Page 101 of Tasty Cherry
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Before I can chide him further, he’s out the door.
That kid is going to be the death of us all.
But he’s right. My situation with Mila is a problem.
There’s just no way I’m going to give her up.
33
MILA
The week is easy.
I move from filing in HR to learning the software that runs the complex scheduling. It determines how many rooms are booked, and from there, provides an algorithm of how many workers we need in housekeeping, the kitchens, and in the restaurants.
Anna allocates the hours for her employees, and Filo schedules out the kitchen, room service, and bakery. The restaurant has a manager, as well as the deli. They all log in to figure out their weekly shifts.
I’ve worked with it for a couple of days when I realize there are some missing pieces.
“Suze?” I ask from the extra desk they’ve set up for me in the corner.
Suze looks up from her cell phone, where she spends way more time than I would have expected. “Yeah?” We’re alone in the office at the moment.
“The secret restaurant isn’t on here. How do you know how many workers to schedule for that?”
“Oh, it’s closed for the season. It’ll come back near the holidays when things pick up.”
“Have you been there?”
“I’ve seen it. But I can’t afford to eat there, not even with the discount.”
“Really?”
“Really. It only takes five reservations a night, and each meal is personally prepared by Chef Monique. She has two assistant chefs and there is one server and one sommelier available each night. It’s only open at dinner Thursday through Sunday when it’s in operation.”
“And it’s profitable?”
“At those prices? Yeah.”
“Like, what kind of prices?”
Suze uses her phone as a mirror to press her hand against her wild mass of hair. I try not to think of Marge Simpson’s sisters, but that’s the exact look. “I don’t think you’ll leave for less than four figures.”
“A thousand dollars?”
“Per person.”
“Whoa.” I wonder if Sebastian’s ever eaten there. I’ll have to ask.
Speaking of eating. It’s almost lunch. Sebastian and I sneaked into an unused staff apartment yesterday, one far from the intern wing.
No cameras. Nobody looking at those door key cards. He coded my ID to get in.
I’ve decided nooners are my thing.
I’m keen to get back there and meet him, but Suze says, “Jessie wants to take you to lunch in town, show you around. I asked Brooklyn and Ilsa, too. Girl’s trip, you know.”