Chapter 246: Martinez's Diner
The next morning, Cecilia told her parents everything she had in mind.
After hearing it all, they were completely stunned.
"A chain of restaurants? Are you serious?" Mabel nearly dropped her utensils, stammering, "Amelia, have you lost your mind? We just have one small pasta shop. What chain? That would cost a fortune!"
Robert also frowned. He was thinking even deeper than Mabel. "Amelia, this is not just about money. Our pasta is all about artisanal skill. If we open so many stores and use machines for everything, will the taste change? Would that ruin our reputation? Machine-made pasta lacks soul."
Cecilia knew they would react this way.
She patiently explained, "Dad, Mom, I am not trying to completely replace craftsmanship with machines. On the contrary, I want to promote your skills through a more scientific and standardized approach. For the sauce, we can have Mom personally supervise at one location, using the best ingredients and large pots to prepare big batches at once, then deliver them to the other stores. This way we can ensure consistent taste while freeing Mom from the heavy daily work of cooking sauce."
"As for the pasta, we definitely cannot lose the essence of hand-rolled noodles. But we can translate your experience into precise data — like what brand of flour to use, what temperature water to add, how many minutes to knead, and how long to let it rest. Then we will hire the best chefs to learn according to your standards — if they cannot master it, they do not get to work. This way, even if you are not at the store, people can still taste what you personally created."
"We are building a premium brand. We want everyone to know that a bowl of carefully made pasta is just as good as pasta from any five-star restaurant."
Cecilia's words made Robert and Mabel fall into deep thought.
They had spent their whole lives running that small pasta shop. Their biggest wish was for Amelia to make something of herself, so she would not have to spend her life around the stove like them.
But now, Amelia was telling them that the craft they took such pride in could be elevated to fine dining circles, could be tasted and appreciated by thousands of people... This impact left them both excited and anxious.
"But how much money would this cost?" Mabel was still most worried about this.
"Do not worry about the money." A steady voice came from the doorway.
Stefan walked in carrying bags of gifts, followed by the sharp-looking Garth and his team.
"Mr. Martinez, Mrs. Martinez, good morning." Stefan smiled as he handed over the gifts. "I will cover all the investment for opening the stores. You do not need to worry about anything — just contribute your craftsmanship as equity. When the company makes money later, you will get a bigger share."
Robert and Mabel were startled by this scene and waved their hands repeatedly. "That will not do! Stefan, we appreciate the thought, but we cannot take this money!"
"Mr. Martinez, this is not money I am giving you — it is an investment." Stefan's tone was sincere. "I believe in Amelia's vision, and I believe in your craftsmanship. This business is a sure win."
Robert and Mabel looked at this extraordinary young man before them, then at the serious-faced Amelia. They began to lean toward agreement.
All their lives, they had kept this small shop, kept this craft, just wanting stability.
If they could really do what Amelia said — open their pasta shop nationwide and let everyone taste the Martinez family's pasta — would that not be an exciting thing?
Robert took a deep breath, looked at Cecilia, then at Stefan, and finally made up his mind, nodding firmly.
"Alright! Amelia, Stefan, I trust you!" Robert said decisively. "Let us do it your way!"
Seeing Robert agree, Mabel's eyes also reddened with emotion, and she nodded vigorously.
Seeing them finally agree, Garth and his team immediately stepped forward, professionally opening their laptops and unrolling blueprints.
"Mr. Martinez, Mrs. Martinez, these are several flagship store location options our team selected overnight, all in Harmony City's most central business districts. This is Option A, located on the third floor of Red Maple Financial Center, right across from the observation elevator, with huge foot traffic..."
Robert and Mabel looked at photos of shopping centers they had only seen on TV, feeling like none of this was real.
Their pasta shop was really going to open in places like these?
Time flew by, and a month later.
On the third floor of Harmony City's bustling financial center, a restaurant called "Martinez's Diner" welcomed its grand opening amid much anticipation.
The entire restaurant design was personally overseen by Cecilia, perfectly blending timeless elegance with modern simplicity.
There were no flashy neon lights at the entrance, just a black plaque with gold calligraphy by a famous artist — understated yet luxurious. Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, visitors were greeted by a miniature landscape with flowing water, watercolor paintings on the walls, and the air filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and food.
The decor was elegant, the atmosphere serene, with all the features of a high-end private club — enough to completely overturn people's impression of traditional pasta shops.
On opening day, guests gathered in droves.
Stefan used all his connections. Nearly all of Harmony City's prominent business figures, food critics, and media reporters showed up.
Vincent, who had been won over by that bowl of pasta on the cruise ship, came in person, looking spirited as he cut the ribbon for "Martinez's Diner."
Robert and Mabel, wearing new outfits Cecilia had custom-made for them, stood at the entrance greeting guests. They had never seen such a big scene in their lives and were so nervous their palms were sweating, but the smiles on their faces showed genuine pride and joy.
"Robert, look, is that not the celebrity from TV? He is here to eat our pasta, too?" Mabel whispered in Robert's ear.
"Stay calm, do not embarrass our daughter," Robert said this, but straightened his back even more.
Cecilia and Stefan, as hosts, moved through the venue entertaining guests from all sides. Standing together, one cool and capable, the other steady and handsome, they made such a perfect match that many socialites in attendance were secretly jealous.
When the auspicious time arrived, the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially began.
Vincent held the golden scissors and declared loudly, "I have eaten and tasted food all my life, and I thought I had tried all the delicacies in the world. But it was not until last month at Mr. Martinez's place that I tasted the simplest yet ultimate flavor on earth. Today, as 'Martinez's Diner' opens, I dare to declare here that one day, it will become a golden landmark of Harmony City!"
As his words fell, ribbons flew, and applause rang out.
The restaurant officially opened its doors, and customers who had been waiting rushed in. The menu was simple, featuring mainly several types of pasta — meat sauce pasta, garlic olive oil pasta, plus a few refined cold dishes and soups.
Everyone who tasted the food felt it was worth every penny.
The pasta was freshly kneaded, rolled, and cut, with a chewy and smooth texture. The sauce was made secretly at the central kitchen, rich and flavorful. Even the vegetable toppings for the pasta were the freshest organic vegetables, finely shredded.
"Delicious! So delicious!"
"This price is worth it!"
The air was filled with praise. On the first day of opening, business was booming so much that customers had to take numbers and wait in line.
Cecilia watched this lively scene, her heart full of accomplishment. However, she did not let the success go to her head.
The more successful things were, the more careful she needed to be.
Rufus was cunning and dangerous, lurking in the shadows, ready to launch a deadly attack at any moment.
Sure enough, what she feared came to pass.
At 2 PM, during the restaurant's peak hours, several men in uniforms with serious expressions walked into the restaurant.