Unbreak My Heart

12. Daisy

Chef Jake delivered on his promise when he said he talked to "his friend" and got me a job. Saturday morning I received a call from an unknown number and a pleasant woman greeted me before telling me I was hired. 

At first, I couldn't comprehend what the lady on the other end was saying, it was way too early to be receiving calls. As she started to explain, I shot out of bed and showered in mere minutes. Sophia was still sleeping, so I sent her a text as I sat in the tube taking me to the other side of town.

Mia Margherita was a four star restaurant with an expensive menu that I couldn’t afford, but the silver lining?  Their patrons tipped well. Located in Notting Hill, it was surrounded by markets selling antiques and vintage fashion. There were also other high end restaurants, pubs and boutiques. 

My eyes took in the beauty of Notting hill, which was known for its bright buildings and the streets were always filled with tourists shopping and exploring.

Trying to find  my way around the beautiful city, I wrecked my brain for any information the lady had given me over the phone. Being half asleep when I answered didn’t do me any favors.  I surveyed the surrounding restaurants and cafés around me, and just as I was about to give up I saw the familiar name she had mentioned.

Mia Margherita (My daisy)

I walked to the entrance, when a lady walking past the doors saw me, and stopped  opening the door slightly before asking, "Hi, are you by any chance Amara?" 

Bewildered, I wondered if she was a psychic. I must have looked silly, standing  without replying before she clarified. "Miss Jane told me to expect a young woman around 10 o'clock?" She smiled warmly. 

"Sorry, yes, I'm Amara. You just caught me off guard."

The woman whose tag displayed the name Cathy, let me in before closing the door, and guided us to the host who stood when she saw  me following. She was wearing black dress pants, white shirt and black short blazer, her brown hair neatly put in a bun. Cathy dialed a few numbers of the phone by her stand and spoke softly into the receiver.

"Beth will be with you in a moment, you can sit while you wait." She pointed at the many tables around us.

“Thank you.”

I decided to look around the enormous space. The gold tables were paired with beautiful turquoise blue and nude armchairs. Chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings with beautiful gold lights, but what took my breath away was the floor to ceiling windows, allowing natural light to shine through. I could only imagine how beautiful the view must be during the night.

Still taking in the mesmerizing interior a voice called out behind me. "Miss Scott, I'm so glad you could come at such short notice. I am Beth." The elegant lady said, holding her hand out for a handshake.

"Please call me Amara, and thank you for giving me this opportunity." I shook her hand.

"No problem. We are short staffed, so Jake's call came in at the right moment. Please follow me to my office so we can talk more privately." 

Everyone seemed so polite and kind. I followed Beth to an office at the back of the restaurant. felt surreal to be here. When Chef Jake said he would help me look for a part time job, I figured it would be  somewhere small-scale, not a fine dining restaurant. Not that I was complaining.