Chapter 3 Stalker much

My phone rang, it was the restaurant.

Me: Peggy, is everything ok?

Peggy: Well chef, Chris isn't feeling well and I don't trust him handling the food tonight. Sandra is off this whole week and I can't seem to get a hold of Thabang. Dinner service is about to start, we are fully booked and we don't have a head chef.

Me: Ok, relax. Let the kitchen continue with prep. I'll be there in 15mins. Has the lunch crowd died down?

Peggy: Yes ma'am.

Me: Alright tell Nombuso to hold down the fort incase there are any last lunch orders I'll be there in time for dinner service.

Peggy: Thank you chef.

Me: See you in a bit.

I got up from the couch, went outside for a quick smoke.

Mbali: And now?

Me: I need to go into the restaurant, no head chef.

Mbali: Which restaurant?

Me: Jamaica Me Crazy

Mbali: Please can I come, please please. I'll behave.

Me: Why you want to come so desperately?

Mbali: All the hot guys come there. I'll just sit at the bar and wait for you till you done.

Me: Ok fine, get ready we leave now.

We head up stairs, shower and get ready. I'm downstairs waiting for Mbali.

Me: I'm leaving

Mbali: I'm coming.

Me: No you're not

She walks down the stairs looking all kinds of hot. What is funny is she is dressed in office wear, but she still looks hot.

Me: Really, even a laptop bag?

Her: Well the men need to see that I am a working individual. Guys like that. Look at yourself; you look like a scullery maid.

Me: Bitch you didn't!

Her: A hot scullery maid.

We laugh and head to the restaurant. I drop her off at the front of the restaurant and drive to the back. I get there and everyone looks relieved by my entrance.

Me: Evening everyone

Them: Evening Chef.

Me: Nombuso, great job. Everything seems to be going great. Ok guys, outside is buzzing. It is Saturday nights and we are fully booked so we are in for a night. Is all the prep done?

Everyone: Yes Chef.

Me: Peggy, how's everything in the front?

Peggy: Everything is fine man.

Me: Please ask Sipho to make me a mojito, can you pour it in the water bottle in my office and bring it to me please.

Peggy: Sure thing ma'am.

Me: Thanks... everyone back to work, let's finish prep and do this!

Everyone: Yes chef.

I went outside to have a cigarette; I don't remember when was the last time I was in the kitchen actually cooking. I was feeling a little bit nervous. It was month end, and a Saturday. To top it all off we were fully booked, so the pressure was real.

Peggy: Here is your mojito Chef.

Me: Thanks Peg, I'll be in shortly.

I finished my cigarette and walked in. put on my apron, laid out my knives and took a deep breathe. Just then one of the waitresses came in with an order and handed it to me.

Me: Ok, our first order for the night. Starters: 2 Conch Fritters, 3 Jerk wings, 1 jerk meatballs and 5 baked shrimp.

Everyone: yes chef.

The orders kept coming. Some small, but the big table kept ordering and I couldn't help but notice it was the same table. It was Table 44; I was so tempted to ask Peggy who was sitting at the table. What if it was important people, I needed to make sure that everything was perfect.

Me: Peggy, please check Table 44 for me. Please tell me who are our guests?

Peggy: Yes chef.

Just as she left an order for dessert came from the table, but there were only 5 dessert orders. I do the math in my head; 11 starters, 11 mains but only 5 desserts. I was thinking to hard when Peggy came in.

Peggy: Chef, uhm...

Me: Well come out with it.

Peggy: I couldn't make out the whole table, but there is Mr. Kennedy; CEO of Kennedy Corp. Mr. Chan; CFO of Sinopec and their wives. I don't recognize the rest of them. But...

Me: But what?

Peggy: Well they asked to speak to the chef.

Me: Seriously Peggy?

She just stood there and nodded. Oh gosh, I was in such a mess. I was filthy, I took a sip of my mojito, wiped my hands and took a deep breathe. I walked out of the kitchen, I saw Mbali at the bar talking to a handsome man. She looked like she was having a blast, laughing with a drink in her hand obviously.

I walked to table 44 and there were 10 people seated, which was weird because I was sure I had counted 11. I greeted everyone; they all introduced themselves and their wives, they complimented my food. I thanked them and had a little small talk, just as I was about to leave I hear a voice behind me.

Him: So this is our Chef?

He comes around and stands next to me, he puts out his hand and I put out mine. He kisses my hand.

Him: Well, damn girl you can cook that Jamaican.

Me: Thank you, I try. (Not impressed at all)

Him: Trust me I know, when I was eating it I was convinced it was flown in straight from there.

Me: Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed.

I pulled my hand away; I needed to get out of there asap.

Me: I'm sorry I must go, the kitchen needs me.

Him: Come on, have a drink with us.

Me: I'd love to but I'm on duty. So no can do.

Him: You own the place; you can do what you want.

Me: I know, and I want to serve my clients clear headed so they enjoy just as you have, ha ha. (I think I pulled off that fake laugh perfectly) I have to get going; do enjoy the rest of your night.

I walked away from the table and signaled for Mbali to come. I walked into my office, and poured myself a whiskey. I took it back all at once.

Mbali: Did you not just see the hunk I was with? The one you just asked me to leave so I can come here?

Me: He is here. Mr. DeCosta is here, and he knows I own the restaurant.

Mbali: How does he know that?

Me: I don't know he called for me specifically from the kitchen. It's almost like he knew that I was cooking tonight.

There was a knock at the door, Peggy peeped in.

Me: Yes.

Peggy: We have a situation in the kitchen Chef.

Me: I'll be there.

I poured another drink and took it all at once.

Me: get back to your hunk, we'll talk later.

Mbali: Are you ok?

ME: I'm fine, we're about to close, will be done in a bit.

I head to the kitchen to find out what is up, wasn't really much of a situation. I handled it in 5 minutes. The crowd had died down, just a few tables left. It was after 22h00 I was tired,

Me: Great job guys, Nombuso you can take over for the rest of the night. I think it will only be desserts left. You all did well, was great working with you guys.

I took my mojito and stepped outside, I lit my cigarette. And there he was, in the ally almost as though he was waiting for me. I would be lying if I said I wasn't startled.

Me: What are you doing back here?

Him: I needed to have a cigarette.

Me: We have a smoking area inside.

Him: Well honestly, I wanted to talk to you.

Me: Ok, how can I help?

Him: Have dinner with me.

Me: No.

Him: Just once.

Me: How did you find out I own this place?

Him: Nothando please.

Me: How did you get my contact details?

Him: have dinner with me and I'll explain everything to you.

Me: No Mr. DeCosta.

Him: Please call me Khenan.

Me: Ok Khenan, what do you want from me?

Him: Nothando please, don't do this. Can we sit down and talk.

Me: I'm tired; I just did a full dinner service, a busy one at that.

Him: Tomorrow night. I'll cook, come to my house.

Me: I'm not coming to your house.

Him: So that's a yes. Great, you pick the place and I'll be there.

Me: Fine. Tomorrow night, I will email you the details.

Him: Thank you. I'll let you be.

Me: Thank you.

He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek and walked away. I was left standing there, not exactly sure of how I felt or why I even agreed to dinner with this man. Gosh, how could I be so stupid?