Spices (FIRST DRAFT) ~ An Alejandro and Alfred Story

𝓢𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓷

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Here's your gift, all wrapped up. I wish it was more happy and exciting for you guys...
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The restaurant is dead silent. Nobody moves or breathes.

Alejandro closes his eyes, taking a few deep breaths, still as a statue, until he slowly opens them and disappears to the back of the restaurant without a word.

I don't think anyone saw him for the rest of the day. I kept my eyes on the kitchen door, holding my breath each time the door opened, hoping he would finally come out, only to see a different employee.

Unfortunately I couldn't stay long. I had to go back to the office to be in time for a meeting, so I called over Will to give me a call once Alejandro leaves. If he does.

When I finally came home the house was warm. I could hear the sizzling of something cooking and the smell of different spices and foods in the air.

I drop my bag on the floor and hesitantly enter the kitchen. Alejandro has his back turned to me, tossing minced up vegetables into a pan in a frustrated manner, the oil jumping out and landing on the stove top. He presses the knife into the vegetables much harder then needed, loud thuds of the knife against the cutting board echoing in the room.

Even standing a metre away from him I can feel goosebumps form along my arms. The silent fury radiating off him almost made me decide to leave him alone. But I couldn't. Never.

I take a step toward him and place a gentle hand on his shoulder like he's made of paper thin glass. My forehead drops against it as he takes a deep breath.

The knife in his hand is let go of and chatters on the countertop. His body shakes as he mutters through gritted teeth, "why does this happen every time. What do I do to deserve this, huh? I work so hard keeping it all under control yet everything goes wrong just because of some entitled... maldito gilipollas." He whispers the end under his breath.

"I hear you... It's not your fault; just an unlucky day," I reply.

"I don't know what to do... this restaurant is everything to me I- What if I actually lose it?"

It was clear there was little Alejandro cared more for than his restaurant. It was the main purpose of his existence and he kept it very close to him. If anything were to happen to it, he couldn't live with himself.

Walking around him to look him in the eye I say, "don't worry; I'll be here to help you out. God forbid the man was serious about shutting down your restaurant, I'll do everything in my power to help." Alejandro nods with glassy eyes.

~~~

My efforts to reassure Alejandro and keep him thinking positive were almost pointless. Paranoia had completely swallowed him and I could see him pick up more and more nervous habits.

His hands bled a lot from biting and picking at them. The possibility of losing his restaurant and not knowing what was happening behind the scenes at the health inspection agency was eating him from the inside out.

As the days went on and he waited for a call or letter in the mail, he was stuck in a trance where he seemed unfocused and like his body was present, but mind was somewhere far away.

Everytime the phone would ring, either at home or at Casa Vallarta, Alejandro would always be the first one to spring up and answer, never allowing anyone to even approach the phone without his permission. He shook as he placed the receiver next to his ear, removing his finger from between his teeth only to respond.

I've never seen him so terrified. This was yet another heavy weight for his heart, and I couldn't stand being there to witness it slowly crush him.

People around the restaurant began accommodating him. The customers made sure to be nice and be clear with what they need, and even then limit the amount of demands and problems to keep each day simple and Alejandro calm. The workers all understood they needed to pull their weight. Although Alejandro would never blame them for any mistake made inside his own restaurant, it would still put him at ease knowing he doesn't need to always monitor them. That they could support and handle the restaurant together just like he can.