"I don't want to see anything to go wrong today," Arthur told George, his voice rang a hidden warning.
The restaurant was wholly reserved for one guest today. And the boss wanted to only focus on that one guest. He never saw any of his guests give this special treatment. That was the first, but it made sense judging how the guest was treated at their first visit.
"Yes, Sir."
George replied before excusing himself.
Arthur found his phone beside his cooking ingredients as a new text came into his view.
Lockwood: I'll be there in a few minutes.
Arthur: Take your time.
Lockwood: Can I see you cook?
Arthur: No.
Lockwood: For the video. No face. Only hands.
Arthur: No.
He was responded with a thumbs up emoji.
Lockwood: Your first spelled word as a child must have been 'no' instead of 'mama'.
Lockwood: I bet I'm right.
George came back with some more cooking ingredients as he saw his Boss's facial muscle twitching upwards. Was that a smile? Or a desperate attempt to hide a smile?
The sun must have risen in the west today.
Arthur couldn't fathom if she was in a good or bad mood from the texts. It's already been two whole days since the news was published. He could have only kept her from seeing those for a few hours but no more than that.
Was she sad? Or was she happy about the news?
Arthur didn't know why he cared about her reaction, but to his surprise he did. He can't even put a full stop on that too, he sometimes did more than caring and it was bothering him a lot too.
"Earth to Mr. Davenport," suddenly he felt a gentle tap on his back to find Alexis standing behind him.
Her decent profile felt rather small beside him. The black blouse and black jeans she had on, paired with golden ring earrings was contrasting enough beside his full white buttoned apron. He didn't know when she came inside the kitchen which had no entry except staff tag hanging on the door.
Is she one of those who care about tags? No. And he already knew that much.
But who let her in?
He saw George forming a thumbs up in pride to him, assuming he must have done the best job today by letting her in. George already got a good idea of this lady being important to the boss. He is not that dumb.
Arthur sighed in defeat. She always seems to get whatever she wants, doesn't she?
"Hey, don't get all tense on me. I won't be filming here, okay? But let me just watch a bit."
She pouted her lips almost assuming it would work on him.
Surprisingly, it did.
Arthur ignored her antics before sighing for the last time. He poured out the hot water from the boiled after rolling up his sleeves upto his elbow.
Alexis observed his every move with great interest. Once she read in a book that men cooking with their sleeves rolled up is the hottest possible thing for women. Now she understood what it meant.
She never saw any man move their hand on cutlery items this well let alone cook meals. For her.
Alexis wanted to hit her head for thinking that way as she knew she was here as a customer of this restaurant and he is the one running this place, not someone special getting a special treatment here. No, she doesn't want it like that anyway.
Don't give too much thought into it, Alex. Just don't.
Her mind was already a little bit fuzzy from all the scolding she got from her mother. First, for not visiting her sooner. Second, for not learning anything from Rebecca.
Alexis was genuinely happy for Rebecca, but that didn't mean she had to also follow her steps . Just because she got herself a perfect partner doesn't mean she will need to hunt one for herself too.
Is it so weird to be single for this long in this century?
Alexis's eyes darted at the man beside her who had his whole focus on the cooking.
Huh, look at him all passionate about it. Not her looking into interviews about him about how he loved and felt deep passion about cooking.
She couldn't believe he could be that talkative about something. And in front of her, he is just an ice wall. Doesn't melt, doesn't budge.
"Stop boring holes on my face."
To her surprise, she found his eyes looking straight at her this time. She didn't even realize he was almost done with his job while all she did was mess around in her own mind.
"Why? Is that something exclusively kept for someone else to stare," Alexis grinned, although her eyes didn't reach the smile at all.
"Curious?" This time Arthur didn't seem to leave her behind without responding.
Oh? She smells challenge.
She rolled her eyes, "As if I don't know whom you're saving it for."
Alexis cursed inwardly instantly for the grave mistake she made. She wasn't supposed to reveal the fact that she knows Venessa and he were still involved with each other. But her mind couldn't accept the fact that they were in an extra-marital affair, hoping they were waiting until the divorce.
She somehow couldn't fit him in that image. And the urge to ask him straight forwardly bugged her constantly.
"You know nothing," he replied with a great amount of seriousness, his facial muscle hardening on that process.
Alexis felt like she crossed a line she shouldn't have. She isn't like this usually. But somehow she just can't stop sticking her nose into his business. The curiosity was quite frustrating although she would vanish from his sight after a few days.
She closed her eyes for a long minute and was ready to apologize to him when they were interrupted.
"Miss, can you spare me a second?" Alexis found a woman standing beside the man who felt like in charge of management, offering her an awkward smile.
Where had she seen her?
Suddenly, she got reminded of that face and that bright red lipstick together. Isn't that the waitress who served her that day?
Alexis looked back at Arthur to find him busy with his cooking again. She slipped from his side, her eyes filled with questions and stood before that woman. She wasn't wearing any seductive makeup today, looking more presentable at work than she was looking at that time.
"I would like to sincerely apologize for the behavior which was absolutely inappropriate the other day, Miss Lockwood," she chirped with her fake innocence.
Alexis knew instantly it was just an act as soon as she laid her eyes on that girl. How come she ended up working in this good place with that kind of poor professional skills.
She folded her arms around her chest, inspecting the girl in her scrutiny. "What you did to me has already become a past. That doesn't concern me anymore. You should ask your superior instead if he can let it slide this time. Because I am sure enough about one thing, that even in the future when I will visit this place, you won't be the one to serve me anyway."
George gaped as he looked at the lady in front of him. She seemed so timid at first glance but looks can be deceiving. She is not as timid as she looks. She seems kind, but a pushover? Absolutely not. He then indirectly let his eyes glance at his boss to gape even further.
And... the boss was smiling? Was he dreaming, or was it really a smile curved on his lips? Did he just witness his boss smile for the first time and twice in one day at that?
The girl's face became pale like a sheet of paper, her fake innocence washed out of her face instantly. She looked at her boss for one last time but found no hope in there. Alexis saw the man beside her drag her away outside the kitchen.
"Are you going to fire her?" Alexis looked back at Arthur and saw him clear his throat, catching her gaze at him.
"She is already fired," he stated simply.
"Huh? Then why is she here?"
"Because she needed to apologize for what she did."
"I didn't exactly forgive her."
"Your wish."
Alexis couldn't break eye contact with him instantly. She didn't even realize she needed that apology to pass on her and still got it without asking. Is he the observant type now?
"Wait outside and do your thing. I will be bringing the food to you in a few minutes."
Alexis finally remembered she carried the huge camera bag with her today for a reason which she completely forgot. What's wrong with her?