Chapter 43

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I forgot how fun it is to dress up.

And what's more fun than dressing up and going out to dinner?

Especially when you're going at an appropriate time, aren't going out after, and can be in bed no later than ten.

Antonio, my former boss, has taken me out to dinner to one of his favorite Italian restaurants in town to celebrate him handing me the torch. It's a pretty upscale place somewhere uptown, and once in a while, I love fine dining. It gives me a lot of inspiration. Especially now that I'm creating and perfecting my own menu for the opening soon. It's a fun way to see what works and what doesn't without actually having to do any of the work. I love it.

''So, have you made your decision?'' Antonio asks me, taking his wineglass in his hands and swirling it around. ''Seasonal menu's or monthly changes?''

''Monthly, I think.'' I nod. ''It keeps people interested to come back. I'll change the specials weekly, and different soups and salads every day, but I feel like a different menu every month would be fun. Plus, I can base if off of what's seasonal and good each month- get it fresh at the market every morning.''

''You're not going to keep our supplier?'' he asks, raising a brow.

''Of course I am.'' I tell him. ''For meats and fish and stuff. Fruits, vegetables, and everything else I'll just make Christy get fresh every morning. Trust me, makes all the difference.''

He shrugs. ''Hey, it's your kitchen.''

It's like someone lets out a swarm of butterflies right into my stomach every time I remember I'm going to be in charge. The idea seemed so exciting, but now that it's becoming a reality, it's the scariest thing.

But dreams often are.

''Don't remind me.''

''You think I would trust you with my restaurant if I doubted you for even a second, Nara?''

''No.'' Definitly not. Antonio is not a man of many words, but he's a fair man. And maybe I've seen him fire more employees than hire new people, but he's always right. I trust his judgement and I know that if he tells me I can do something, it's because he fully believes I can. He has absolutely no reason to suck up to me.

''You've worked for me for how many years now?'' he doesn't give me the chance to answer. ''I have seen it all. You've been running the place without the official title for a long time, Nara. This was just a formality and a chance for you to make it your own.''

''And a way for you to take more vacations.'' I joke.

His face suddenly goes stoic, and my stomach starts turning.

''Nara, the main reason I invited you over for dinner tonight was, of course, to celebrate your accomplishments careerwise.'' he clears his throat, setting his glass of wine down. ''But I also need to tell you something.''

He is not about to fire me before I've even started, right?

''What is it?''

''I'm moving.''

He's moving? What does that have to do with me? And why is he making such a big deal about it?

Unless-

''Antonio, where are you moving to?''

''To France.'' he squeaks. ''Paris, to be precise.''

My eyes bulge, and my hand goes to my lips. ''You're moving to Paris?''

He nods his head, smiling nervously. ''With you taking the past few months off, and the restaurant being shut down until your renovations finish and everything, I've been spending a lot of my time there. God, you should see me. Eating pastries, drinking wine, trying out new restaurants every day. It's fabulous. I'm up two by pantsizes but still. So fabulous.''

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