6 #2
Her heart raced as Jerome took another spoonful. His brow arched. “You’re leaving the rest for me?”
“Well, yes. You worked out this morning, so you can afford to eat it,” she replied, grinning, then moved around from the bar, her pulse racing as she reached down for her bag.
“Did you find the way alright this morning?”
“Adam drove me down. I’ll drive down for the afternoon shift. I think I’ve got the hang of the one-way system now.” Jerome swivelled around to face her and he nodded.
“See you.” Dani walked away towards the back of the restaurant and down the stairs forcing herself not to look back at him. She felt his eyes on her all the way to the exit, which made her shiver.
Peter was sitting in his office checking over the monitors from the night before.
Nothing unusual. He flicked through to the morning, seeing Jerome’s arrival at six twenty.
Jesus, he started early. Things must be really bad at home, he thought sadly.
He pressed fast-forward and saw Dani arrive.
He checked the time. Eight fifty five. She was an hour and half early.
He reset the monitors and stood up to go downstairs.
He was met by Jerome making his way to his office. “Morning.”
“Morning, Chef.”
“Been to the gym?”
Jerome nodded his reply.
“You’re changing here, then?”
“Yes. I jog there, work out, then jog back. I prefer to now. It gives me at least an hour and a half.”
Chef shook his head. “You’re a machine.”
Jerome shrugged. He contemplated explaining his enthusiasm for exercise was purely to relieve stress and a way to forget, but thought better of it. He didn’t want to dump on Peter again.
“Shall I bring you up a coffee?”
“Er, no thanks. I’ve had one and I’m getting straight off this morning. I’ve got interviews at Level One.”
“Oh, good. Let’s hope that gets sorted out. So you won’t be around today?”
Jerome’s brow creased as he thought about not being around. “Not sure. Maybe later.”
“Okay, see you later, then.”
By nine thirty, Dani had changed into her uniform and placed her few items into her locker.
Carmen took great delight in introducing her to the team.
Dani then spent the next hour getting to know the kitchen staff.
There was Jamie the sous chef, two brothers named Enzo and Franco, Rico the pot-man and Vanessa.
Silvanna would also usually work, but today was her day off.
Capo had left them to it for his regular morning meeting with Chef.
Dani watched on as Franco and Enzo put the finishing touches to the staff lunch, linguini with a seafood sauce. It smelled mouth-watering and Dani couldn’t believe how hungry she felt, even after sampling her lemon tart.
The private dining room was a hive of activity as Dani entered it. The restaurant staff from yesterday had set up for the staff lunch. Dani spotted Rosa and Kuch. They were already sitting down and had left the seat between them free.
“Hi, Dani, come and sit here.” Dani noticed that everyone seemed to sit in the same place as yesterday.
That thought made her smile. It really was like a big family.
Growing up, Dani’s family had always sat in the same places at meal times, a tradition Chloe also followed.
Dani scanned the table and realised that the place opposite to her was the one Jerome had occupied yesterday.
She felt a little thrill, then shook her head.
She really shouldn’t be thinking like that.
“Are you ready for today?” Kuch cocked his head at her.
“I’ll tell you at three o’clock, shall I?” Dani rolled her eyes. It was true she was a little nervous. She really didn’t want to let them down.
“Well, Fridays are always a little crazy. Businessmen usually, and lots of them,” Rosa explained.
“Great, now I’m even more nervous.” Dani slumped in her chair as Rosa smirked.
The lunch progressed quickly. Gia joined them, floating in, looking stunning in a black pencil skirt and cream deep scoop top clinched at the waist with a red belt.
She was so striking, Dani found it hard to believe she had a son in his thirties.
Capo and Chef sat on either side of her.
Jerome’s seat remained empty and Dani found herself focussing on it, almost willing him to appear, but he didn’t.
Chef briefed the staff with their stations and bookings and then everyone got up to start their preparations.
“Dani, you can help out Rosa today. Just until you’re familiar with everything.” Chef had pulled her to one side as the rest of the staff cleared away the table, “I see you came in early today.”
“Yes, I wanted to get to know my way around, meet the staff. I also got a lift in with my brother-in-law. Is that alright?”
Chef nodded, “Yes, of course it is. I need to see which days you can work through. We do it on a rota system.”
“Um, well to be honest, any day suits at the moment. I don’t have any plans as such, so whenever is okay with me.”
“That makes my job easier,” he grinned. “Well, good luck today.” He gently patted her arm and then led her towards the door. Dani fleetingly looked at his profile as they walked out. For all his efficiency, he still had a warmness about him. She knew she was going to love working here.
Dani had always enjoyed the thrill of pressure.
When she’d worked alongside Jez, the bar would be literally bursting at the seams. She’d had to deal with drunks, witnessed fights, put up with overly friendly customers, but she had been more than able to live up to the challenge and still maintain her professionalism.
La Casa d’Italia was a whole other league.
The bar had been more concerned with everyone getting served as quickly as possible.
At La Casa, the aim was to also serve quickly, but without the sense of urgency.
The whole concept was to be efficient without making the customer feel any of the pressure the staff were under, ensuring their dining experience was as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.
Gia was instrumental to this. She had a grace about her that put everyone at ease.
Dani watched her talk to customers, giving them her undivided attention, yet she was fully aware of everything else going on around her.
Glasses that needed filling, dessert orders to be taken, bills to be prepared, tables to be cleared; her eyes never missed a trick.
Between Peter and Gia, they managed to ensure that the restaurant ran as smoothly as possible, and from what Dani could see, it did.
Rosa walked Dani through every step with meticulous detail and before long, the restaurant was already on its second cover. Rosa had been right: it had up to now been predominantly businessmen and the second wave was starting to come in.
“You up for taking an order?” Rosa asked as they cleared a table. “Table twelve are ready for their desserts. Take them the menu and then take the order.”
Dani’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? I don’t want to mess it up.”
“I’ll be close by. You’ll be fine. Go on,” she encouraged as Dani took over the menus.
Table twelve was occupied by four women. They’d been clearly enjoying themselves throughout their lunch. Dani handed them the menus and moved back towards the bar out of the way, giving them a chance to look over them.
Kuch leaned over to speak to her. “So how’s it going?”
“Okay. My first order.” Dani motioned to table twelve.
“The women? Dessert? Women always seem to be watching their weight. Why they ask for the dessert menu, I’ll never know. They just read it and then order coffee.” Kuch rolled his eyes and Dani grinned. Chef came over to check she was alright and then Dani walked back to the table.
“Are you ready to order dessert?” Dani smiled at them as the four women looked up at her.
A striking blonde answered first, “God, I want them all but I’ve eaten so much already.” The other three agreed with disgruntled moans.
“Oh that’s a shame, our chef’s desserts are pretty special.”
“Yes I can see. Which one would you recommend?” the petite brunette asked.
“Well, the mascarpone cheesecake is just heavenly with a rich, creamy and almondy texture” – she paused as all four women focused on her – “the limoncello and lemon tart is also very scrummy, it’s light with just enough tang…
it’s hard to choose between the two.” Dani’s eyes widened to emphasise the point.
Her audience were riveted as she continued.
“But I love the cannoli too, a divine combination of sweet, orange cream, crispy shell and chocolate.” Dani added a sigh and licked her lips.
The occupants of the table stared at Dani as she described each of the desserts and Dani watched them all visibly swallow.
“Crap, you make them sound better than sex,” the petite brunette moaned and the table erupted into giggles. “Maybe we should order a couple and share.”
“Bang goes the diet,” the taller brunette to the left of the blonde huffed. “Order all three and we’ll share.”
“Sure. Thank you.” Dani beamed at them and walked over to her service station as she tapped in the order.
Rosa was over to her grinning. “You did great.”
Dani grinned as she pulled out the cutlery she needed.
Peter watched her from the bar and Kuch leaned over to him. “She’s good. Didn’t think for a minute they’d order desserts.” Peter raised his eyebrows and nodded, clearly impressed. “She did make them sound better than sex,” Kuch muttered so only Peter could hear and they both stifled a laugh.
By quarter to three, the restaurant was starting to empty.
The tables remaining were either on dessert or coffee.
Rosa was working the afternoon shift today with Augustino, another waiter.
He was of medium height, slim with dark short hair and seemed to have a great sense of humour.
He’d been joking about with Kuch as he waited for his coffee order.
“How do you feel after your first shift, Daniella?” Gia had walked over to where Rosa and Dani were clearing a table that had finished.