Page 17 of Holly versus Mr. Ivy
After Marcus left, I stood, stretching my back. “I’d say we found our two new chefs.”
“Agreed.” Holly pulled up our standard employment contract. “I’ll get these sent to Skye and Marcus now. Hopefully, they’ll be able to start as soon as possible. I’ll keep you posted. We’re one step closer to that party you’re dying to throw.”
I settled my hands on my waist. “I’m notdyingto throw a party,” I said in a dry tone. Again, she’d insinuated I loved that scene. Shocking to most, I didn’t. Give me my time at the restaurant to chat and smile, and then I needed space at night to relax without stressing about being “on.”
“Aren’t you?” she challenged.
I cocked my head to the side. “I’m trying to increase revenue, that’s all.”
“Yes, well, now that we have all the new hires ready to go, should we plan it for three weeks from now?”
That should give me plenty of time to create a quick handout detailing the incentives offered as well as plan a game or two. “Yeah, that works. Just let me know when you’re ready for a meeting with Darby and Josh. We should have them come in before everyone gets here so they can leave quietly.” If that was even possible. As Holly stated, I was pretty sure Darby would be highly vocal, like a foghorn announcing her displeasure to the world. “Oh, and will you schedule visits to the food vendors? Sometime in the next week?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I smirked. “I kind of like that title.”
She rolled her eyes. “You would.”
“I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”
“I won’t,” she stated.
A phrase she said all too often.
Chapter 7
Holly
Someofthestressand anxiety from the last few weeks melted off. Rhett and I still had a lot to do to increase revenue, but we’d made headway, which eased my worries. I didn’t know what it was about Skye, but something just connected me to her. I was excited to get to work with her, and hopefully with this new goal-setting and reward system in place, my employees and I could start fresh.
My mood brightened further when both Marcus and Skye accepted their job offers and said they’d be able to start in one week. Rhett was ecstatic and said the next item after tackling the vendors was discussing the menu. He wanted to change up what we offered. I hesitated when he told me. The food we sold was familiar. My staff knew how to prepare each dish to perfection. Was switching it up when we hired new people a bad idea?
Not only that, usually when I wanted to change a dish, my chefs and I came together to test it and adjust any flavors as needed. After that, we offered it as a special for a month to see if customers ordered it.
We had to bypass every single one of my safeguards. But Rhett’s other ideas had worked so far. Maybe this would as well?
In an effort to improve the environment—especially in my kitchen—while still maintaining control, I decided to start with complimenting my employees more often. Small, simple, but hopefully effective.
During prep time on a Friday night, Darby had chopped carrots exactly the way I liked them. Instead of ignoring that fact, I’d managed to say through the cotton in my mouth, “Those look great. Good job.”
Her eyes had bulged as big as a cartoon character’s before narrowing. “Thank you.” She stated it like a question.
Obviously, we had work to do, but I was determined to do my part to reach our goal. Besides, it was easier being nicer to Darby knowing her time at The Boardwalk was limited.
I’d moved past Darby to Josh’s station. “That garlic is minced to perfection.”
He eyed me like I’d become a zombie. “It’s the same way I’ve always done it.”
“Then keep up the good work.”
Josh shot a worried glance Darby’s way. I’m sure they wondered why I’d spoken to them in the first place, let alone saying something nice.
Progress. No matter how small, that’s what I focused on.
Rhett no longer stayed in the kitchen corner observing, either. He wandered throughout the entire restaurant. Some nights I didn’t see him at all after we opened. Not that it bothered me or that I was keeping track or anything. Rhett was the first manager I’d worked with who seemed to care so much or who wanted to include me in the operations side, which was the reason my eyes strayed to him anytime he entered a room.
No other reason, like his square jaw, mesmerizing eyes, or stop-you-in-your-tracks smile.
