The Deucalion Restaurant

🥔Chapter 10🥔

Jack chuckled as he leaned against the door frame, watching Morrigan run back through the carpark, presumably to clamber into her parents' car and drive home, or maybe somewhere else.

He stayed at the door until he lost sight of the strange girl with black hair. Noticing an elderly couple approaching the restaurant, Jack opened the door for them before following them back inside.

"See? I told you she would come back."

"Oh my God, Fen!" Jack whizzed around to find the woman looking incredibly smug whilst checking her fingernails.

"And it looks like she'll working here now, so congrats; you've got a chance."

Jack felt his face heat up, "Why are you so... persistent about this?"

Fenestra shrugged, "Why wouldn't I be? With the way you act, people would think you've been dating your whole life, when in actual fact, the closest you've ever come to dating someone was when that businessman came up and sat with you and offered to buy you a drink."

Jack rolled his eyes. "I'm sure he was just being nice, but geez, Fen. Don't need to call me out like that."

"Whatever, lover boy-"

"Stop calling me that."

"-we've got people to attend to – do you work here or not?"

"I'm literally wearing the uniform of this restaurant and am your co-worker. No, I don't work here."

Fen whacked him over the back of the head as she walked away, calling over her shoulder, "Your uncle wants to see you after your shift, by the way."

"Ah... just great," Jack mumbled, heading back to the kitchen where Martha was waving him over. Hopefully, Frank's failed attempt – fourth attempt, might Jack mention – at baking macarons had been taken care of. The dwarf of a man was the restaurant's planner, not chef, for God's sake!

~

At the end of his shift, Jack made his way to the back of the Deucalion Restaurant to find Jupiter. The ginger-bearded man often stayed back a while after everyone left to close things up, finalise any payments, and often sort things out for the following day. And since Jack lived with his uncle, he usually waited around with him unless someone else could drop him off.

Yes, while he did have a licence, Jack thought it didn't quite make sense to drive himself to work when Jupiter – and Fen, who also lived with them – were going to the same place.

Even if he had a shorter shift, Jack would go with Jupiter and then walk down to the library until his uncle closed the restaurant up and messaged him before picking him up.

Pushing open the door to the office where Jack knew Jupiter would be, he quietly stepped in. Jupiter was sitting at his desk, which was covered in a handful of different papers. Three of these papers were laid out somewhat orderly, as if the ginger had recently been looking at them. As Jack walked closer, he realised that they were three different resumés.

"Ah, there you are!" Jupiter looked up at his nephew. "Here, take a seat, take a seat."

Jack obeyed his uncle's instructions and sat down on the chair on the opposing side of the desk from him.

"Is this about new workers?" He asked, nodding towards the papers on the desk.

Jupiter smiled at him. "Clever one, aren't you?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "But yes, it is. We've received a few applications, as per usual, but these three, in particular, stood out. Give them a quick read over. What do you think?"

Jack leant forwards, looking down at the three resumés and reading each by turn.

Charlie McAlister. Aged 24. Student at the Wundrous University of Nevermoor.

Charlie seemed like a fairly good chap, with quite the application form. He was also studying at the uni Jack had applied for as he was finishing up at high school this year.

Noelle Devereaux. Aged 16. Student at Devereaux Ladies' College.

Jack read over the rest of the resumé. Noelle didn't seem like a bad person... Jack just so happened to have had a few run-ins with some girls from the ladies' college. He can't say any of them had gotten along exceptionally well.

Morrigan Crow. Aged 15. Student at WunSoc High.

Though Jack tried to hide his smile, he was pretty certain his uncle could see it anyway. He had a way of just seeing and knowing. Some said Jack could be a bit the same sometimes.

"I think they're all good choices," he said, leaning back into the chair.

Jupiter grinned. "I'm glad you think so, as you'll be taking on all three in the training course."

"Wait, what-" Jack sat up and stared at his uncle. "Why me?"

Jupiter shrugged. "Why not you?"

Jack frowned, "Because... no?"

"Come on, Jackie – we'll be getting busy soon, and you're the only person I can get to do this without paying extra."

"Aha. And there it is; the truth."

Jupiter chuckled, "Oh, come on. Maybe I'll give you a raise."

"..."

"Come on, I know you're tempted. You just love robbing me of all my money, you always have."

".. what's in it for me other than the money?" Jack asked, resting his forearms against the table and leaning onto them.

Jupiter's smile turned into one of his all-knowing smirks. "Well, I couldn't help but notice the way a certain person of the female kind was looking at you today. And I received some intel that you and the same female had a small meeting a few weeks back. And you know... you've seemed rather happy after both interactions."

Jack felt his face heating up. "Wh-what? Am I not allowed to be happy without reason anymore-"

"You know as well as I do that you damn well had a reason, Jackie boy. Besides, I think the two of you would be rather cute together."

"..Fen told you, didn't she." It wasn't a question. They both knew the answer, so what was the point of asking?

"Perhaps she did. But I gotta say, it's about time you found someone. Always playing with everyone customer's heart. I might as well make you the mascot of the restaurant."

"Oh God, please don't."

Jupiter laughed. "And to think your only experience with a date was when that sugar daddy-looking guy offered to buy you a-"

"Oh my God!This again???"

"What? Already been reminded of it today?"

"Yes!"

"Now, look Jack, if you ever do want a sugar daddy, just be careful and always use prot-"

"NOPE! Not listening. I don't want one, never have, never will. Can we please just go home?"

"Of course, but are you down to work extra with the newbies? Charlie will be in next week, and the girls will start over the Christmas break." Jupiter said smugly.

Jack sighed. "Yeah, I suppose so. I am getting extra pay, right?"

"Whatever gets you to do as I say."

.

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Written: 1 February 2022

Published: 2 February 2022

I couldn't upload last night, so I'll do it this morning! My reason is that I hadn't finished the chapter, and my head was dead. My laptop was also playing up. Anyway, enjoy! :D