Chapter 26 Rumors Say
Aria.
I patted down my uniform, ready for my first day.
I fixed my hair, tied up in a messy bun ready for a hairnet, baby hairs hanging around it. I'd done my eyes and worn eye patches the previous night to help with the lack of sleep.
I still saw them in my dream. Still heard their voice and felt their touch.
I breathed, looking over my reflection one more time before deciding I was ready to go. I picked up my bag and my apron and stepped out of the room, waving Nana goodbye as I left.
“Bye, Nana!” I called her, smiling.
“Have a good day, my dear child.” She was on the sofa as always, up bright and early, even earlier than I. Knitting something, possibly a sweater, for the coming months.
,I walked down the street, following the same route I'd followed the day before. I located the cafe one more time.
It wasn't a very popular place, but it had its own customer base. People were already seated, translating into the morning rush.
I stepped through the doors, walking straight for the counter and opening the door beside it, looking for the manager again. She'd asked me to come straight to her, and that was what I was doing.
I stopped in front of her office, a small door to one side of the kitchen, and knocked.
“Come in.” I opened the door slowly, greeting her.
“Alright, so you know, though we talked a little, we didn't get to talk much about your experience or what you're going to have to do.” She gave me a once over.
“Now, as a kitchen assistant, you're going to be helping out with the mixing and the kneading and getting things out of the oven and on to the kitchen. You're going to do the showcase just in time for the morning rush.” She got up and walked out. I followed.
“As you can see, 7 is not nearly as early as we need for that to happen. So you're going to have to come in a tad earlier. Say 6.30? How does that work?” She raised an eyebrow.
It works just fine, ma'am.” I said, willing to do anything to keep this job.
“Alright, so the baker will be showing you everything else you need to know, but that's basically it. I'll run you by the rules once you close for the day. How was that for you?”
“It's just fine, ma'am. Can I go get to work now?” I pointed towards the kitchen.
“Yes, you can. And remember what I said. Anything. I'm down.” I smiled at her, nodding and opening the door, making my way out.
I stepped into the kitchen, finding the baker all over the place, running from oven to oven, kneading and mixing and warming the chocolate in a pan somewhere. I took the bread from her, taking over the kneading as she checked the oven one more time.
They must have been close to being done, because she poked a toothpick in it and found a few crumbs left. I smiled at her.
“Good morning, madam. I'm Aria. Your assistant.” A bead of sweat rolled down my forehead. She handed me a hairnet.
“Oh great, finally I get someone to help me after years and years of drowning in overload.” Her smile was genuine.
“Okay, I see you've already got the kneading done. So just keep at the kneading and I'll get to everything else. Once you've done that, roll it up and leave it in a bowl to rest and cover it. And then get to work on mixing the batter for the rest of the cupcakes. Okay?”
Her hair was short and flowy, it was beautiful. Short, plump and dull of energy, almost permanently on her face. Her face was the warmest, most baker-y face I'd ever seen. She radiated sugary energy in the sweetest way possible.
“Okay, madam.” I didn't know what went in batter, but okay sounded like the right thing to say.
I continued to knead as she walked around the kitchen, humming to herself and tasting everything to make sure it was just right. She walked to me, stopping before me and saying,
“I'm Penelope, and I am the baker of this establishment. We’ll work just fine together, especially if you like gossip. Do you like gossip?” I nodded, wanting anything that would better my relationship with this woman. She smiled.
“Well, I have some hot tea for right now. Word around is that Alex Corp's biggest corporate member, the biggest executive, got beaten at the hospital this morning.
“Beaten? Why was he in the hospital?”
“Rumors say that his wife was brought in with a broken nose and some other wounds. And some man just walked in and beat him to a pulp.”
“Wait, his wife? Isn't that the lady he just married, Delilah Hart?”
“Yes, it is. I see you already have the strings on the tea. Yes, it is. Word around says it's her brother who did the beating up. I say he deserved it. I've never liked that Jess Andrews guy. He never seemed like it to me.” I smiled at her, knowing that that was what she wanted, worry filling me to the brim immediately.
I had to call Grayson very soon.
I got off my lunch break and proceeded to my phone almost immediately, trying to reach Grayson. I opened my phone and scrolled through my contact list, realizing I didn't have his number.
I popped my phone back on the kitchen countertop, leaving it there and finding something else to do with my time.
The worry was still fresh in my mind, only a little calmer now, knowing that he was at least safe. The words that got around didn't carry any word of him being hurt. I had to make a mental note to get his number the next time I saw h
im.
That was what I was going to do.