013

FlavorQuest…

It had been three weeks since Chase opened the restaurant but the progress had been slow. On most days, they had just one customer and so they had been experiencing a lot of loss which left them discouraged.

Sitting behind the counter with his hands resting under his chin was Wembley who had his lips caged in between his teeth as he stared at the door, waiting for the second customer of the day and Chase, who had stepped out to return.

"Can I speak to you?" Maurice said, pulling a chair out.

"Sure, go ahead." Wembley replied, trying to keep a brave face when on the inside, he was scared. Scared that Maurice wanted to leave the restaurant and find a more profitable job.

"Why do boss keep paying us each weekend when we don't even make up to a quarter of the amount?" Maurice asked.

This was the exact question Wembley had asked a few days ago, but he didn't get a satisfactory answer to it.

Chase had told him that he had always wanted a job that paid on a weekly basis and now that he had his business, he was going to operate that way.

"Aren't you going to say a word?" Jasper asked, pulling a chair to join them.

"That's his principle." Just like he wasn't satisfied with Chase's response, Maurice and Jasper weren't too. While waiting for Chase's return, they started talking about random things.

Meanwhile, Chase was roaming through Oakdale, checking out the difference between his restaurant and the ones he had come across. He was trying to pinpoint where his restaurant was lacking so he would improve on it.

"Chase… what are you doing here?" Sara, a staff from the Bernard Group called at to him with a bright smile on her face as she waved frantically.

Startled, Chase didn't respond immediately.

"Hey."

"Come on, stop acting awkward. Even if everyone believed that crap, I wouldn't dare."

"What are you talking about?" He had this confused look on his face, his gaze never leaving her even for a second.

"The news of what happened went round." She whispered. "I shouldn't have reminded you." She muttered, clutching her purse tightly as if her life depended on it.

Digging his hand into his hair, Chase tugged on it for a while before letting go.

"I will take my leave now." He didn't wait for her to say a word before he walked past her and then began to hurry towards the direction of FlavorQuest.

Staring at his departing figure was Sara who had her hands folded across her chest.

When the news started going round saying he was a cheating husband, she didn't believe for once and ever since then she had been trying to reach out to him.

It was then she discovered that he provided her with a fake number and email address.

"The rich keep oppressing the poor." She muttered. Still looking in his direction, her husband walked up to her and then ushered her into the restaurant.

Until Chase got to the restaurant, he didn't stop walking hurriedly. The last thing he wanted was to get sympathy from Sara or anyone.

"I never thought they would go that far." He mumbled.

After framing him for a crime he didn't commit, he thought that was going to be the end of it but Katherine and Raven went ahead to spread the false information to further tarnish his image.

Getting to the restaurant, he stopped at the entrance for a while and then took a deep breath.

With his hands tucked into his pocket, he walked towards the door and then pulled it open only to see a scowling Wembley towering over a customer.

Immediately, he closed the gap between them, "I'm sorry, we can fix…"

"Fix what?" Zara yelled, snapping her head upwards.

"What are you doing here?" The couple asked in unison.

Titling his head to the side, Chase took a step backwards as he began to run his fingers through his hair.

Zara on the other hand had her hands across her chest as she stared at him, a look of confusion and amusement on her face.

"Aren't you going to explain yourself?" She asked when Chase wouldn't make a move to say a word to her.

If he had known she was the one there, he wouldn't have walked in, not to talk of trying to step into the argument she was having with Wembley.

"I can explain." Chase muttered.

"Of course, that's exactly what I'm waiting for." She smacked her lips and then plopped on her seat with her legs crossed.

"Please excuse us." He said and at once Wembley and the others filled out into the warehouse.

Now sitting opposite Zara with his hands clasped, he had his head bent to the floor but before he could start speaking, she raised his head up with a coy smile on her lips.

"Too bad I stumbled in here." She smirked.

"Your dinner is in the microwave."

"I ate that already."

"Then why did you decide to come here?"

"The house was boring so I decided to go exploring."

Looking around the restaurant, she smacked her lips, still wearing her smile, "You were going to keep this away from me."

"I don't own it."

"There you go again, telling a lie to my face." With a tiny voice, she leaned forward and with her hand resting on her thigh said, "I'm not Raven, don't you get?"

"I'm sorry."

"Oh please stop it, you're getting on my nerves more." She scowled with an eye roll.

After a few minutes of silence between them, Zara uncrossed her legs and with her hands clasped said, "Employ me."

"What are you talking about?"

"You heard me. I want to be working part-time after school." Chase didn't give her a response, he kept staring at her like she had gone nuts.

Even if Zara wasn't like Raven and her mother, he still felt uncomfortable around her and he was also scared of indulging her in his business lest she was acting like a spy.

"Come on…" Before she could complete her words, Chase grabbed her hand and then began to pull her towards the door.

"Go home."

"I can help with improving your restaurant." She pressed on.

"You have school tomorrow."

"Allow me to help you."

They continued arguing until a customer walked in.

"Can I have a look at your menu ?" The lady said, ignoring their tussle.

Before Chase could even speak, Zara had broken free from his grip and had rushed to get the menu she had been offered when she arrived earlier.

"Please make a choice and our chef will get you your meal." She rapped, ushering the lady to the closest table.

Half an hour later, the customer took her leave not after giving Zara a tip.

While all these were going on, Chase and the other stood aside watching her.

The only person who wasn't impressed by it all was Wembley whom she had insulted earlier.

"Do you agree now?" Zara asked, hoping her little show off will help.

Before Chase could give an answer, Wembley said, "No, go home."