Chapter 9

THE COMEBACK OF THE REJECTED HEIR CHAPTER NINE The next day, Sawyer knew that he had to resume to work very early if he still wanted to keep his job. He didn't want his boss complaining like the last time and especially because of the fact that they were all going to have a meeting at the restaurant today. "Make sure you aren't late for the meeting tomorrow" his boss, Jerry had told him before he went home last night. The meeting was scheduled because the restaurant was going to be hosting a company who would be dropping by with its staff to eat in their restaurant for the day. He needed to see that everything would turn out fine as the business was gradually booming and coming to life. This made Sawyer glad because ever since he started working with them, it had been great news. The prosperity of your workplace will definitely tell on you whether directly or indirectly and that's for sure. Sawyer pulled the door open Immediately he arrived. He saw few staffs already hanging around. He was quite early today. It was fifteen minutes to seven. He had tried his best to wrestle with the sleep that came to pin him down in the early hours of the morning but he was thankful that he had overcome it and won sleep with his whole consciousness taking over. Eventually, his body had to give in perhaps it knew that today was a very important day. "Hi Sawyer" he heard someone say when he went to drop his bag in the store. Turning back to check who it was. It was the new girl, Sofia. She was quite early. "Good morning" Sawyer replied her and turned his attention back to the thing he was doing. "How was your night?" She asked him. Sighing, he answered her simply, "it was good" He wasn't ready to engage her in any discussion that morning. He wondered why she was acting all comfortable with him as if they had known each other already before now. He was not in the mood to make any friends here or get too overly close with anybody here. He had been backstabbed by people close to him often. He was not going to risk having a friend again. "It's time!" Both Sawyer and Sofia heard Josh shout from behind the counter in the restaurant. "I think our boss needs our attention now, the meeting is going to start already" Sofia whispered into Sawyer's ear, Sawyer almost rolled his eyes as if it was something he wasn't aware of. "Yeah.." Sawyer said and dropped all he was doing to join the others. "It's going to be a full house today" Jerry began after he cleared his throat for the second time to gain the attention of the others. "We have important customers coming in today, news about our restaurant must have gotten out and hence the bookings, I want everyone of you to be on your best behavior" he said throwing glances at all of them who were present. "You are just in time for the great news!!" He beamed at Sawyer who had just joined them. Sawyer took the available seat beside Sofia. He couldn't help but notice Josh's face. He was glaring at him from where he was seated, he decided to ignore him and focus on Jerry. "Just as I said some minutes ago, the guest would be arrriving soon and the best of the best should be given to them, understood!" Jerry saud. He needed to make his employees understand that the company's lunch was an important event. They had to do their very best and all it takes to ensure that the event ends well. It was a must to portray their restaurant in a good light, this was an opportunity for him and he didn't want to blow it. "We all know what would become of us and this restaurant if everything turn out well." Jerry added with a smile as the image of the restaurant more big and filled with employees and customers filled his head. "I believe we will all work in our best" he said and they nodded. "Yes, we will definitely" Josh answered, he was growing tired of his father's lecture already. Can they just start what they had to do? He muttered under his breath. To him, he didn't even see the lunch as something too special. They were just people coming over to eat too but that this time, they were in troupes and that meant more money. So what's the big deal?. "Well, here is how everything is going to work out" Jerry started, he turned to look at everyone in the face. He was going to delegate their duties to each of them, after watching them for some days he might as well beat his chest with pride that he knew each of their specialties. "Sofia, here's what you will do" he said to the newest addition in their restaurant. She was still new and have not gotten a hang of how the place runs well enough. So, he still had to give her the basic work to do and besides, he didn't know her area of specialization and strength yet. He would have to give her the simple jobs. "You are to be in charge of taking orders and serving the customers. You'll stay here and attend to them when they start come in" "Alright Mr. Jerry, noted" she said to him, nodding her head in a way that showed that she got what he was saying. "Josh and Sawyer. You both are to be in charge of the kitchen" he told them both but Josh wasn't pleased. He frowned immediately be heard his father say that. Why would he have to work with anyone? And Sawyer out of all the workers! Why would Sawyer have to join him? The guy just clearly always got on his nerves by trying so hard to win his father's attention and favor. "We are to maintain decorum throughout the moment we will serve our customers, and we must ensure to treat them right." Jerry continued, telling them what they were to do and not to do. "Sofia, you will be in their faces here, I want you to put on a smiling face andof course make sure they are satisfied with our services" "Definitely sir" she told him. Even if she didn't know how to do well in the kitchen yet, she knew how to do just that. "Good" Jerry nodded, glad at the willingness. "And now back to the kitchen, the major deal is on you guys" Jerry turned to look at both his son and Sawyer as he shifted away from Sofia. Since Sawyer and Josh were handling the kitchen it means the larger chunk of the work was coming from them. They needed to work well together to bring out something good. "I want the best of the best meal you have ever prepared Sawyer" Jerry said and Josh clenched his fist, just how much would he endure? "I expect something tantalizing from you guys to keep them on their toes so they'd become instant ' Oliver Twist' asking for more of our dishes" he joked. Everyone burst into laughter when the boss said that. A comic relief to ease the tension that was building up already. The meeting ended and everyone began the preparations immediately before the customers start rolling in from the front door. "Sawyer" Jerry called him as he was about heading to the kitchen. Josh stopped to know what it was. What does his dad want from Sawyer again? "The new recipe you told me about, you can try it out, I'm certain it will be a success. They would love it" Jerry said. They had both discussed about trying out new recipes and dishes to add more to the ones available in order to have varieties for the customers pick from. "Sure, of course sir" Sawyer smiled. "You might as well ask Josh to give you a helping hand" Jerry said nodding his head towards Josh's direction. "I will" Sawyer replied but Josh who wasn't interested in their conversation anymore especially after finding out that his father had granted Sawyer a freehabd in the restaurant left and moved towards the kitchen. He hated the fact that his dad had so much interest in Sawyer and would not look at him. ************ Sawyer got to the kitchen and spotted Josh. He was sitted on a chair with his legs crossed. Sawyer wondered why he was seated instead of preparing the meals. "Hi Josh" Sawyer greeted but he ignored him and didn't say a word even though he was looking at him from the very moment be stepped his foot into the kitchen. Sawyer decided to leave him and just get on with the cooking. He started by getting every of the ingredients they would be needing ready and began arranging them. "Uruk... Josh!" Sawyer called him after some minutes when he still didn't join him in the cooking, he knew Josh had heard the instruction given to them by Jerry yet, he wasn't making any attempts to do a thing. "A little help here. It would be noon soon besides we need to get an head start before customers begin flooding here and not to talk of the big guest" Sawyer said. "I am going to join you when I'm ready. Why don't you get on with it already and just mind your business" Josh growled at him, not moving an inch from the spot. "I will do what I have to do at my own pace. You shouldn't try to boss me around" he added giving him a death glare. "I wasn't trying to boss you around" Sawyer explained." I Just had to tell you to join me…it's getting too much to handle. Besides today is a busy day and we shouldn't slack" "Whatever!" Josh yelled" You are the most hardworking aren't you? Why don't you get on with doing all of the work yourself since that's what you know how to do best" he said mockingly. Sawyer remained silent and kept on with his duty. He knew that Josh was just trying to get on his nerves, pushing for a fight or something that would get him kicked out of the restaurant faster than he would say Jacj Robinson. All he knew was that, he would try his best to ignore him just as he had always done. Just then, Jerry walked into the kitchen to check on them. Josh on seeing his father come in, stood up from the chair he sat on. He walked over to the table to start his own part of the job. "Weldone guys! I cansmell the aroma from the front door already." He said and gave them both a very bright smile before leaving. Sawyer and Josh went on working in silence with Sofia dropping by intermittently to meet them for the orders needed in the restaurant. Customers had began to trope into the restaurant to place their orders but they all knew that the main deal of work was going to be later in the afternoon once the company staff come over. At intervals, they would take breaks, switching between each worker. Sawyer glanced at the wall clock in the kitchen, it was 12:00pm already. Based on what he had heard the big clients were arriving by 1pm. He was done with the preparation for the side dishes, with how they were looking he knew they would love it. What was left was completing the newest recipe which would be ready in few minutes time. "What are you doing?" Josh asked him coldly when he saw him working on the snacks. "It's the newest recipe for the burgerr." Sawyer answered. "What new recipe bullshit!? Why would you want to change the taste and look of something the people are already used to?" Josh asked angrily. "This was what I came up with recently and I informed the boss and he liked it." Sawyer explained. " I wanted to tell you about it the last time but you didn't give me any chance to speak." "Explain what? Everything has a way it is being prepared in this restaurant, what exactly are you planning to do?" Josh asked angry that Sawyer was trying to stylishly bring his own rules to their restaurant. "You're really trying hard…uhn? Aren't you?" He said as he stared at Sawyer like he was seeing him for the first time. "I can show you how I made it. It's really nice, you're going to love it when it's done" Sawyer said, he tried to show the recipe he used but Josh wasn't having any of it. "Oh please!" Josh countered him. What stupid show and effrontery! He was really getting disgusted by Sawyer's attitude these days. Trying to win his dad's trust through some useless new recipe. "I don't think that's needed to be added in the course of the menu it's not a great idea" Josh said simply. "I'm sure it's going to be a failure, you should not bother with it." He added. "But, the boss gave me the go ahead." Sawyer retorted. He didn't understand why Josh was getting mad all of a sudden. He was not even doing anything bad, he just wanted to do something the customers would love and want more of. "I think sometimes, a change in variety would be great, you know" he attempted to get to Josh but it seemed like he won't budge anytime soon. "You should stop that now… I don't think they need that. Let's just stick with what we usually do. You can't come from nowhere and start trying to change the rules here." "I am not trying to change anything here to be honest" Sawyer said, surprised at what Josh was insinuating. He was not trying to change any rules. Why was Josh always misunderstanding him. "I brought the idea of including the burgers treat on the menu to my dad, if you're trying to change that to suit your intention. It won't work…" Josh continued. " You should stick with being the kicked out son you are and not try to fight your way to win any favor here. I a…." Sofia walked in which made Josh pause in his statement. She had been watching them from the doorway trying to get their attention but nobody was listening. They were bent on arguing. "What's going on here?" She said. "I have been calling you both for the past few minutes but you both were so engrossed in whatever disagreement it is that going on between the both of you" she said. "What do you want?" Josh asked "Nothing, just wanted to check up on you both but met you both exchanging heated words" She said. "We weren't exchanging words" Sawyer tried to explain. "I heard your argument. That's not what is needed now, you know. We have got work to do, let's focus on that yeah" she said. "I just wanted to say this even though it's not in my place to say it." She continued, wondering what exactly caused the bad blood between those two. "I feel like we should give room for new ideas and recipes too. Even life is full of varieties. I mean, just one type of dish can become boring and bland as time goes on. I think Sawyer is right" she said turning to look at his face. "Let's check out his new recipe. If they don't like it then we will go back to the normal one" Sofia said again while smiling at Sawyer which made Josh roll his eyes at them. "What do you need help with to finish up fast? I will gladly help you guys out" she added. "No, we are good, thank you" Sawyer replied immediately. " I mean..erm, we are done here. Thank you so much for your concern." he added, hoping that he didn't sound too harsh the first time. Sofia was not good with work in the kitchen, she still had a long way to go. Her help was not needed here for now. "We are just left with dressing the meal well enough and we would finish that up soon. " Sawyer further explained to her. "It's alright" she replied him with a smile. "How is your hand now?" He asked. He had forgotten about her injury when he had first gotten to the restaurant their discussion had just reminded him of yesterday's incident. "It's etting better already and it's all because of you" she said, raising her hands up for him to see. "Sofia, you should just stick with serving the customers, that way we can all get to work" Josh said cutting their conversation short. "You would have a lot of work on your platethe moment the big clients arrives" "Guys it's time!" They heard Jerry distant voice called out. "Alright, let's get on with this, shall we?" Sawyer said.