A chef's nightmare

Chapter 4: a tight schedule

I just woke up and my heart was beating like crazy, I was so nervous about my first day on the job. It seemed like a dream, how come I was feeling like I would not be able to live up to the expectations that they want me to. The secret service where just as punctual as the rising of the sun, they were already outside my hotel room at around 6 pm to take me to the White House.

We needed to arrive early enough so that I would be able to finish preparing their breakfast on time to meet up with the president’s schedule. They refused Luther from joining me, even though I had argued that he would be helping me with a few things but he did not have the clearance to step his foot in the White House. He wanted to get the chance to see inside the prestigious white House, and there was still a little trick up my sleeve but then I would have to make him one of my side chefs in the kitchen.

There was no way that would have been possible that morning since there were already other side chefs at the White House, the president had only switched the executive chef because of the kind of cuisine she made. I would have to make a special request to be able to change any of the side chefs, that was something I was going to do later on.

When I arrived Kimberley was still asleep, but then the president was already up by a few minutes after six. I was shocked, I had imagined that he woke up whenever he wanted but that did not seem to be the case. The schedule which I and Kimberley had discussed the previous day for breakfast was bacon, egg, and sausage sandwich.

Originally I envisioned that I was just preparing a dish for just the president and his daughter, but then I was a bit shocked when I got informed that morning that I would be serving the family of the vice president too.

It was a light dish to prepare, and together with the help of the other chefs, I was able to get it ready within thirty-five minutes. With just a few minutes to spare I was able to meet up with the 7 am schedule, perhaps my first meal went well and since I got no complaints, that meant that they all enjoyed the meal.

I was so nervous and so I had little appetite for any food, I just nibbled at a thing or two. The lunch was going to be the salmon en papillote, and it was going to take a while to prepare the meal, most especially the fish. I and the other side chefs were already getting ready for lunch, when Kimberley walked in, our gaze met each other’s.

“your cooking was perfect, you did not disappoint at all,” Kimberley commended me, “much better than the last chefs food, his was always too spicy but I guess that you found a way of balancing it all,” she uttered.

“I am glad you liked it, although I was not the only person you should thank for the food,” I said to her tilting my head towards the side chefs.

“I know, but it was your recipe I suppose,” she replied to me, “anyway, can you help me with something? That is if you are ok with it though,” Kimberley said.

“What is that about?” I asked her

“I need you to help me pick a cloth, I am totally confused and was invited to an event by my friends,” she said.

“But I can still remember that you said that you were not allowed to go for parties, so what happened now?” I asked.

“it is not a party though, my friends just invited me to a get-together,” Kimberley told me, with the way she fidgeted and stammered, it felt like she was up to something and I did not want to be part of anything that could put me into trouble. Moreover, I just started working there just a few hours ago, and I was not going to be risking it.

“I would have loved to help but we are already trying to get lunch started,” I told her, just to get her if my back but she still insisted that all she needed was for me to help her pick a dress.

“It will not take much of your time,” Kimberley argued, trying to convince me but there were a lot of things crossing my mind at that moment. Since I was not even sure that I was allowed to be in the bedrooms but at the same time I was trying to avoid hurting Kimberley’s feelings.

“so when is this event happening?” I inquired from her.

“it is today, this evening. That is why it is so urgent to me,” she replied, Kimberley, sounded a little bit panicked. It was all weird for me, we barely knew each other even if we had a cool conversation the previous day but I did not think that we had become that close.

“hmm, maybe just bring a few of the cloths down here so that I could just help you sort a few of them because I do not think it would be right for me to leave the kitchen at this moment,” I said to Kimberley, hoping that she would leave me be but to my greatest surprise, she agreed. Only to return in about five minutes with a handful of clothes down to the kitchen.

“whoa! You are back already?” I asked her.

“yea, that was what you suggested,” she replied.

“let us sort them in the guest room,” I suggested to Kimberley, gesturing for her to go towards there.

“I am so sorry for disturbing you, but from the little conversation we both had yesterday I felt that you are the only one that could understand me,” Kimberley said to me, “you also remind me of my mom, and I have no idea why,” she explained to me.