One in the Same

Ch. 11: Arkyn/Sylvia

"Seems everything has been steady afloat since you opened four years ago, today, Mr. Aries. I assume all business is in order, correct?" John, my HR coordinator asked. Within the first twenty minutes of being in the building, the man brought inside or right through the front door.

Surprise visit, is what he called it. And I didn't mind, if I wasn't already irritated.

Nothing wrong on his part, but the kitchen staff wasn't getting ahold of the Wagyu Beef for the Masala yet. It was putting a dent in my pocket but all the restaurants as well. It was one of the best fishes we sold inthe spring and summer time, but nonetheless, the fucking hooligans in the kitchen cant seem to add the right amount of interesting to hings.

"Of course, the staff is swimming, and unfortunately got caught in some nets on the way up stream. Although, we're all forming together just fine." I complemented. John grinned marking a couple of things on his notepad.

"Good. I know things were rocky for you at one moment or another." John looked over the rims of his glasses at me.

"With all due respect, it was not in their criteria to be in a restaurant. This one at that." I clipped, slightly shrugging my shoulders, but regretting it immediately. "Can't handle the heat, stay away from the stove."

John chuckled, "Yes, that would be a good thing to keep in mind. Although, another thing to keep in mind is the ones you hire are new to this. Don't scare them off."

My jaw dropped slightly and closed right back up as my eyebrow rose to the top of my forehead.

"I didn't realize my stage makeup was still on that day. I'll be sure to wash it off next time for interviews." I deadpanned. John laughed, closing his folder.

"Alright. I think my work here is done, I just wanted to check in on you, along with the place you molded together." There was a glimmer in his eye as he spoke. Shaking his hand in his departure, I walked him to the front door.

"Sure I can't trouble you with a dish to go? Dessert perhaps? I know you're a die hard for strawberry cheesecake."

"No, no thank you. Wife has been getting after me for the last couple of things I have treated myself with." Johns sighs, followed with a chuckle. "The doctor said I had gained some weight recently, and she thinks I'm going to heel over at any given day."

I flicked my attention to my watch vibrating my wrist; a notification from Jake, about to contact him sooner rather than later. I dismissed it for now. It can wait until after the interviews.

"I can't imagine the horrors of your wife caring about your well being, John." I deadpanned, plastering a fake as hell grin on my face. It wasn't a dig, kind of, his wife was beyond sweetheart. I don't think she had a rude bone in her body.

John barked a laugh, opening the door wider, "You're a good man, a funny one at that. Hard to imagine you don't have someone on your arm yet."

' "Who says, I don't." I winked. John's brow rose, tipping his head in acknowledgement.

Waving a goodbye, I walked away, rolling my neck, popping tension I had collected. The breath that I had forgotten I was holding on to was finally released. The movement alone relaxes the muscles in my neck and shoulders. The faint scent of Sylvia on my fingers from this morning relaxing me even more, as I smoothed my fingers down my beard.

John was a great guy, slightly heavier than the last time I saw him but overall a good person.

"Chef, your 2PM interview is here. They're waiting in the back booth by the office when you're ready." Zach informed, meeting me in the hallway leading to the kitchen. "Pretty sure it was Oscar he said his name was."