Where you go - Carmen Berzatto x OC

Chapter 10

After that whole drama with the IRS had been solved to everyones satisfaction everything finally was quiet and peaceful for around a week. The restaurant worked smoothly, but Rafaela could see that Sydney was starting to grow restless and impatient and the animosity between her and Richie was growing. But the young restaurant manager was tired and so decided to ignore the issue for the time being and just enjoy the new found working routine and the steadily growing relationship she had with Carmen, who also finally started to look relaxed and even happy whenever they were alone.

But then the problem, of course, decided to bite back. Viciously.

This morning she had come to the restaurant - alone, since Rafaela and Carmen had decided to spend the night apart for a change - with the newest issue of the local newspaper, as she had discovered that the food critique writing for said paper had written a piece about The Beef. And boy was she not happy with it. Someone had a lot to explain and she knew who it was.

Sydney.

The critique on it's own wasn't bad - it was great, actually. Five of five stars. The problem was that the reporter had written about a dish they didn't even have on the card. Sydneys risotto. All while barely mentioning the things they actually served, the sandwiches.

Rafaela wasn't angry. Just so, so disappointed. Sydney having done that really felt like a stab in the back. Having to deal with that today of all days, when they were introducing the new to-go system - again on Sydneys urging - was not something she was looking forward to. Neither her nor Carmen felt the restaurant was ready for to-go but Sydneys insistence grew with everyday and Carmen was starting to worry he would lose his Sous otherwise and Sydney was a talent he - they - couldn't afford to lose. So they had given in. If that had been a good idea the day would show.

When Rafaela entered the restaurant Carmen wasn't in the kitchen, but she knew he was here. He was almost always one of the first - if not THE first - getting to work. She had written him a message this morning, giving him a heads up about the article as to at least not get blindsided by it. He hadn't replied, but he had seen it. Ebraheim was reading out loud from the newspaper in his hand - not Rafaelas, as hers was still in the purse hanging from her shoulder. The dark skinned man still had a very pronounced accent as he sometimes struggled with the English words, but he'd gotten so much better since she had first taught him how to read a couple years ago. Sydney was standing in the background, looking smug and proud. Though her face fell when she spotted the manager in the kitchen. Rafaela was clearly not amused.

„Twenty minutes to open, Chefs!" Carmens voice could suddenly be heard from the back as he came into the kitchen. A hand snaked around Rafaelas waist and he dropped a quick kiss on her lips when she turned her head to look at him. „Hey, you good?" He asked relatively cheerful and the girl eyed his face for a moment. Betraying his forced cheerfulness was his stern face. Something was cooking behind that and she didn't know him well enough yet to discern what it was. But it was nothing positive, of that she was sure by the way he was avoiding looking at Sydney. She nodded. „Yeah, just got here. I'm just putting my stuff in the office then I'm working on the to-go boxes." As Rafaela was the only one not needing to change she usually didn't use the locker room. Carmen gave her a soft look before he nodded as well and moved on, asking Sydney „could you set up?" over his shoulder. Ebraheim continued to read undeterred and Rafaela complimented „keep up with the practice, Ebra; you're getting better" before she also moved on.

In the office she decided to take a quick look into the restaurants e-mail account before working on other things - until she heard a new voice she hadn't heard in quite a while. She stuck out her head of the office and broke into a huge smile. „Louie!" She cheered while going over to the teen and pulling him into a hug. „God, have you gotten taller again?" The boy just shrugged. She withdrew from him and asked „What are you doing here?"