CHAPTER 15

June 13, 2015

The following morning when the sky was still dark and the moon was beginning to fade away, Landon prepared some bread and bacons for Deanna and Mavis. He was up early to check on the progress of the preparation of the hotel staff particularly the kitchen since they're into a battle of endurance for the whole day with several events that the hotel would be hosting together with the annual sponsorship of the music festival.

After showering under a lukewarm trifle of water, Landon slipped on a pair of khaki pants, white short-sleeves polo with a five-button placket and a side-seam detailing, and his brown driving loafers and made his way to MTL Palace.

The MTL Palace has been on a roller coaster ride for the past few days and would soon face its toughest day yet, hosting multiple events for the day and sponsoring the annual music festival in the evening. Fortunately for Landon, Marco just arrived from the meeting and has news to tell him.

"How did it go?" Landon hopefully asked Marco as he entered his office and sat on one of the chairs. He's confident that Marco would say a positive response since he's the type of man who gets the job done.

Marco's fresh-faced looks together with his steel blue eyes beneath his long lush lashes, which any woman dreamed for her own, has always been misunderstood by many in terms of his age. Marco has been an older brother to Landon, not because of the partnership they have with the hotel but because of the long friendship that they have establish through the years.

Marco has always been supportive with Landon. When Landon decided to leave behind the big apple's lifestyle, he remained optimistic that Landon would soon heal wound in his heart. He was also one of those who stood by Landon's decision to marry Theresa despite the terminal condition that she was in. Landon has always recognized Marco's advice and voice like wisdom from a brother.

"Well, it went pretty well," Marco responded.

Landon was waiting for more but Marco didn't elaborate what happened. "So what's wrong?"

"Nothing really." Marco teasingly smiled at him. "In the next couple of weeks, we would be visited for an inspection of our facilities and be evaluated according to the standard."

"What do we need then?"

"Nothing much. The Palace just need you back in the kitchen. You know how it is. We need a renowned chef to back up our restaurant." He stared at Landon.

"Don't look at me like that. I know that kind of stare."

"You could actually start by leading the kitchen for the Music Festival while Chef Rosselle would say behind like before. You know how busy the Palace has been lately."

Landon didn't answer. It was just a continuation from last night chat with Enrico and the others. For the whole night, he was thinking about it whether to give it again a try.

"You know that I haven't been in a kitchen lately."

"That's not what I have heard about last night."

"Gossip really never sleeps in here. Was it Enrico?" Landon anticipated that sooner or later, what happened last night would reach Marco's ears.

"Actually, it was Abby. She said that you prepared them a dessert last night."

"I didn't. Well technically, I just gave instructions to Lea."

"Lea? Who's she?" Marco curiously asked.

Marco didn't hear the full detail of what happened at the Villa Maria. Abby just informed her of the progress Landon made in returning to the kitchen since all of Landon's friends made a promise to Theresa that they would be there for Landon and their son Mavis. She neither told him about Lea and her friends nor who really prepared the dessert. It was after all, she thought, a good start for Landon's recovery.

"One of Mavis' new friends. They're actually guests of the hotel. You know how it is with Mavis."

"Is it really Mavis?"

"Hey now, you know how Mavis is with some of the guests."

"Okay! Okay! Anyway, could you take the lead for the music festival?"

Landon again didn't answer. Part of him wanted to accept it. But something is holding him back. It was after all a good exposure for the Palace but it involves a greater risk as well if they make a mistake. He knew how picky the festival committee especially the artists who would perform. It could be a double edge sword for the hotel.

"You know how important the festival has been for Palace." Marco slide an envelope to Landon. "It's from Theresa. She really has a foresight of the future."

Landon didn't receive it at once. He just couldn't move as he heard it was from his deceased wife. He had the feeling that it was one of her plans for the hotel. While Landon and Marco were already contented when a single star was awarded to the MTL Palace. However, it was Theresa who pushed for it to receive a better ranking. Her dream actually was for the Palace to receive a five star ranking but realistically, she knew, she wouldn't have time to see it. That's why, she has written plans for the hotel and how they would be able to achieve them in the future even when she would be present to see her dream comes to life.

As staring at the envelope made Landon's throat tighten, reminding him that as much as he missed having his wife by his side. He knew she's a perfectionist, and the way in which the MTL Palace kept on ascending is among the evidence of such perfectionist attitude at work even when she's not around anymore.

It just came to Landon that the Palace has always been considered by Theresa as her pride other than the foundation that they have. She hasn't only invested her time by more so her soul into it. She has not only laid the foundation but also planned out some future challenges and solutions for the rise of the Palace.

"She's really a planner. Her foresight has made us what we are now and would also lead us in the future," Marco praised.

Landon grabbed the envelope and slowly opened it. It didn't surprise Landon. His instinct was right in guessing what it was. The envelope contained the documents needed by the Palace to fulfill in order to gain another star rating. Landon was stuck on one section, his name. Theresa wrote his name on the management of the kitchen and with the instruction that Landon should be the one to manage the upcoming Music Festival to promote the Palace to the world.

"She has always believed in your ability as a chef and never doubted that you would one day deliver positive comments yet again," Marco added.

"But..."

"No buts," Marco interrupted. "I also believe in you. We all do believe in you." He stood up and walked closer to the scale model of the hotel stationed on a table placed just on the corner next to his table. "Can you still remember the time when I was just proposing the idea of partnership? Theresa and I believed that the hotel would depend heavily on your hands as the master chef." He turned his attention back to Landon. "And we're right about it. This hotel has depended and abused your name for marketing. Now, we would again depend on you to deliver us another star which could lead us to the ultimate dream of having a five star hotel."

Before Landon could say a word, they heard someone knocking on the door. It was Mr. Connolly. "Mr. Bolton, everything has been prepared and ready to be transported at the venue," he informed. "Chef Roselle was asking if you would lead the kitchen for tonight's event?"

Although their sponsorship was the dinner, the MTL has learned from their previous experiences that the best time for them to prepare their venue and equipment would be the early morning in order to avoid being stuck with the gathering of tourist and other music lovers for the event. Year after year, the music festival attendance has been increasing. If they wouldn't want to be caught up with the flow of people, they have to be among the earliest together with the committee organizers.

Landon glanced at Marco who was obviously a step ahead of his plan. Landon wasn't that surprise though. The moment Marco asked him to lead the kitchen for the music festival, Landon had already anticipated that Marco already made a move for the possibility of Landon leading the kitchen at the music festival and he was right about it.

"What?" Marco gave a fleeting smile.

Instead of answering, Landon turned his attention back to Mr. Connolly. "Thank you Mr. Connolly. Kindly tell them that I would lead them tonight."

"Are there other things you want them to prepare?"

Landon shook his head. "Nothing I can think of as of the moment." He paused. "Just tell Andy, Terry, Shane and Mike to take a rest for the time being. They would be the ones who would accompany me later."

Andy, Terry, Shane and Mike have been his trusted kitchen personnel together with chef Roselle. All of them started as mere students who applied for apprenticeship at the Palace Restaurant but later on have chosen to stay as a permanent staff. After their experience under the watchful eye of Landon, they were hired according to their field of expertise. Andy became the sous chef after Chef Roselle was promoted to be the executive chef when he got his certification as a master chef. Terry is the sauté chef while Shane and Mike, being the youngest of the staff are both assistance of the vegetable chef and pastry chef respectively.

Landon saw great potential in all of them. He taught them all things he had learned not only from the Institute but also more from his exposure to international festivals and competitions. He had also recommended some of them and at the same time, sponsored them at the different culinary competitions by the American Culinary Federation as Landon always believe that they would learn more as participants. Whether they would win or not, it doesn't really matter for him as long as they learned something from the competition. Of course, carrying the name of the hotel and as protégés of a world-renowned chef, Landon, they can also brag that they have also won several competitions.

"How about Chef Roselle?" Mr. Connolly asked.

"He'll be in-charged here just like before," Marco answered as he sat back on his chair.

When Mr. Connolly was about to leave, Landon said, "By the way, why didn't you join us last night. Mavis was looking for you."

Mr. Connolly wasn't just an employee of the hotel. He was more of a family member to Landon and his friends. Landon and Marco were actually planning to give him the job left by Theresa but he humbly declined the offer. His reason was simple enough that both Marco and Landon couldn't argue with. He told them that at his age, he's contented being the general manager of their hotel. It has been his job since he started at one of the hotels of Landon's father and then continued with them. He couldn't see himself in other position as it is. He, however, assured them that if they would find a new person fit for the shoe left by Theresa, he would be happy to teach him or her everything he knows about the business just like what he did with Theresa.

"There was an on-going conference last night," Mr. Connolly explained.

"Oh, I see."

When Mr. Connolly left the room, Landon glanced at Marco who was smilingly staring at him, housing his gaze. "What's with that smile again?"

"Nothing." Marco raised both his hands.