Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Isabella's pov;

Kirk asked, "You own a restaurant but still you're having your breakfast and dinner here." Said while placing the fish tacos on the table in front of me for breakfast.

"It's because I have to pay if I eat food there." I said.

"It's your own restaurant, who cares if you don't pay?"

"I do."

"What about lunch?"

"There's a food stall around the street so I'll go there for lunch."

"Doesn't that look weird to people? Having a restaurant but still dining out in a food stall."

"I'll go in disguise." And continued eating the tacos and said, "I haven't added the popular dish cioppino in my menu. Do you know why? Because I don't think others can't do it better than you. I put up a new special dish every week. Please, come and cook only for a week. A week is all I'm asking you, Kirk."

Mr Martinez took a seat beside me and started to eat.

I continued talking to Kirk, "Please, a week will do."

Kirk, "I can't. Finish your breakfast, it's getting late for your work."

"I won't let it go the next time." And continued eating.

While I was eating, Mr Martinez asked, "Not much came to the bar yesterday, do you have any plans for the bar?"

I nodded and said, "I'm going to have a wine party this weekend so everyone will come to taste the wine and I bet they'll love it."

"Well, do I have to tell my employees about this? Because you were mad at me when I invited my coworkers."

"It's because the restaurant wasn't classy enough for them. It made me feel low."

"Did you see how they enjoyed the food?"

I nodded and said, "That was the only thing i convinced myself."

"Food is all that matters and the restaurant didn't look like rags, you designed it very well so don't get worried too much."

"Okay."

Big brother sat in front of me and said, "I never thought so many people would show up on the first day. How did you do that, Bella?"

I let out a sigh and said while eating, "I set up a Google business profile, started a food blogger page for the restaurant and posted every dishes which chef cooked for the food tasting, i posted pictures of our employees while working inside the kitchen, i gave out email invites, coupons and discounts, posted in every social media pages, invested in paid ads."

"Wow. You think more mature than you speak."

"Are you teasing me, Big brother?"

He smiled and said, "Yes. Apart from that, congratulations for your restaurant business."

"Thank you, Big Brother. I'm planning to hold a wine party this weekend. Don't forget to come and have a taste of wine from our restaurant."

"I wanted to ask you this, why did you name the restaurant under Mr Martinez? The restaurant belongs to you, right?"

I took a look at Mr Martinez.

Mr Martinez, "I didn't made him to say that." shrugged his shoulders at me.

I smiled at him and turned to Big brother and said, "Because it's not only my dream." And finished eating the tacos.

I stood from the table and said, "See ya later, Big brother. Drop at the restaurant if you have. Bye."

I put on my shoes and waved at Big brother and Mr Martinez before leaving the house.

At Alex and Bella restaurant,

Olivia, "You're late."

"I'm sorry."

"I was just kidding. There's still time. Do you want a coffee?" She asked while she was holding a cup in her hands.

"I don't drink coffee." And sat in one of the tables and looked at the bar.

Olivia sat beside me and asked, "Why are you looking at the bar like that? Do you want drinks instead?"

I sat straight and said, "No, i was thinking about a way to advertise the bar."

She said, "We're holding a wine party this weekend, right? Then what are you worrying about?"

"I don't know. Maybe the number of people i expected didn't show up at the bar."

Mike sat on another side of me and said, "I was still amazed by the number of people came to the restaurant yesterday. Why don't you think about that and leave the bar to the wine tasting party?"

"Okay. Where's Victor?"

Olivia, "He's in the kitchen."

"There's still time. Why was he there already?"

"He's preparing the ingredients."

While i was talking to Olivia and Mike, Dylan and Emily walked into the kitchen. After greeting us, they walked to the changing room to get into servers uniform.

I stood up and said, "I'll go get changed too."

"There were many people so you helped by taking the orders. Why are you taking the server position again?"

"I'm feeling bored to supervise everyone. Moreover, being a waitress is a piece of cake for me."

Mike, "Sometimes i forgot who the owner of the restaurant was." And laughed at me.

"Take the position of you want to." And headed to the changing room.

When i came out of the changing room dressed up in a server outfit, i saw people coming to the restaurant.

Dylan, Emily and I went to different tables and started to take the orders from them.

After a while,

I felt sleepy since i went late to sleep last night and the booze i had gave me headaches all of a sudden. I went to the kitchen and asked Olivia to make a lemon juice for me.

She placed the lemon juice in the serving area and asked, "What happened?"

"Headache." And started to drink the lemon juice she made for me.

"Was it because of the drinks?"

I nodded while drinking the juice.

"You can go to home if you can't handle the headache. We'll take care here."

"It's fine. It's not painfull enough to go to the house."

"Okay." She went back to working in the kitchen.

I returned to the front house and continued taking the orders. While i was picking out the dishes they asked, i felt dizzy and when i was about to fall, someone held me in their arms.

"Jeremy?"

I came back to my senses and apologized to the customers and rushed to the service area and gave the orders to them.

When i came out of the kitchen, i saw Jeremy in a table. I walked over to him and asked, "What do you like to have, Sir?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

"Why did you faint then?"

"There are others waiting behind you so can you make it quick?"

He gave a nod and ordered only a glass of wine.

I placed the order and when i was about to leave, "There aren't many customers now. Sit with me."

I seated in front of him and asked, "Don't you want to eat other than this wine?"

"I finished my breakfast before coming here."

"Why didn't you come yesterday?"

"Did you look for me? I thought you would be busy with your friends."

"You're my friend too. That's why i searched for you."

"I wanted to come but there's something happened so i couldn't come last night. How can I make up for it?"

I smiled and said, "We're having a wine party this weekend. If you showed up, i may forgive you."

He smiled and said, "Okay. Then, see ya at the weekend."

When he was about to leave, i pointed the signboard and said, "Don't forget to tag our restaurant in your social media page."

He nodded and asked, "Will the owner take a picture with me?"

"It's my pleasure."

I stood beside him for a selfie and after he's done, he tagged the restaurant and showed it to me saying, "Done."

"Thank you. Visit often."

After Jeremy left, i continued working.

At lunchtime,

While i was leaving, Olivia pulled my shirt and said, "Eat here."

"It's fine. I'll eat out."

"What if people think the food is bad here which made the owner to eat out?"

"I…"

Victor said, "Bella, eat with us."

Mike closed the door and put a closed signboard and said, "She's going to eat with us hereafter." And made me walk inside the restaurant.

Victor, Olivia, Mike, Dylan, Emily and i gathered around by joining two tables and seated to eat lunch.

While i was eating, Victor placed a chicken breast on my plate saying, "Eat more." And continued eating his food.

"Hey, Dylan! I heard that your lover is your high school sweetheart. What's the story behind it?"

Dylan took a look around and said, "I'll tell you later."

Mike to Dylan, "Don't feel awkward around us. You can talk whatever you want."

Dylan started, "We were both friends in the beginning but as days pass by, i figured out that i have feelings for her more than a friend. I was afraid that if i confessed to her, will she stop talking to me and stop being friends with me so i didn't tell her how i feel towards her. During a sports meet, she confessed to me infront of our classmates. I felt happy that the feelings i had was mutual and i accepted and told her that i was in love with her too. Since then, we're starting dating each other."

"Wow. That sounds so cute. What about you Emily? Oh, sorry, i forgot that you're single. Can I introduce you to my friends? There are lot of single dudes in my gang."

"Single life is the best life. I don't want to ruin it soon."

"Swag." And laughed at her.

Mike, "What about yours? What's the deal between you and that guy?"

Victor, "Who?"

"The guy who served as a server last night. He stayed behind to take Bellla home too. Didn't you see him?"

"Yeah, but i vaguely remember him but I clearly remembered what happened in the service area. Bella was flirting with him."

I said, "i didn't flirt. I was just teasing him."

Olivia, "I missed it. Who is he?"

I said, "I will tell you but promise me that you won't tell anyone."

Dylan, "Does he belong to a Mafia group?"

"Worse. He's the CEO of Skyland corporation. Mr Alexander Martinez."

Olivia, "He's him??"

I nodded and said, "That's why i asked you guys to not to tell about this to anyone."

"How did you two meet?"

Dylan, "Yeah, i want to hear it too. It sounds interesting than mine."

Mike, "Tell us the story."

I looked at everyone and said, "It's a long story and I'm tired of saying to lot of people."

They looked like they're still waiting for the story.

"Okay, It was a night out with my friends during my high school…"

After i told the whole story, they gave a stunned expression in their faces.

I waved my hands over their faces and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Dylan, "I can't believe you had such a past."

"Why is that?"

"You look happy even after what happened to you."

"Then, how do you want me to be? I don't like hanging over to the past and think about it everytime. The restaurant dream made me overcome many things. Now, I'm sitting inside the restaurant which i dreamt, surrounded by the people i love making me feel happiest person in the world."

Everyone smiled at me.

"The break time is over. Let's get back to work."

While everyone is dispersing, Victor gave me a quick hug and said, "You're a fighter. I'm glad to work in this restaurant with you." And left to the kitchen.

Mike hugged me and said, "Don't think you don't have anyone, we're a family too." And headed to the kitchen.

Olivia, "I want to give a hug too." And hugged me tightly and continued, "I'm happy to get a boss like this."

We changed the sign board to open and waited for the customers.

When the clock strikes 9 pm, everyone left one by one as i was cleaning the bar stand.

I heard someone's walking in. I said while turning, "We're closing for today, you can…"

I stood still after looking at the person who just walked into the restaurant. It's Issac Walton.

He walked to me while saying, "I came too late I guess." And looked around the restaurant and continued, "You have a bat too."

"Yes."

I gave the menu card to him.

"Didn't you say you were closing for the night?"

"Drinks are still served. What do you want?"

He smiled and said, "I don't drink, Bella."

"Other than drinks, there aren't anything here."

"Okay, I'll come tomorrow then."

While he was leaving, i said, "Wait."

He turned and asked me, "What is it?"

"He didn't come see me after that day. What did you do?"

"Nothing. I just blackmailed him that if he goes look for you, I'll say everything about him to mother so he didn't."

"Thank you."

"It's fine."

"Wait here."

I rushed to the kitchen and looked around the kitchen and couldn't find anything. I walked to the storage room and took a microwave cake and put into a oven and transferred to the plate after it got baked. I put cream and sprinkles on the top of the cake.

I placed the plate on the table near him and said, "It's a microwave cake out of our menu. I don't know how to cook so i made a little treat."

I took a seat and started to eat.

"It taste good."

"Because it's a readymade."

He smiled and said, "Steve was asking me to take him to a restaurant recently after seeing delish pictures of the food online. When i looked it up, i came to know that the restaurant belongs to you. I didn't know how you will take it if i bring him suddenly that's why i came here to…"

"Bring him along with you tomorrow."

He gave a nod and continued eating the cake and said, "You could have waited a little bit more."

"Was it…"

"Yeah. The cake wasn't baked well but it still taste good with all the cream and the sprinkles." And smiled at me.

"Thank you."

The next day,

I took a look at the door again and again which made Emily ask me, "Are you expecting someone?"

I shook my head and went back to taking the orders from the customers.

After a while, i saw Issac walking into the restaurant along with a boy. It must be Steve. He looked cute with a short hair.

I walked over to them and greeted Issac and Steve and welcomed them inside the restaurant. I showed a table and asked for the order.

I asked Steve, "Desserts tastes delicious here. Do you want me to suggest one?"

"I've seen you somewhere."

"Really? Where?"

Steve asked phone from Issac and showed me to have a look. It's the picture of me posing in front of the restaurant with a caption 'open for business'.

"Yeah, it's me. Do i look good in the picture?"

"You look more pretty in person."

I smiled and thanked him.

Issac, "He may look like a small boy but he talks like us. Don't mind him."

"It's cute. Um, have you decided on what you do want to eat?"

After taking their orders, i came to the service area and asked, "Make that desert look cute as possible."

"Was that a special person?"

"Kind of." And waited for the food.

I took the food in trays and placed it on the table where Issac and Steve was seated.

Steve, "Wow! It looks better than the pictures."

"I asked to make it extra special for you." And patted his head.

"Not only the owner looks pretty, she's kind-hearted too."

I smiled and said, "Enjoy your food." And stood beside the counter.

After they finish with their food, i thanked them and asked them to visit again.

After they left, Emily asked, "Was that your old fling? Who was that little boy? Was he his son?"

I laughed and said, "You're imagining things. The old guy was my friend and the little boy was his brother."

"A friend? Or more than a friend?"

"Just a friend."

He gave a suspicious look at me and went back to her table.

I got a call from Noah. Why is he calling me now? I told Emily that I'm going to take a call and walked out of the restaurant.

"What?"

"Are you free this weekend?"

"No, why?"

"Let's have a get-together this weekend. Don't give any excuse and come with us."

"There's a wine party in my restaurant. I can't come."

"Great! Then, we'll have a get-together at your restaurant."

"What?"

"Let's meet on weekend! Bye!" Ended the call abruptly.

Anyways, I hope it doesn't become a chaos.

After the work got over, i took a bus to Mr Martinez's house. I feel sleepy and tired. It's been years since i worked like this so it's hard to work but i have to because this is my time to prove myself.

I got a call from Mr Martinez. I thought he would have went to sleep. Why was he awake?

I answered, "Mr Martinez?"

"Where are you?"

"On the way to the house."

"Okay."

"What are you still awake?"

"I couldn't sleep."

"Why, what happened?"

"Let's talk when you're home." And ended the call.

After i stepped in the house, i saw Mr Martinez sitting in the couch in the centre of the house.

I asked while removing my shoes, "Why don't you sleep?"

I walked to the kitchen and took the dinner and seated in the dining table to eat.

Mr Martinez said, "I could only see you during breakfast and dinner. How can I miss it too?"

"I have work to do so i can't be at home everytime."

"Can't you put people in shifts and come home early?"

"Why are you talking like a clingy wife? About the shifts you mentioned, I'm running out of money for that so i can't hire extra employees for now."

"You could have asked me if you wanted money. Why do you suffer for that?"

"I received enough money from you already. Now, all i gotta do is giving back."

"You can give me later so don't rush on it."

"I'm working hard because i wanted to settle that money quickly. Moreover, i don't have enough time to take a rest at home." Finished my breakfast and headed to my room after saying, "Have a good night, Mr Martinez."