DANGEROUS AFFAIR

The New Interns

"My dear interns" Anabel announced, smiling brightly at the seven interns. As it is custom, a chef gets internship placement at 'Bel cuisines' if he or she wins at 'Cook with Bel'. The contest holds every two weeks, and that means two interns per month while the kitchen takes in interns every three months. Within that period, there would have been at least six interns sometimes seven. Formerly, the interns get taken in immediately after the contest but it got so inconvenient and stressful for the head chef and they had to add some changes.

Another three months start today, and before anything, the employees meet with the interns before Anabel hands them over to the head chef.

"I am so glad to have you all here," Anabel said and took a short pause as she looked intensely at the interns. "Congratulations on winning the contest and placement."

"Also, thanks for staying with us by accepting the offer. You could have rejected the offer and sought placement elsewhere but you chose to be here, you chose us. All the staffs, especially the head chef and other interns are happy to have you." Anabel said while everyone applauded.

"You all displayed enormous talents during the contest and you made it to the top. I hope we can mold you into even greater talents..." Anabel continued, still focused on the new interns. All the other employees were focused on the new interns as well, they are the stars of the day so it is expected that they would be the sole focus.

"I don't want to waste our time so I will be as brief as possible. I've met with some of you before this meeting but I can still see some new faces so we will quickly introduce ourselves starting from me. Just the interns, head chef, and I. Others can introduce themselves behind the scene..." Anabel said and excused herself while she spoke to Zoey who was standing next to her. Zoey then checked the files she was holding, but probably couldn't find what she was looking for as she went out afterward. She came back in shortly and handed a small piece of paper to Anabel. Anabel looked through its contents, nodded her head a few times, and continued with her speech.

"I'm sorry about that. As you all probably know, I'm Chef Anabel Jones... Next..." Anabel introduced herself politely, the new interns were all expecting her to go on about her achievements but Anabel isn't like that. Despite her huge accomplishments, Anabel is very modest. Unless asked or necessary, you can't find her telling people about herself and in this case, it wasn't necessary.

The new interns took turns as they introduced themselves one after the other until it was the head chef's turn. He also did a brief introduction, mentioning only his name and position.

"Please continue" Anabel urged the head chef after he signaled to her that he was through.

The head chef, Brandon, is in his early forties and with several awards to his name. Anabel used to be the head chef until 'cook with bel' was established, she could not manage both and had to hire another head chef. Brandon had just joined the kitchen months before then but had shown tremendous talent and progress. Anabel saw this and gave him the post.

Before Brandon continued, Anabel took permission on behalf of herself and the non-kitchen employees to excuse themselves as they still had other things to attend to in the office. The introduction had been done already, and the interns have been handed over to the head chef, there was no more reason to invade their kitchen business when they have theirs to face. The head chef obliged and they left, however, some of the workers exchanged pleasantries with the new interns before leaving, some even hugged while some shook their hands.

There would still be a party for the interns that are leaving, ten of them. It was supposed to be just six leaving but four spent ten months instead of the usual one year.

As Zoey and others left, Brandon looked up and checked the time, it was the restaurant's opening time already so he dismissed everyone else but the new interns so they could open and start work.

"Please sit," Brandon said and they all took their seats. They have been standing through the introduction. He asked for the chairs to be arranged in a circle for enhanced communication.

"Once again, I welcome you all into our midst. It's really nice having y'all here and I hope you get to have a nice time here. Though I can assure you it won't be simple, you are going to work, really hard. 'Bel Cuisines' is known to produce the best students as relating to internships so if you know you probably can't keep up or work, now is the best time to leave. No one will hold you to it if you decide to quit now" Brandon said and then took a brief pause, giving the new interns a chance to decide whether to stay or not. When none of them stood or said anything, he continued with his speech"

"In the absence of quitters, I believe you are all winners. Presently, there are twenty other interns, ten are through and would be leaving today. We would be hosting a small feast later today to honor them, do well to attend as well. That leaves ten and then with you seven, makes seventeen. Aren't you all happy?" Luke exclaimed while they cheered and applauded.

"There are twenty-five kitchen personnel, ten waiters, and fifteen chefs. You must be wondering how, considering our current numbers, some work part-time." Brandon quickly cleared the air as he noticed the interns were looking around the room trying to do some calculations.

"Ten wait on tables full-time, five work part-time while the remaining ten work day and evening shifts with me in the kitchen. The other interns work in the kitchen, you would be joining us as well. You are to report to your head intern every morning when you arrive and before you leave in the evening or whatever time you do. The former head intern is among the interns leaving today so a new one will be announced today during the feast. Just so you understand better, a new head is chosen every three months because the old one would be leaving. Although, sometimes, an intern gets to head for six months or even nine months, depending on who gets chosen and the months they have left. Lastly, it is done by voting, three interns get nominated and the one with the highest votes gets the post. The vote is done during the feast so there is no discontent or lobbying but a free and fair one. Your head intern represents you all and also reports to me. Please treat them with the utmost respect" Brandon explained explicitly. One of his attributes that made him well-loved and preferred by the chefs and interns, his ability to explain and teach in detail.

"Here, you get to learn different kinds of cuisines, even the ones not on our menu list. Some of you probably have your specific areas but a good chef has to be versatile. Right?" Brandon continued as he threw the rhetoric question to them while they nodded in agreement.

"I think I've covered all the areas but if I haven't, you will get to know more along the course of your internship. Now, you will join the others in the kitchen. But, don't just stay in a corner or isolate yourselves, mingle with others. If you see a new cooking method or style that you are not familiar with, ask questions. I will be joining you guys soon, for now, I need to see to this evening feast. Do you have any questions?" Brandon asked them and then rose to his feet.

"How are we to know where to start?" Maria, one of the interns asked. A glance at her and one would know she's outspoken, the manner with which she listened with keen interest while Luke addressed them was glaring. Luke had caught her jotting some things down once or twice during his lecture and he had been wondering, her question confirmed his assumptions. Although Maria had won the contest, the other chef that lost to her gave her a run for the prize right from the start but the judges probably saw what Brandon was seeing now and declared her the winner.

"Where to start? Start anywhere. You can choose to join the kitchen staff or experiment on your own. Just make sure you are learning and not idle. Every day must count, every hour even. But if I were you, I will go to the outgoing interns and ask them some questions like the one you just asked. How did they start? Where? When? I'm sure they will be happy to help..." Brandon answered her while giving them additional strategies they could employ.

"Any other question? Am I free to go?" He asked again, when no one answered, Maria, spoke on their behalf and said they were okay for the moment.

"Okay then," Brandon said and then dismissed them while he went to Anabel's office to finalize their plans.

Back at the office, Anabel, Zoey, and the outgoing head intern are busy talking over the plans for the feast. It was going to be a small one, no extravagance, with enough food anyways. Just an hour and they would be done. They were still engrossed in this when Brandon entered. He quickly filled them in on how the address went and they did the same as well concerning the plans for the feast.

"Will they be joining for the feast?" Zoey asked Brandon, referring to the new interns.

"I'm not sure. I told them though" Brandon replied slightly moving up his shoulders.

"Is it even supposed to be an option? I mean not attending. If they are serious, they will come" Anabel said as she relaxed back into her chair.

"Really? You want to evaluate their level of seriousness based on that" Zoey asked grinning.

"Well, I would. If only to know how things are done" Bryan, the outgoing head-intern chipped in while smiling mischievously as though he didn't believe his own words.

"You are only saying that because you are one of the ones leaving" Zoey countered.

"I know you would say that but I've always attended the send forth so you see" Bryan insisted as he playfully dusted his shirt.

They all laughed when he did this. The feast was interesting, a new head was chosen and congratulated. All the new interns attended except Maria.