That shade of bright red lipstick triggered her a bit. She didn't know why but somehow interpreting the situation felt easier than it was just a moment ago.
Alexis lost her interest to do what she came to do here today. She asked for the bill and wanted to get it over with already.
That was another massive change about her in past years. She used to be the one who didn't like to give up on anything she had in mind that easily.
But in the past few years, she found herself giving up on things pretty early. She didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad one but it was her now anyway.
Alexis paid the bill and was ready to head out when her eyes caught someone coming inside the restaurant.
"Venessa," why wasn't she that surprised to see Venessa here after six years of no contact?
Both of the parties never reached anyone out all these years so she can't say it was wholly her fault to lose the contact. It was better like that anyway.
"Alexis! You're in the town?" Venessa's eyes sparkled with both surprise and bewilderment which Alexis didn't expect at all.
"I can't miss Becky's wedding, can I?" Alexis smiled softly. She really missed her online buddy all this time and just couldn't bring herself to contact her after the wedding.
Venessa's eyes grew dark at the mention of the wedding. Something definitely happened which she didn't know. Now, curiosity was almost killing her.
"I see….do you like this place? You must be visiting this place for the first time, right?" Venessa tried to swiftly change the topic as she didn't know what to reply.
Alexis looked straight at her eyes, whether to find any complicated emotion playing on them, but found none. "Yeah, you're right. I just found out about this place today. It's honestly pretty amazing. The steak I ate here was a real piece of art."
Venessa kept on an amused expression as she heard Alexis.
"You must have personally delivered the compliment to our chef, didn't you? He must be all giddy by now. I can tell you, even though he doesn't show it, he feels super happy when someone compliments his cooking," Venessa replied, completely submitting on how she personally knew the chef.
Was it what she was thinking? Let's just hope it's not that way around, Alexis thought.
"No, I didn't get to. Looks like Mr. Chef is not in the mood today. But how about this? Let's meet some other time, we have a good chat later," Alexis proposed.
"You didn't meet him? That's strange! But let's see, next time we can meet up in Zevk again. I won't hold you up anymore, busy girl! And I will make sure to deliver your comment to our chef, okay?" Venessa spelled the name perfectly for an American.
Alexis knew it was a Turkish word. If she wasn't accustomed to Turkish, she would have spelled it wrong too. It wasn't weird, still it felt weird in some way for Venessa to be so good at the pronunciation. Or was she giving too much thought into it?
Alexis excused herself as she wanted to clear her mind a bit when her phone chimed with a few messages.
Beck: You're supposed to visit me after the wedding.
Beck: I don't care about your upcoming excuses.
Beck: All I know is I didn't get to spend that much time with you.
Beck: Come to my family home.
Alexis looked at those texts painfully. Family home? Again?
Alex: Beck.
Beck: He won't be there.
Alex: I will be there tomorrow.
Beck: Good, locking it.
Rebecca already knew what she had to do to make Alexis come.
Alex: Just you, me and Joshua, right?
Beck: Maybe. Just drop by tomorrow. I already locked you in.
Alex: Whatever.
Alexis sighed. Her mother will have to wait another day to see her.
Funny how she has become so distant with everyone that all of them had to put conditions before her to make her come. To think, once she used to be more social and reachable.
She texted her mom that she will be there the day after tomorrow and gained an angry faced cat as a response. Cute.
***
Venessa found herself a seat beside the window, her favorite seat. Her eyes found the owner emerging from inside with his white cooking attire.
She let her eyes admire the man as she always did.
"Hi," her sweet melodious voice flew towards her target.
"The staff told me you came," he replied simply, offering her the menu book.
Venessa didn't touch it, instead frowned a bit.
"Seriously? I already have this memorized by now. Don't insult my memory," Venessa scowled.
"Good for you," he said under his breath, taking the seat opposite to her.
"You seem to neglect your tradition today," Venessa started, her eyes fixated on his neatly buttoned up white apron. There was something about these plain neat looks that made her want to look at it more.
"Which one?" One of his sharp eyebrows rose in confusion.
"Getting reviews personally from your guests."
He didn't ask but kept confusion on his face evident.
"Someone I know came and left without getting to see you," Venessa stated.
"Who?"
"An old friend…. She is somewhat a celebrity, quite a famous one. You might know her. Alexis. Alexis Lockwood, the photographe," Venessa finished while fidgeting with the hem of the tablecloth.
His expression changed instantly. He called the head staff to gather all the staff who received the guests today. Venessa knew this would have been a miss-up from the staff members as he really hated someone to go unreceived by him like this.
"Must be because you appointed new part timers this summer. I never liked them, always treating work lightly and only caring about money. You can take care of it first. I will come by some other time, okay?"
She knew she would not get his response as someone didn't like talking that much. She waved goodbye and gained a nod in return. That was enough for now.
All the staff gathered inside the kitchen as they were told.
"Who received the lady that ordered the steak and tiramisu?"
All of them remained silent.
"Why aren't you answering?" He kept his tone as neutral as possible but he didn't like what happened today at all.
"Those were actually additional parcels from the family in the private room, Sir," a girl among them replied meekly, displaying her innocent face which was already on the verge of tears. He somehow felt more displeased than sorry for her stupidity.
"I don't hire those who lie wthout blinking right on my face. I told everyone of you before you were appointed that I have a tradition and I don't like that to be broken. I already checked the transaction history. A separate guest ordered those."
That girl shuddered in fear as it was the first time their quiet and introverted boss spoke so much. He seemed to be a caring superior all this time but she pushed the buttons too hard. "Sir… the lady was clicking pictures of the place and food, and it felt so weird to me. I knew you didn't like your face being captured so I thought it would be best not to let her see you."
Saying it unconsciously made her dig her grave as the boss looked angrier. Although he kept his face straight, his eyes bore holes into her in annoyance. She didn't want it, she was just happy to be one of the few people who could see him thrice a week. She took this particular part-time job for this sole reason. Now, for that silly woman, she might even lose her job.
"Uh… and I think she had some ulterior motives, Sir. I saw her carrying a camera too! Who even brings a camera to a restaurant?"
It was funny assuming for her that any guest would be violating the policy of this place although each and every guest is welcomed after their reservation is being accepted. Not all of them are wealthy but everyone one then were surely decent and civilized enough to understand the value of the traditions here.
The head staff almost vomited in tension with the girl's audacity. And the boss wasn't anymore looking at the girl, he was looking straight at him this time.
"I thought I could entrust you with the staff management, George. Looks like I was wrong to think that way," warning chrisped out from his voice. He had never seen the boss being this angry before. But why won't he be? One of the staff literally disrespected a guest from the special guest list. He almost wanted to dig a hole in the ground and bury himself inside it.
"My apologies, Sir. She is very inexperienced and I wasn't able to explain the custom to her properly. I will fix it instantly."
He heard the boss sigh. "You better do that. I don't want this mistake to ever repeat, or I will have to rethink my idea about your capabilities."
Then he strode outside the kitchen.
"George, I'm really telling the truth! That lady looked so suspicious!" The girl insisted on her logic which made the head staff infuriated.
"Keep on doing your bullshit at home from now on then. You're fired!"