Her Keeper

Chapter 70

--Julliet Parris--

It was a week since the entire incident and I was at my office trying to figure out what the hell to do.

That's right, I was at work. Geo paid my Grandmother to babysit and house sit for us, so that I could do as my father wanted to and run my own company.

"Saturdays are Buffet-Style Brunch days. Fridays are West Indian Buffet Days. Everyday breakfast begins at seven, brunch starts at ten, lunch is from twelve and afternoon tea is from five. The restaurant closes at seven." I received for the umpteenth time today.  "Every Monday morning the menus for the weekly specials must be checked, altered to suit if need be and approved. Every Monday cheques for purchases must be signed, shopping lists must be checked, altered if need be and approved. All orders for stock must be placed, checked, approved and sent off." I blew out a breath. I was already exhausted and my day hasn't even started as yet.

How did Geo do all of this and have time to take care of his own business... And yourself... And the kids... And school. I thought to myself as I picked back up the notebook I had my notes written in. Releasing a sigh, I continued reading.

"The regular breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea and lunch menus must be updated at the beginning of every month. The proposed menus must be received a week prior, checked, altered if need be and approved in time to be priced, printed and put on display at the beginning of the following month. Bills MUST be paid no later than the twenty second of each month. Submit all payroll information for staff by the twenty seventh of each month, so that they are paid on time via their direct deposits. Note: All staff information could be found in the filling cabinet to your left." I read, causing me to look in that direction and sigh.

The phone on my desk rang and I picked up, answering as it was explained in my notes.

"Julliet speaking." I chorused into the receiver, using the most cheery voice I could muster up.

"Oh that's right, Mrs. Parris." The lady on the other end said in realization. "Very well, as you know, today is Monday and it is currently ten in the morning and you still haven't had the chance to look over the shopping lists, nor have you signed any cheques for us to go make the necessary shopping. Also, there are three menus awaiting your approval, there are orders pending for your approval. Your husband would've had all this ready by eight thirty. Oh and you prefer fruit water like your husband or just regular water?" She rambled all at once.

"Um, regular water is fine and is it possible to get my husband on the line?" I asked.

The door to my office opened and Geovanni came casually strolling in.

"Nevermind." I said into the receiver before hanging it up.

"How's everything going?" He mockingly asked.

"Fine." I mumbled.

"Get up." He commanded, causing me to just do as he asked. He sat down in my chair and pulled out a chequebook from a drawer in my desk and began signing a few pages, then tore them out and pushed them into a white paper envelope from the same drawer in the desk. He then opened a few applications on the computer, read through them, edited them it seemed, then printed them and arranged them accordingly.

"That is the shopping list." He pushed the document toward me. "Those are the Brunch and West Indian menus." He pushed two more documents toward me. "Call someone from the Kitchen to get them and I've already emailed them to the front office staff for distribution." He informed me as he continues typing on the computer.

I decided to do as he told me to and call one of the kitchen staff for the documents he printed and pushed toward me.

"Hello?" A female voice came through the receiver.

"You may collect the shopping list and the menus from my office." I instructed her.

"Sure." She replied before hanging up.

A few short moments later a short, thin, attractive young lady wearing a chef's jacket made her way into the office carrying a pitcher of iced water with sliced pineapples added to it and a clean glass. She smiled at my husband as she put the pitcher and the glass on to the table.

"Good morning, Mr. Parris." She greeted. I identified her voice as the one from the call earlier.

"Hello Nicole." Geovanni returned her greeting without looking up from his work. "This is my wife, Julliet Parris, your actual boss." He informed her as he referred to me, causing her to turn in my direction.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." She smiled warmly at me.

"Same." I nodded as I handed her the documents. Taking them, she made her exit.

I continued to observe Geo as he quickly and effectively did my work.

What did I ever do to deserve him? I thought.

"You gon' stare at me all day or are you gonna come and least try to learn how to do this shit yourself?" He asked, causing me to sit in the chair beside him.

Geo and I had been distant since the incident. We still lived together and he's sleeping in the sane bed with me mainly because I've been having nightmares about the situation. He's also been caring for the kids along with my grandmother. He still hasn't told my parents what happened the other night and I was grateful for that. Though I still had my husband, I also didn't.

He had already warned me that I'd be doing my own work from this week and I knew by his tone that he was serious. One thing was clear and that was, Geovanni is not my Daddy. My father would make empty threats and never follow through, but Geo made sure he always stuck to his word. I could not just pout and get my way with him. I'd probably just get him to be a tad sentimental, but other than that he followed through with his tough love methods anyway.

"So first thing you do when you get here is sign those checks, review the shopping lists, menus, orders and any other important documents concerning the operation of the business. Everything else could wait. OK?" He asked to make sure I was following.

"Yes please." I nodded.

"Good."

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

~Dolly