By Julie D’Aloiso
This is the second chapter in our fictitious story called Secrets Under The Sizzle set in Treeville Ohio. Did you miss Chapter 1? You can find it here: https://nordoniahills.news/secrets-under-the-sizzle-chapter-1-the-mystery-of-marcos-departure/
The day before Marco’s sudden departure, the morning sun spilled into The Steak Place, casting long shadows on the well-worn floors. Marco, the talented sous chef, walked in carrying a box filled with potatoes. The restaurant buzzed with excitement as the staff prepared for another busy day of serving mouthwatering steaks and delectable dishes.
Jeff Hughes, one of the owners and husband to Marsha, took one look at the potatoes and immediately frowned. “These are too large, Marco,” he complained, his tone sharper than usual. “We should be buying the smaller ones. These large ones cost a fortune.”
Marsha, overhearing the conversation, walked over from the entrance where she was placing the latest floral arrangement from Petal Place Florist. She gently intervened. “Jeff, the potatoes are fine,” she said, her voice calm and soothing. “Why don’t you focus on the roof? It’s leaking again.”
Marco, relieved at not having to deal with Jeff’s temper, nodded gratefully at Marsha and carried the box to the kitchen. As he set it down, he caught sight of Mandy. He gave her a warm smile and a wave, which she returned with a shy blush.
Jeff, who seemed to be annoyed at the young lovers, stormed out of the restaurant, muttering under his breath. As he left, he was overheard talking on his cell phone to a contractor about the roof.
Meanwhile, Ellen, a regular customer and a fan of the restaurant, walked in with a stack newspapers, The Treeville News, and dropped them off at the restaurant’s front table. She mentioned to Marsha, “I know the food here is outstanding, but if you’re looking for something different to get away from your own restaurant, Wayback Burgers has great mango habanero chicken tenders only for the summer.”
Marsha couldn’t help but chuckle to herself as she pondered the abundance of restaurants in their town.
During the bustling lunch hour, Claudine Steinfurth, a prominent realtor, is seated at a prime table, finalizing a lucrative 6-million-dollar deal for an upcoming venture known as the Mahogany Performance Center. This state-of-the-art venue will house local concerts and also feature a cutting-edge recording studio. The Mahogany Performance Center is set to become the new cultural landmark, replacing the Majestic Theatre, which tragically never recovered after a small fire 5 years ago.
At a neighboring table, Weldon Hastings, the mastermind behind WeldonPC, engaged in a lively conversation with Hiba Rosace, the brilliant mind behind Rosace Enterprises – a renowned local digital marketing agency. Their discussion centered around forging a collaborative partnership for upcoming projects, exchanging exciting ideas and exploring the vast potential that lay ahead.
Amidst the abundance of restaurants in town, this establishment stood out as the preferred destination for local businesses to seal significant deals.
In the afternoon, Marsha found solace in confiding in her sister, Taylor. Over a cup of steaming coffee, she poured out her frustrations about Jeff’s incessant meddling in the kitchen. “I just don’t understand why he can’t let us run the restaurant,” Marsha whispered. “We have been working in this restaurant for most of our lives. All we ask of the guys is to simply maintain the building. It saddens me to think how displeased Dad would be if he witnessed how we are treated by them.”
Later that evening, the kitchen fell into a hushed silence after an arduous and demanding day. Marco walked in to pack up his knives for the evening, still clad in his crisp white chef’s jacket, and found himself alone with Jeff, who brooded over a glass of red wine while indulging in some lobster that had been reserved for a catering order. Marco chose not to say anything to Jeff. After all, he is technically one of the owners. There are moments when it is wise to embrace silence and avoid unnecessary disturbances or conflicts.
The tension hung in the air like a simmering pot, infusing the atmosphere with an undeniable sense of unease and anticipation.
Read on. Chapter three is here.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
