Tristan believed he had never seen a clumsier employee in all his years as chef. Claire was just all things not right and judging by what happened, he was expecting that she would eventually quit. He could not deal with someone like her who had no control over her clumsiness. It was always from one annoying scenario to the other. Nothing about her was clicking. He had gone into his office angrily and jammed the door behind him. For a couple of moments, he sat down trying to get his head in one piece. Something about her always seemed to tick him off like a time bomb waiting to explode.
He eventually went over his drawer pulling out the employee records and hastily looking for hers. There she was, he thought as he looked over her details carefully. There was nothing there about her that seemed exciting. Not even a hobby. Once could say as far as he was concerned that Claire Willows was a nobody. It explained a lot and he was bracing himself to sanction the branch manager when he has the time for hiring someone without proper background check. His only happiness was the fact that perhaps he had just been able to send her over the edge. There was no way in the whole world she would keep up work at the place.
He decided to go pour himself a bottle of scotch and recline on his seat. He began a mental countdown when at number four, the door suddenly burst open and Alfredo stepped in. He was not enjoying this, could one not have himself a proper rest before the old man comes in with his usual habit of intrusion. He glared up at Alfredo but the man’s face read something else entirely; if he was not mistaken, that was worry plastered all over his face.
“Sir…,” the man said as he came over to his desk
“What is it Alfredo. Would it be wrong if I take just a brief moment of rest from you lot?,” Tristan asked
“Not a bad idea sir but then I don’t know how we would be dealing with the paparazzi. Information leaked that you are here boss,” Alfredo said.
Hearing that, Tristan Jenkins jerked up from his seat suddenly dropping the glass on his desk. He asked the man to repeat himself and when he did, Tristan asked how possible that was seeing that he had done his best to be discreet. The man smiled and added that certainly Tristan was not expecting that it would be kept secret knowing well enough he would be living there. It would be only a matter of time before they find out and that alone could make it worse. It was better they handled it quickly now and that would be it.
“What stations are out there?,” Tristan asked in deep thoughts.
Alfredo looked at the piece of paper in his hand and began enumerating them one by one. Tristan said he wanted to see the paper which was given to him by the older man. He stared at it for a while without actually reading it and then grabbed his telephone.
“What are you doing sir?,” the old man asked
“Calling their heads of course to get them off my property,” Tristan said
“Oh come now sir, you could just go out there and answer a few questions. I already made sure they’re in order and you know it’s going to be good for business if you show your face,” Alfredo said
“Good for business you say? Come on Alfredo… you do not expect I would sell myself cheap for sales. I am a chef not some runway model.” he said and pulled over the telephone.
Alfredo knew well enough that his mind was made up already and then decided to try again.
“But sir, people already heard you’re here and outside there is rowdy,” he said
“You said what Alfredo? Anyways I want the paparazzi off my property or I’m sueing,” he said with finality and dropped the phone looking at Alfredo with arms folded across his chest.
The man looked at him for a while and was quick to grab what he meant. Tristan was giving him the task of getting rid of the men outside or he would react as rashly as possible. He nodded and then walked away from the office leaving Tristan with his thoughts. The young man thought about it and all that was happening. Going out there would be him exposing himself to the public but still if he did not step outside, it would only be same effect. People were prepared to linger around until they see him and then what, the information would still be out that he had arrived the place.
He sighed and looked at the files on his table. Every file there had its passport attached except Claire’s but it did not matter, she would be leaving and it would not be his fault. He was just done putting back the file in his drawer when Alfredo returned. The man looked like he was sweaty and had a hard time speaking as he stalked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. Tristan had grown tired and bored waiting for him to finish and regain himself.
“So?,” he asked him
“Not easy sir but they’re all gone,” he said.
Good, that was all good as it meant he could actually go see his people. He asked Alfredo to go announce he would be stepping outside briefly and wanted all phones kept away. He was certainly not going to tolerate anyone disobeying.
Alfredo stared at his boss for a while disbelieving him. The man would pass for a tyrant anytime or day with the way he handles situations. Regardless, he walked away to go do the bidding of almighty Tristan. There was nothing he could say or do knowing well enough that he was still an employee under him. He announced to the customers that indeed Tristan was in the vicinity and was going to speak to them if they would comply and keep their phones away. Everyone was full of smiles. It did not matter as they were all willing to see their celebrity chef. They told the man they would abide and then Alfredo went back to inform Tristan. Tristan came out with him and addressed them briefly stating he was only passing through and it would only be a matter of time before he would leave. He urged them to enjoy their meal and keep patronizing Tristan’s.
As soon as that had been well taken care of, Tristan retired to his office where he remained for quite a long while. When he looked at the time again, it was almost dismissal time or rather already dismissal time when he raised his head from the desk. Alfredo had not woken him up and he got up picking his keys. He walked outside and found that the place was deserted which was when he left the restaurant, locking it and putting up the security system as he moved over. Alfredo was sleeping in the car with his head reclined. Tristan began knocking on the window and the man opened the back. A grumpy Tristan entered the back of the car and asked the man to drive. He had such a long day that day that he was not ready to have fun. Alfredo drove as he informed him that the place which he wanted to stay was ready. Tristan smiled and asked that he takes him there then. Alfredo smiled, he explained that he had guessed that would be his response and had taken liberty of that moment to move his things from the hotel and checked him out. Tristan scratched his forehead worriedly and then asked what if he did not like the place.
“Trust me sir, it is up to your standards,” Alfredo said
“Let us hope so.” Tristan said and looked away.
Alfredo was used to him and how he usually behaves at times like this when he was stressed. He drove calmly to the place he would be staying and had the stuff from the hotel which were in the trunk moved by the hired staff. Actually there was only two of them and Tristan barely paid them attention. He walked away and entered straight into his bedroom. Alfredo had done a great job after all. He only needed a grand rest after refreshing.
Claire woke up to a dark room and tried remembering where she was. The place was not soft and felt chilly. Oh no, she was still at work and everywhere was dark already. Hastily she got up. She could remember when Danielle had woken her up but she had refused saying she had things to do. The girl left but with lights on. Claire had a hard time locating her phone and found she had missed calls. That was the least of her worries actually as she managed to go out of the locker room and into the kitchen area. It was dark and empty. Claire did not want to believe she had been locked in and would be passing the night there.