The Lost Prince

Boston

Eric took two days to drive to the city he would be calling home the next two years, Damien promising his brother Dimitri was just as good as he was as a chef. Eric while not being a chef, had been taught at least the basics by his boss, and was able to make passable dishes on his own. He wasn't exactly star quality chef material, but he knew his work in the front of house was spectacular. He arrived to the restaurant before the dinner service had started, Dimitry seeing him and smiling as he recognized the kid from the picture his brother sent.

"How was trip?" Dimitry asked as he walked in and saw everyone getting ready for service.

"Good, despite what happened." Eric replied as he nodded at the facility but knew instantly he would have the front arranged differently.

"Yes terrible tragedy. Listen, only opening we have for now is for prep cook, is that problem?" Dimitry asked as Eric shook his head.

"Not my strong suit, but will give it my all." Eric said as he jumped in and began learning what exactly it was he would be doing.

For the next month Eric spent every hour the restaurant was open working, just so he would have more money available when the semester started. Dimitry had taught him a lot about cooking, he just knew he didn't have the skills to be a chef in a Michelin Star restaurant like Damien ran.

"Eric, I think we both know it isn't working out. You might make a great chef one day, but today-" Dimitry was saying when they heard a scream before a gunshot and Dimitry grabbed his shotgun as they all ran to the front.

The scene was grizzly, the manager for the front of house shot in the head as a masked man ran away as soon as he saw Dimitry. Dimitry was an excellent shot, nailing the man right in the ass, shattering his pelvis on the one side forcing him to crumple as the gun went flying as Dimitry wasted no time securing him while Eric called 911 before he began managing the customers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I know what you have witnessed today is traumatic, and we will assist you in getting the help you need. For now however, we and law enforcement need you to remain seated until you have had the opportunity to give a statement to the authorities. For now, the kitchen is open and anything you need will be on the house until the officers release you." Eric announced as they heard the sirens coming over the man's screams.

It took most of the evening for the Detectives to interview all the witnesses and release them before they questioned the staff about what they saw and heard. The entire time Eric kept a few of the cooks working as well as a few of the more stable waitresses, the police completely thankful that they he was doing all of it as he even cooked them a meal as well as the staff once the last of the customers had gone home with assurances from the police that they could get trauma counseling through the city at no cost.

When it was all said and done for the evening, Eric drove Dimitry home as he had taken a few shots of scotch before they left. Once they got to the house he took Dimitry inside, Hellen inside worried sick as his wife.

"What do we know?" Hellen asked.

"Samantha is dead, passed away during surgery. We got the update while they were questioning the staff. Be at least a day before they release the restaurant for cleaning and another 48 hours after that for the cleaning and repairs to be done. It is going to cost a chunk of money in product and lost revenue, but I am more concerned about him." Eric told her pointing at the now unconscious boss.

"Let him rest, tomorrow morning will be when it hits. Samantha was his front of house manager for 10 years." Hellen told him pouring both of them a stiff drink. "No crap about age, you earned it after tonight if what Brandon tells me is correct."

"What did he tell you?" Eric asked curious.

"He told me how one employee stepped up in the chaos and calmed everyone and everything down until the police arrived. Kept those who needed it busy while those who needed the good freak out were allowed to as well." Hellen replied sipping her own scotch as he took the other glass from her. "Takes real leadership to remain strong in something like that."

Eric snorted before he took a sip of the iced scotch and looked at her. "Damien and I were robbed twice in the last 8 years. I assure you I was just as scared as those who freaked, but knew what the police needed for their investigation. All I did was make sure everyone stayed calm and didn't panic during the situation." he said as she shook her head.

"Leave it to Damien to never tell his brother that." Hellen said before they both took a large sip. "I know Dimitry intended to speak to you about finding another job, but I think I found the perfect replacement for Samantha. I will talk to doofus in the morning about it, go get some rest." she said making Eric nod before he went to his apartment that was essentially a kitchen in and small living room with a bedroom and bathroom.

The next morning he awoke with the sun, surprised he had managed to get more than a few hours of sleep as he heard Dimitry groaning on the back porch as he sipped his coffee. Eric joined him just as Hellen walked out and handed him some orange juice and Tylenol.

"So it seems you do know how to handle the tension, I have to agree with Brandon, Emily and my wife. I think you would be the perfect person to replace Samantha. At least until I can find someone good enough for a Michelin Star staff." Dimitry said as Eric nearly choked on his coffee.

"Damien never told you, did he?" Eric asked as Dimitry groaned not wanting to guess. "Damien refused his star the year after you got your first one. It was my third year running his front of house. We would have gotten a second star last year if he hadn't threatened to sue them again."

Dimitry leaned back before he shook his head laughing before he looked at Eric. "Leave it to my brother to throw a fit over something that would be good news." he said while thinking about it. "I will give you a month to show you can do the job, if not I will find someone else and you can choose host, waiter or bartender." he said as Eric shook his head.

"Not old enough for bartending, I can't even serve a beer yet."

It took a week for the police and cleaners to finish with the restaurant before they got back in. The first day Dimitry and Eric arrived at 8 am to begin taking deliveries as their entire perishable stock had been tossed by the cleaners as well. Dimitry worked on the kitchen while Eric went into the managers office to see what they could salvage from the paperwork. He was amazed at how organized Samantha had been, but how overwhelming it all appeared when he realized that she had been using paper to track inventory for the front of house and kitchen.

Eric smiled as he walked out to the dining room and began bringing the systems online, surprised to find that they had 5 different ones they were using to make everything run. He found the third thing to improve on as he pulled out his tablet and began the most basic functions as he rearranged slightly.

by the time the staff arrived for a late lunch before they prepared for the first dinner service, Eric was finished with the new layout, everyone surprised at how much more space their seemed to be despite the fact he hadn't eliminated even one table.

"Welcome back everyone, it is once again time we broke bread before we begin service tonight." Eric said as they all nodded just as Dimitry wheeled out the cart with new dishes they had never seen before.

Dimitry walked them through each dish one by one as they all got to try what he had made, as they were completely redoing the menu after the incident. They had already printed and received the new ones, Hanna and Eric making them at the house while they tried to do anything to remain productive. The staff was now excited as they all dug into each dish one by one, all so the waiters and waitresses could know what each of the dishes taste like before service that night.

As it got closer to three when they began work, he clinked his glass as everyone looked at him.

"I know I have big shoes to fill, and I will never be able to replace Samantha. I didn't know her as long as everyone else did, but one thing I heard her say multiple times is that change isn't necessarily bad." he said as they all nodded and smiled at the memory. "In the short time she was my friend, I know she wouldn't want us to dwell on her absence forever. There are a few changes as you can see, none of it done to erase her style or way if doing things. So, tonight let us show everyone there is nothing to fear. We are here and our doors are open because we do not fear what monsters may bring to our home. We will stand together and face it." he said as they all cheered and got to work knowing they had two hours before the doors would open.

By the time the last customer left and they locked the doors, the front of house knew his changes would be for the better in the long run. Despite the new menu the service had gone even smoother than they expected, all of them surprised he spent the entire night there in the weeds with them.

"So how do you plan to manage anything if you are helping us through service?" Natalie asked as he looked at her with a smile.

"As I said, over the next few weeks you will see small but significant changes in the way the front of house works. All of it making us all more efficient, so we can provide the best experience for our guests while causing ourselves the least amount of stress." Eric told her before Dimitry cleared his throat.

"Well, the results are in and we ran a new record of $72,475 tonight by pushing the specials you suggested." Dimitry said as he had planned their entire nightly menu for the week.

"Excellent, that might make me telling you we need to spend $15,000 in the front of house easier then." Eric replied as Dimitry looked at him and nodded.

"I will make sure you have the funds tomorrow, because if we can keep this progression moving, soon we will have our second star." Dimitry replied with a smile as the rest of the staff cheered before they closed the doors for the evening.