Post by StoryGirl83 on Feb 13, 2009 1:27:15 GMT -5
Chapter Eight – Grilled Cheese Interview
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Back at The Manor Wyatt headed back into the dining room, papers in hand. He walked over to the book where Emily was sitting. Emily smiled as Wyatt put the papers down onto the table between them and sat down across from her. He looked down at the résumé on top before he looked at Emily. Just how old is this girl? This résumé is almost nonexistent. “It says here that you have never worked at a restaurant before.”
Emily nodded. “That’s correct.”
“In fact it says that you have never worked anywhere before,” Wyatt added.
“It’s not a blank piece of paper you know,” Emily reminded him, slightly annoyed.
Did she just sass me? Wyatt asked himself, trying to keep his eyes steady.
Emily composed herself and smiled apologetically. “Sorry. I’ve spent the last few year helping my mom take care of her grandmother. She died six weeks ago. This was one of Granny’s favorite places to eat, so when I thought of places I’d like to work now that she’s gone, I thought of here.” She paused before adding, “I can do the job.” And then she smiled just a little bigger.
I can’t tell if she’s telling the truth of not, he worried as he tried to size her up. And that is such a pretty smile. I need to be careful, but I need the answer. “Why don’t we start with why you want to work here and how you think you can help this mu . . . er, restaurant?” I can’t believe I did that, Wyatt held back a moan. His mom was going to kill him. This isn’t the museum.
Emily frowned. “What?” After a brief pause she shrugged it off. “As I already told you, I love this restaurant. Amazing food, amazing atmosphere. And I hear you’re a most congenial boss.”
Is she talking about Mom? Apparently she didn’t know his mom all that well, but then she didn’t claim to. “I have high expectations of my employees.”
Emily just smiled. “I’m sure you do. To run a place this good, you’d have to.”
Wyatt scribbled something on the paper, wondering if she worked as well as she flattered. “And what do you think you bring to this restaurant?”
“I’m a hard worker,” Emily assured him, “and a friendly person.” She grinned, “and I have great navigational skilled.
What? Wyatt blinked with that one as it drew a blank. “Navigational skills?”
“You know, for navigating around tables and people while waitressing.”
Oh. And that would not have occurred to him. “I see.” He scribbled something else on the paper and looked back up at Emily. “Can you cook?”
It was Emily’s turn to stare blankly and blink. “Cook? I’m applying for a waitressing job.”
Oh boy. Wyatt thought as he processed that. Was that a ‘no’? Quoting his mom he informed her that, “All employees are required to cook from time to time, if we get busy and need their help.” And that was why he would never work there.
“I see.” Emily was silent as she considered this. “I can cook, nothing fancy, but I can follow a recipe and make is taste good.”
Then you can do better than I can, he mentally retorted before saying. “In that case why don’t we go to the kitchen and see what you can do.”
Emily’s eyes widened as she protested, “But I don’t have anything prepared.”
“That’s okay,” Wyatt was quick to assure her. “Nothing fancy. I’d be fine with a grilled cheese sandwich or a well put together salad.”
She glanced around, speculatively. “You would?”
It’s more that I can do, Wyatt thought wryly, well, the sandwich anyway. I can manage the salad . . . maybe. “Well, a grilled cheese sandwich isn’t our normal fare here, but it will do for a test of your cooking ability. If you were applying as an assistant chef that would be different. And Callie would be quite thrilled, he admitted silently to himself. It was really too bad Chris didn’t work there. He could cook. “Since you are applying for a waitressing job, grilled cheese should work or something similar.”
“What happened to a salad?” Emily asked, slightly amused.
“I decided it wouldn’t be much of a test of your ability to cook,” Wyatt admitted.
She smiled a little at that. “True. I can manage a grilled cheese sandwich.”
Wyatt stood and looked down at her. “All right then. Let’s head to the kitchen.”