ENTHRALL

Contract

Chaya

I didn't hear them correctly, did I? Take over the family restaurant. Oh my gosh, this has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I didn't, however, think it would happen right now, which piques my interest a bit more. Before I say anything, I need to figure out why the sudden change of heart occurred.

"Wait, take over the restaurant; is that what you said?" I asked, just needing to hear them say it again.

"Yes, Chaya, but before you get anything besides yourself, there are rules you must follow." My father stated it sternly.

" Rules? What kind of rule? Wait, wait, wait, before we get into that, why the sudden change of heart? Mother, this restaurant has been your pride and joy for as long as I can remember, and just the other day you told Pierre you would be buried in the place." It didn't make any sense.

"I know what I said, Cha. I also am no fool. I realize lately you already handle just about everything there is to handle at Oxunii's. At this point, your father and I have turned into figureheads more than owners."

"Honey, your mother and I are just too old to keep up with the pace of the modern restaurant business. When we opened this place, we hoped to one day pass it down to our children. Now, although it's a bit sooner than we wanted to, it's evident that it's time, and I don't see a more fit person than my beautiful, hard-working daughter. You know the restaurant's standards; you've cooked the meals. You single-handle the entire operation." he stated.

Emotions spilling over, I began to cry. I knew I was ready and I'd finally have my chance. My father is a man of few words, so to hear him boast about how qualified I am shocked me as well as moved me.

"Absolutely, I'll take over from here. I won't let you guys down. Now about those rules." I questioned.

"Yes, about those; they're in the agreement we want you to sign. Although we are handing the restaurant over, there are things we don't want to change, and there are also things that happen that you may not understand, but they have to continue to happen that way." He stated it as a matter of fact.

"Like, what exactly, dad?"

"Every year there are a few Japanese gentlemen that come and look over the books; no matter what happens, you are to keep this up. There is to be no deviation, whatever they say goes."

I've never even seen the books for the restaurant; maybe that's why. I mean, it makes sense when you have a restaurant as well known as my parents restaurant. Between the menu and the constant customer critiques, worrying about the financial side of the business seemed unappetizing to me. I was completely ok with someone else handling the books, but I wonder why they were definte; what if they were reaping the benefits financially? Again, I let my mind get the best of me. Whoever they are, my parents trust them, and business is thriving, so they couldn't be shady.

"Ok, dady, do I understand anything else?"

"Just read this over and sign, and she's all yours starting tonight."

" TONIGHT!". I paniced.

"Don't worry, Cha, we will still be here. Think of it as shadowing us until you're ready to take the reins completely." My mom stated:

I ran my hand through my curly hair. It wasn't that I couldn't take over; it was that I wasn't prepared to take over tonight. I was going to have dinner with Soph and Makoto and then hopefully go out and have a few drinks. Plus, I needed time to get myself together. I wanted to comb through the restaurant menu, see where I could make changes, and access some of the chefs. Pierre was definitely a keeper, but there are others that really need to be let go of or at least moved to different positions. I took the papers from my father and read over the requirements that were not verbally expressed; other than the Japanese men, everything was self-explanatory. I quickly signed my name, gave the paper back to my parents, and took the keys to the restaurant. Today was the beginning of a new era. After leaving my parents office, I saw Sophia and Makoto taking their seats at a small table by the window. As I looked around the restaurant, laughter and conversations filled the space. The smell of herbs and spices filled my nostrils. I inhaled and smiled. This is all mine. I had finally achieved the unthinkable: from today on out, I would be the owner of one of the most established restaurants in Manhattan.