. He turned her around and right into his arms. He pulled her mouth to his passionately pushing his tongue slowly inside of her wet lips. All the while, running his hands up and down her body.

“It has been too long,” He said.

She laughed and slapped him with a cloth napkin. “It was just this morning how quickly you forget. Do I need to remind you?” she replied in her most seductive voice.

“Yes, Yes I think you do, because it is just much too long for me.” He kissed her again one last time before letting her go.

“Now get out of here before you get us into trouble.”

“We can’t get into trouble,” he grinned back. “I am the boss you were just doing what you were told to do.”

Then he let her go and slipped out of the linen closet as fast as he slipped her in. She stood there for a moment taking it all in. She always did with him. He was the best guy she had ever met. Good looks, great job, but most important, he was into HER! For once, just into her. He had no idea who she was.

Her writing was a mystery. Along with her identity. He’ll know soon enough, she thought, when her next book is dedicated to him. Without him she wasn’t sure if she would have made it the last six months.

I’ve learned a few things in my life. The grass is green, the sea is blue, and Ryan is the sweetest guy I’ve ever knew. Now I’m rhyming in the linen closest. I must be head over heels because he constantly has my head and heart spinning. All of a sudden the door flew open.

“What are you doing in in here I the dark?”

“Well I was looking for the light switch and a stool. So that I could grab the rest of the candles that we needed. I thought I would also grab the sternos for them while I was in here and do it all in one trip. Now that I think about it I need to more hands it’s a good thing you happened along just in the Knick of time. To help me carry this stuff back.” Denise replied her face burning red. Al she could think of at that particular moment was Thank God it’s dark in here.

Trixie just shook her head and laughed. Opened up her arms wide so Denise could hand the boxes to her. Once they were all down and ready to go.

Trixie said, “I’ll tell you what I think but we have to walk and gossip because we need those candles pronto.” They got the boxes and took off down the hall.

“So spill Ryan was in there wasn’t he?” Trixie asked.

“A good woman never kisses and tells. Since when was I a good woman. I must of forgotten that little bit of information.”

“You’re beating around the bush,” Trixie said.

“Okay. Okay. So you got me. He was in there.” She said and at that same time she could feel her cheeks go flush. It happens every time she thinks of him. She just must be crazy about him that’s the only thing she can figure. No one else ever made her feel this way.

“We’ll have to talk girl talk later when things calm down a little and they will I assure you!” Trixie giggled.

“Now on that note of reassurance I say we go smoke before all the craziness does start.

The PARTY was finally set. All to do now was roll out the red carpet. All though that would be kind of hard considering the top pick of the tower guards are coming down the winding staircase from the third floor.