Dinner Service
1389 Words
Sofia just took all her rest hours, after eating, she went back to work as usual, would give documents after the work was done.
It didn't feel like the night had arrived, Sofia began to check into the private dining room rented by Arsenio. She found something strange knowing that she made a booking before arriving in New York.
'Perhaps this is only for his close friends?'
It's normal to celebrate Arsenio's return here, in the past they did the same thing every time one of their friends took a long holiday out of town or country.
"It's going to be a special night," Mateo's comment brought Sofia out of her own world.
"Why do you think so?" Sofia asked.
Mateo turned his body to show his mischievous smile, "Of course because I want to see Arsenio, especially when you two are married."
"Oh ..." Sofia mumbled in disappointment.
"I knew long ago that you were hiding something~" Mateo said, "but didn't know you were in a serious relationship. I had to tell our friends! Cindy must be surprised, hahaha ..."
"No need!" Sofia hastily rejected his idea. One problem was enough, she didn't want to add more, even though she knew that sooner or later Cindy would know, "Never mind. Could you check back in the kitchen, Mateo?"
Mateo still wanted to chat actually, but he let go because he knew how complicated her relationship with Cindy was, "Sure."
After he left, Sofia checked the book in her hand.
'There are two vegetarians.'
There will be ten people in attendance, including Arsenio and Dominic.
'Much less than I expected.'
Arsenio just returned so maybe he's not as influential as Arlyne.
Sofia doubts that Arsenio didn't invite Arlyne, who is one of his close friends.
'Thank God, I didn't cook directly in front of them.'
Sofia doesn't want to see Dominic and Arlyne making out in front of her. The less she knew, the better for her sensitive heart.
"Chef Sofia!"
Sofia flinched at Mateo's voice from behind her, "What's wrong?"
"Arsenio is here!"
What?
But there's still an hour and a half left before the dining service starts!
Sofia rushed down from the third floor to the first floor, and sure enough what Mateo said, Arsenio was seen at the front door of the restaurant being greeted by his mother. She looked around to check who he was here with.
'Is he alone?'
Sofia doesn't want to disturb their family reunion, so she decides to go to the kitchen instead, but the people there stare at her with mischievous looks. She knew that look, knew too well because all day that was the expression she encountered. She could smell the joke about Mrs. Grace from afar. She was really tired, "What now?"
"Why are you still here, Chef?"
"I'm sure Mr. Grace has been waiting for you!"
"How sweet! Mr. Grace came early because he wanted to meet you~"
Sofia doubted all that, but what could she do? To all of them, she is Arsenio's wife now, "This place is not for gossip. Get back to work!"
The atmosphere in the kitchen suddenly turned tense, their mischievous expressions disappeared when they heard Sofia's unusually high tone of command.
Satisfied with the kitchen's condition returning to normal, Sofia decides to go to her workroom to get the documents she hasn't had time to give to Faye.
"Wow, so many gifts here."
The moment Sofia opened the door, Arsenio's voice greeted her. She rolled her eyes, "It's rude to enter someone's room without permission, Mr. Grace."
"Since when do I care?" Arsenio asked back innocently, "Seriously, this is all for us?" he asked enthusiastically at the many colorful gifts in his wife's room.
"That's mine," Sofia replied fiercely, taking the small gift in his hands, "you won't get a share as long as you keep torturing Dominic." she said coldly.
"Torturing... that's right," Arsenio sneers back at her, rolling his eyes, "tell him, if he can't work under pressure, I'm gladly accepting his resignation letter tomorrow."
"Who do you think you are?" Sofia challenged angrily.Never in her life had she been this angry with him.
Arsenio shook his head in disbelief, "I'm not asking for your opinion. Better just tell him. Bye." he turned away after he said that.
Sofia clenched her fists in anger.
'Why did Arlyne choose him anyway!? I can't see anything good!?'
As far as Sofia can see, Arsenio continues to be arrogant and doesn't want to accept criticism.
'Calm down, Sofia.'
Important work is waiting for her, Sofia doesn't want to make mistakes just because of Arsenio's words. She came out of her room, only one step she took, her eyes caught something familiar to her.
'Isn't that ...'
Sofia blinked to make sure what she saw was true.
Her eyes weren't wrong.
Sofia saw through the window her friends entered the restaurant in formal clothes with Arlyne. Her mouth gaped wide in shock.
'They are all guests?!'
Sofia thought Arsenio invited colleagues at the company; in fact, only Arlyne came, and Dominic was nowhere to be seen.
"Chef Sofia! Here you are, let's hurry to the kitchen. The guests have arrived," Mateo said while patting Sofia on the shoulder, bringing her back to reality.
"I understand," Sofia answered unenthusiastically.
"I haven't seen them in a long time! It's like a big reunion, right?" Mateo said excitedly, "I can't wait to finish the private dinner tonight and chat with our friends again~!"
Sofia somehow doesn't like Mateo's idea. It's true that she had not seen them for a long time because everyone was busy working, but as before she was afraid of being the center of attention because she married Arsenio.
'Especially Abigail. Ugh. She won't be quiet about this.'
Sofia remembers Mateo and Abigail bet each other there would be love between her and Arsenio after knowing about them living in the same apartment alone because the others refused to join them.
Abigail then lost a lot of money because she lost a bet after the announcement that she was dating Dominic.
"Chef!"
Sofia patted her forehead, "I'm coming."
Once again, she's grateful not to cook directly in front of her friends.
***
Even though Sofia cooks in the kitchen, her friends do inspections there to see the ingredients as a silly excuse when in fact they tease her and Mateo.
Not long, only ten minutes, but to Sofia it felt like a long time.
Sofia thought that was the end of their silly tactic, how wrong she was. Every time she served food, one of them asked the waiter to call her with the excuse of wanting to give her direct praise for the food she made.
Normally, she was always proud of getting direct compliments from direct customers, but these were her friends, of course they added some naughty words, especially if it wasn't about her wedding.
They all called her Mrs. Grace.
'I feel like I'm back when we were in college again.'
Sofia remains professional, after all she is still working, besides being a chef, she is also the manager here.
"Here's dessert, Chef."
Sofia checked the husk meringue dessert one by one, "All ok."
Two waiters put the dark gray plates onto the tray one by one and then brought them out.
With the dessert out, tonight's fine dining was over. Sofia turned her body to face her coworkers who had stopped cooking, "Good job, everyone! We nailed it tonight~" Although her mood was not good, she was glad that her work was not affected.
Everyone cheered.
Sofia chuckled seeing her friends hugging each other and some even throwing rags up in celebration, "You all never let me down~! After cleaning up, you can rest."
"Got it, Chef Sofia."
Mateo approached her, "Do you want to meet them?"
Sofia shook her head, "I have had enough of their praise. I'm getting sick of it."
"They haven't changed, have they?" Mateo asked with a chuckle imagining how tired Sofia must have been almost five times to go to the guest table to receive compliments from them, or pranks from their friends.
"You have no idea," Sofia sat down in a chair to show that what she said was true, "If I hear it one more time, I'll lose it."
- Writer
