5 #3
Carmen dropped her rolling pin and quickly wiped her hands, then extended one to Dani. “Pleased to meet you, Dani.” Her smile was warm.
“Likewise. What are you making?” Dani eyed the pastry.
“Almond crust for the cheesecake.”
Dani bit her lip. “Oh, I’m going to love working here.” She shook her head and Carmen laughed.
“It’ll be ready in an hour or so, you can try some.”
“Really?”
Carmen nodded.
Capo quickly introduced Dani to the rest of the kitchen staff, then took her out to the restaurant. She sat by the bar and changed out of her wellingtons, replacing them with her shoes.
“Espresso?” he asked.
“Sure, but do you want me to make it? I need to get to know everything.”
“Si. Have you worked one of these before?”
Dani looked at the huge coffee machine. She had her own and they’d had one in the bar, but both were tiny in comparison.
“A smaller one, yes.”
Capo waved her around the bar and he showed her the controls and how to work the various valves. The glorious aroma of freshly ground coffee filled the room. Capo placed the coffee on the bar and then let her make one. He beamed as she handed it to him to taste.
Peter Becker came down to the restaurant and walked up to them as they sipped their coffee.
“Morning, Dani. Welcome.” He held out his hand for her to shake.
“Morning, and thank you, Mr Becker.”
“Call me Chef from now on.”
“Chef?”
Peter nodded. “It’s what they all call me. It’s a habit I continued from the time I worked in Switzerland. Confusing, I know.” He shrugged. “Can I have one of those?” he looked at Capo, who motioned to Dani to do it, to Peter’s surprise.
Once they’d had their coffee, Peter took Dani through the daily schedule.
He showed her the rear entrance which she would now use, and he assigned her a locker in the changing rooms. Dani was pleased to see there were showers too.
They made their way back into the restaurant and Peter explained how the touch screens for the orders worked and how they split up the restaurant.
Dani started to feel more relaxed as Peter went through the menu with her and suggested she take one with her to study.
“The first week or so I’ll have Rosa and Pino with you. They’re our oldest members of staff.”
The restaurant had started to smell of all the different aromas and Dani felt her stomach cramp with hunger. It was almost ten thirty and the staff were already coming in. Peter introduced Dani to a few of them, then left her to get acquainted with them.
“Hi, I’m Rosa.” Rosa was in her late thirties with dark brown thick wavy hair that she pulled back into a ponytail. She extended her hand and smiled sweetly at Dani.
“Dani.” Dani shook her hand.
“Have you worked in restaurants before?”
“Bars and clubs mainly, we served food too though.”
Rosa nodded. “Chef asked me to help you out, just until you know what’s what.”
“Great. Thanks for that.”
“Let me get your uniform and then I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
“Sure.”
Dani followed Rosa up one flight of stairs to the store room, where the offices were.
The store room was surprisingly large. On the right hand side, stacked on shelves, were cellophane packs with what Dani presumed were the uniforms. The rest of the store room had everything in it.
From stationary to boxes of glasses, cups and plates, all housed on shelves that reached the ceiling.
Rosa pulled out a number of blouses and skirts and Dani checked them for the size.
Rosa gave her four sets and two sashes that they wore in a lime green.
The blouses and skirts were both black and very stylish with an asymmetrical neckline.
“It’s a lovely uniform.” Dani lifted it up to check it against herself, and Rosa nodded.
“Mrs Ferretti designed them.”
“Wow, really? She has great taste.”
“Yes, she does. Come on, we’ll go across to the dining room for our lunch and our meeting.”
“Lunch?”
“Yes, every day all the staff have an early lunch at ten thirty. Chef goes through a few things with us, bookings and any specials. Well, we can’t work in a restaurant on an empty stomach!” Rosa laughed at Dani’s surprise.
“No, I suppose not.”
Rosa guided Dani through to the private dining room where most of the staff were already busying themselves with setting the tables up for their meal.
Dani smiled to herself. They really were like a big family.
Everyone was helping, even Chef. He opened up the dumbwaiter and was pulling out one of four large steaming serving platters.
Dani looked around, slightly bewildered.
“Come on, Dani, come and meet everyone.”
Rosa made her sit down as Capo and Chef placed what looked like cannelloni and salad on the table. The smell was amazing.
To her left sat a tall, attractive man. He looked of an Asian origin. He turned to her as she sat awkwardly, and his eyes twinkled as he introduced himself. “Hi, I’m Benjamin Kuchiki. But call me Kuch.” He held out his hand for her to shake.
“Dani. Pleased to meet you.”
“You look a little overwhelmed.”
Dani uttered, “Just a bit. I wasn’t sure what to expect but this… well, this is unbelievable.”
“The Ferrettis are great. You’ll love it here.” He grinned a cheeky grin, showcasing his perfect white teeth, and Dani immediately liked him.
Dani took a good look around the table and knew instantly she would indeed love it here.
She learned that Kuch was the head barman.
He was half-Italian, half-Japanese. Most of the staff had some connection to either Italy or the Ferrettis.
Dani was introduced to all the staff throughout the lunch and was shocked to see Chef and Capo join them too.
The cannelloni was, of course, delicious, stuffed with spinach and ricotta, then smothered in a tomato sauce, topped with cheese and baked.
They had left one space between them, and another space to the right of Chef was free.
Everyone was eating and catching up, when the double doors opened and everyone’s attention was drawn to whoever was walking towards the table.
Immediately, all the staff put down their cutlery and began to stand.
Dani, having her back to the door, wasn’t exactly sure what was going on and hastily followed her fellow colleagues.
“Sit, sit. Please sit. I’m so sorry we’re late.” The voice of a woman purred in a thick Italian accent. Everyone retook their seats and Dani twisted around to see who the sultry voice belonged to.
Dani looked on wide eyed at the stunning woman who glided towards her, flanked by an equally breath-taking Jerome.
Dani caught her breath at the sight of him dressed in an impeccable dark blue, three piece suit, a dark coloured shirt and matching tie.
He looked even more handsome than she remembered, dressed for work.
She dragged her gaze away from him and focused on the woman.
It was as if Isabella Rosellini’s serenity, Sophia Loren’s beauty and Gina Lollobrigida’s voluptuous raw sex appeal had been blended and poured into this one woman.
She was dressed in a navy blue dress with a deep V-neck.
The dress clung to her curvy body as she sashayed in her kitten heels towards the tables.
She smiled widely at Dani, her dark eyes sparkling, and Dani reeled at the unbelievable resemblance to Jerome, who was walking just a step behind her.
Then suddenly it hit her. Mrs Ferretti wasn’t Jerome’s wife, she was his mother, and an overwhelming feeling of relief flowed through her.
The feeling caught Dani a little off-guard and she quickly shook it off.
Looking closer at her, Dani realised she must have been in her late fifties, though she looked at least ten years younger.
“This must be Daniella.” Mrs Ferretti eyes widened as Dani scrambled to her feet. Mrs Ferretti extended her beautifully manicured hand for Dani to shake. “Welcome to La Casa d’Italia.”
“Thank you,” breathed Dani as her eye caught an exquisite white gold and diamond bracelet on Mrs Ferretti’s wrist, which shimmered under the lights.
“This is my mother, Gia Ferretti, Dani.” Dani’s eyes focused on Jerome as he spoke, then she turned back to Gia.
“I’m very pleased to meet you, Mrs Ferretti.
” Dani felt herself heat up under Jerome’s intense gaze.
The rest of the staff carried on with their meal, seemingly oblivious, as Gia appraised her. “You have a lovely restaurant.”
Gia smiled widely. “Thank you, Daniella, I hope you’ll be happy here. Please continue with your lunch.”
“Thank you.”
Gia stepped back and headed to where Chef and Capo were sitting and Chef stood to pull out her chair for her to sit between them.
“Nice to see you again, Dani.” Jerome stepped forward and extended his hand for Dani to take.
Dani instantly heated up as she shook his hand, relishing his firm grip as his long fingers tightened. “Thank you. It’s nice to be back,” she replied and he arched his eyebrow.
“Have you learned your way around yet?” he asked with a mischievous smirk.
“I’m getting there. I’m a fast learner,” she replied, feeling a little braver.
“I’m sure you are. Well, I’d better let you finish your lunch.” He nodded as he retreated and walked over to sit next to Chef, directly opposite her.
Dani slumped back into her chair feeling flushed, her heart racing and her palms sweating. Crap, that’s all she needed, a crush on her boss.
Once lunch was over, the staff went into overdrive clearing up and getting ready for twelve o’clock service.
“Dani, come and sit here by the bar and observe. You’ll get a better idea how La Casa operates.” Peter pulled out a stool for her and Dani jumped up onto it.