4 #3
Recovering quickly, Peter straightened. “Shall we sit over here? It’s a little more comfortable.
” He motioned to a table. Dani picked up her CV and paced over to the table.
“Shall I take your jacket?” He gently helped Dani out of her jacket and placed it over a chair as Dani took off her hat, ran her fingers through her hair and sat down.
“This is my CV.” She handed it to Peter.
He opened up the envelope and pulled the three-page document out as he sat down opposite her. Matteo watched on as he sipped his coffee. Peter’s eyes darted up to Dani as he read it. “You managed a restaurant and bar in Kingston?” He looked impressed.
“Yes, until last week,” Dani answered nervously.
“Why did you leave?”
Dani inhaled sharply. “Er, personal reasons. I loved my job but my personal circumstances… er… changed. So I decided to move up here to Leeds, where my sister is. I wanted a fresh start.”
“I see.” He smiled tightly, then looked back down at the CV. “You studied hotel management, but dropped out after the second year?” His eyes narrowed as he spoke.
“Yes. My mother became very ill, so I gave up my studies to look after her.”
“Oh. You didn’t want to carry them on?” He smiled at her as he spoke.
“No. She passed away and I wasn’t really focused on restarting, so I decided to work instead.”
“I’m sorry.” Peter’s face softened, noting that she had shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Dani shook her head, indicating it didn’t matter.
“Well, from your CV, you’re more than qualified to work as a waitress. Maybe I should tell you a little bit about La Casa.”
“Yes please, I’d like that.” Dani relaxed, glad the focus was off her painful past. It was something she didn’t want to dwell on.
“Well, it’s a family run restaurant. Mrs Ferretti is the owner.
I am the restaurant manager. Matteo is the head chef; he’s Mrs Ferretti’s cousin.
” Peter looked over at Matteo and he nodded.
“Mr Ferretti is the general manager, though he’s spending more time at the other family businesses at the moment.
” Dani noticed that Mr Becker’s face hardened a little, then he smiled tightly.
“Shifts start at ten thirty through to three and five through to closing. We are open every day apart from Monday.”
“So the restaurant closes for a couple of hours in the afternoon?” Dani asked.
“No, we are open straight through. A couple of the staff stay on over the afternoon. It works on a rota and voluntary basis. The staff are paid on the twenty-seventh of each month. We work bank holidays, so you can choose to be paid double or have a day off later on. You are also entitled to two half-days off, which also work on a rota basis, unless it’s for something specific. ”
“That’s what I’ve been used to. Is there a uniform?”
“Yes, you’ll be supplied with four sets. Mrs Ferretti insists that all the staff are immaculate.” Dani nodded. “Tips are kept by each waiter or waitress.”
“Oh, they’re not shared out?”
“No. Whatever you make, you keep. Mrs Ferretti believes that this way the staff will not slack off. I have to say I agree.” He smiled as he shuffled forward.
“The restaurant gets very busy, Daniella. Most days we get a minimum of three covers per shift, so the waiting-on staff need to be professional and focused.”
“That’s good to hear.” Dani thrived off pressure. She hated being idle.
“I’ll get you all the pay details and hours, rules and regulations and you’ll need to fill out an application form. When would you be able to start?” Peter rose from the table.
“Whenever you want.”
Peter’s eyebrows shot up. “Good. I’ll just go and get you all the details for you to mull over.”
Dani watched as Peter turned and headed back the way he’d come in.
A family business run by a married couple was exactly what Dani wanted.
She’d always envisaged herself working as a husband and wife team in an establishment like this.
The thought made her mind drift back to Jez and her heart sunk, as she sighed to herself.
“Would you like another espresso, Daniella?” asked Matteo, jolting her out of her thoughts.
“Er… yes, thank you. Call me Dani.” She stood up and walked over to the bar. “How many people work here?”
Matteo nodded and began to make her espresso. “In my kitchen we are eight, out here there are fifteen.” Matteo placed her coffee on the bar. “It gets pretty crazy here over the weekend and holidays. Weekdays are busy too, but steady.”
Their attention was drawn to the back of the restaurant, where Peter was coming towards them holding a thick document.
“If you’d like to fill in the application form, and then this is for you to read through.” Peter pulled out a silver pen from his inside pocket and handed it to Dani.
“Thanks.” She took it and perched herself back onto the bar stool.
“I’ll get back to my kitchen. It was a pleasure to meet you, Dani. I hope to be seeing you very soon.” Matteo came around the bar and extended his hand to her. Dani took it and he lifted it up to his lips and kissed it again. Peter snorted at him.
“Thank you very much for my first cannoli, Matteo,” blushed Dani.
“The pleasure was all mine, Dani. Call me Capo.”
“Capo?”
“It means boss in Italian.”
Oh!
Matteo smirked and winked at her as he headed towards the kitchen.
Dani looked down at the application form and began to fill it in. Peter studied her as she concentrated. He moved back, giving her some space as she scribbled away. “I can give you a tour once you’re done.”
“I’d like that.”
Dani handed him the form and pen as she slipped off the bar stool.
“Well you’ve seen the main restaurant. Come this way and I’ll show you the private area.” Dani walked beside him as they approached the three steps. “We reserve this area for any small private parties, or for customers who want a quieter dining experience. It gets pretty loud down there.”
Dani scanned the room. It had six large tables that had white tablecloths and were set up for six, though they could easily sit eight.
There were small booths with padded seating, which seated up to four along the rear.
The lighting was more subdued and the atmosphere was definitely more intimate.
Peter took Dani through to the back, where there was a door which led out to a fire exit and a small foyer area with a lift and stairwell. He guided her up the stairs.
“Upstairs are the offices and a private room for functions.” Peter opened up a large double door, which led into a spacious function room.
The tables were set out but not laid. There was enough room to accommodate a hundred people and at the rear, there was a small bar area.
The decor was very similar to downstairs except it had a hardwood floor, making it cosier.
“It’s a lovely room.”
“It is. We use it for birthday parties, small weddings, that kind of thing. Come this way and I’ll show you the offices and then the staff area.”
They walked back out of the function room and moved to a door that had ‘Private’ on it. The door opened onto a wide, well-lit corridor with five doors, two on either side and one at the end.
Peter opened the first door, which had ‘Manager’ on it.
“This is my office.” Dani peeked inside. It was surprisingly roomy and functional. The decor was minimalist, clean and sharp. Dani noticed a bank of monitors showing different parts of the restaurant.
“Opposite is the store room.” He motioned to the door facing them.
“Next to that is Capo’s, er… Matteo’s office.
” They walked further down the corridor and he motioned to the door on their left.
“That’s Mrs Ferretti’s office. She’s not down yet, though.
And this office here is Mr Ferretti’s.” He frowned as he spoke, seeing the door slightly ajar.
He tentatively pushed it open and put his head round the door.
“Oh, you’re here,” he said warmly to whoever was in the office. Dani could see a large window overlooking the river, making the office bright. “I was just showing Daniella around. She came for an interview.”
“Oh, I see. Well show her in,” the raspy voice of the occupant replied.
Peter turned to Dani. “Come in, Daniella.”
Dani walked through the door and turned to where the voice was coming from.
Her eyes locked on the magnificent blue eyes she’d only seen less than forty minutes ago.
There, sitting behind a large dark wooden desk, leaning back in a black leather chair, was the jogger.
His elbows rested on the armrests as he stared directly at Dani.
She came to an abrupt halt and her breath hitched. Holy shit!
Mr Ferretti gracefully rose and walked around from the desk, his eyes focused on Dani the whole time.
His beautiful sculptured lips twitched into a smile.
He strode the few steps from his desk with purpose as he put out his hand for Dani to shake.
It took Dani a moment to shake herself out of her shock-induced trance.
“This is Mr Ferretti. Jerome, this is Daniella Knox.” Peter’s voice jolted Dani and she lifted her hand to shake the hand of the gorgeous man standing two feet in front of her. He licked his lips, and Dani felt her heart skip as she watched his tongue run over his bottom lip.
His eyes were fixed on hers. “Pleased to meet you, Daniella.” His voice was smooth. He gripped her hand as he shook it.
“Pleased to meet you, Mr Ferretti,” breathed Dani as she held his hand, enjoying the feel of his long lean fingers encasing her.
As they shook, Dani’s macaroni bracelet fell down from under her sweater cuff and Jerome’s eyes darted to it.
Arching his eyebrow, he reached with his left hand to finger it.
His fingertips were warm and Dani noticed the silver coloured wedding band on his ring finger.
He returned his gaze back to Dani for an explanation.
“Um… my niece made it for me. For good luck,” Dani explained. Jerome nodded and smiled softly. Dani blushed, aware he was still holding her hand.