chapter 5. and beneath every anger

The door opened and in came the one-third living body of Lucy. She immediately plopped on the couch and closed her eyes. Miraki who was in her room, came to the living area wearing her pyjamas and her cute headband of a pig to find her friend in the messiest curls.

"Mimi, I worked for 15 hours today" her voice was hoarse. She looked famished and Miraki replied "Why do they overwork you so much Lu" in concern.

"It's just the way it is" Lucy closed her eyes and tried to jump into her dreamland. She had adjusted the way the industry worked. Her arms were hurting so did her back. Lucy's palms were dry, and her nails were crusty.

"Go to get a manicure tomorrow. It's your day off." Miraki suggested then she headed to kitchen and make a hotpot for both of them. It was seafood based, the one which Lucy preferred.

Once the dinner was ready to be eaten, Miraki goes to the closet and gets the pyjamas for Lucy. She then threw it to Lucy and luckily it fell on her face.

"Yaa, what is this?"

"Wear some home clothes. Don't dirty the room. I finally cleaned it today and came to have dinner" she warned and went off.

Like a slowpoke, she wore pyjamas in her sleep and then went to have dinner.

Her famished boy was immediately replenished with the flavorful hotpot. She gobbled all the food as if she was kept hungry for over a century.

Some days were tiring, and some days were exhausting. Work was never easy. "Let's go to my room" Miraki suggested. They sat on her bed while gazing at the stars.

"Lucy, do you ever regret choosing the path you have chosen?" Miraki asked with tears in her eyes. Something about the starless star made her feel… irked and sad.

"I don't actually, I mean I should with the amount I work but I don't. The paychecks are good. And everything… is ok I guess." she said.

Miraki said no words neither did Lucy.

Lucy knew she would choose a different career but given her situation. The job was a blessing to her.

"Mimi, you know. Yesterday was hard but tomorrow shall be beautiful. Our current lives are just in the starting phase, we shall find our happiness someday" Lucy patted her head.

"Someday" Miraki whispered.

"By the way, Esther has sent us these supplements. Let's have them alright?" Miraki handed her the boxes and the whole night went away while they dreamed their dreams. Not knowing where the wind shall take them.

~

The next morning, the briefing went as usual for all the chefs. They were given information about "Today's special". The chefs were training the apprentices and others were preparing for the breakfast and brunch.

(On the front garden)

"Oh hubby, this place looks as lovely as it was back then" Mary Adams spoke as she walked hand in hand with her husband. She had a few wrinkles and maybe looked like she was in her 50s.

She was a woman with her charms. Even in her golden years, she had a very enchanting smile which her husband Nathan Adams loved.

Nathan was an investor. He was a strict man who was a simp for his wife and had uplifted many companies to be a global sensation.

The front garden had freshly cut trees and plants of different varieties were blooming.

They walked in and were welcomed by the hostess. The lobby brimmed with golden lights. The lights were soft and welcoming as if they were sunlight and Mary felt welcomed. There were a few greens around, designed with sustainability in mind. It was hip but not trendy and people of all different generations and demographics were experiencing the facilities.

The normal-looking couple went to the receptionist while the bell boys were given the luggage.

"A room for three days and two nights," Nathan said.

"What type of room would you like sir? '' the receptionist asked while reaching for the available room.

"Numa please, room no. 1446" he said. The receptionist was astonished but changed her expression to her business smile.

"Ok, sir. Please tell us your name to register" she said, typing an email to all the department heads.

"Nathan Adams," he said, and she handed him the room card.

They took the elevator and entered the room. Numa was the best room in the entire hotel after the director's suite.

The Numa was a duplex suit. It offered a dining room, personal work area, and bedroom and the lower floor offered an in-built aquarium and every room gave a mesmerizing view of the lake.

They were on the bed exhausted by the long trip.

"Should we invest in Mercury, dear?" Mary asked as she took in the view of lake hope. Mary Adams was a friend of Julie Alexis, Luke Alexis' mother. Her eyes were filled with tears as she continued to stare at the lake.

"I am sure you want me to, but I would have to see if he can be trusted with such an opportunity," Nathan said as he lay next to his wife.

He knew the attachment she had to this place.

"Well, I am sure he is. After all, he was able to take this land back and turn it into a place where everyone can rejoice, just ... as she wished '' the last few words were whispered, and she wished that the air would carry them into her friend's grave so that she could hear about it.

"Dear," he wrapped his arms around Mary.

~

The executive chef asked for an immediate meeting with all the staff.

"We have an immediate visit of VVIPs, so we need a few chefs for their service," he announced.

All the chefs in the room gasped.

"I have selected seven of you for this task and the executive sous chef shall lead you." The executive chef then announced the names of the chefs who were selected and Miraki too had been chosen.

The dinner platter was designed simply by the executive chef. It was simple but hard to execute.

"Room 1446 has ordered a fruit sandwich and tea" a waiter delivers the order.

"Miraki and Aiaru, make lunch" the chef commanded. It was a simple request. Once the lunch was done, they asked for the waiter to serve it.

"What if we have no waiters? Where is everyone?" the captain harshly spoke.

"Since it's the season of picnics, a lot of people are at the outlets and so we have no one free currently."

The private chef for the VIP was not provided with any waiters! How shameful. But sadly, no one knew that guests would land in such a huge amount.

All the waiters were at work and yet, they too were low on staff.

"Then we must do it ourselves. Miraki, can you present the lunch to our guests while we prepare the main course?" the chef compiled and so did Miraki

"Ok then," she said. Inside her, she was not fine. She wanted to help the kitchen but maybe she was a greater help this way, she tried to change her mind.

Miraki fetched a waiter's uniform and a cart and headed for the room service.

"Knock, knock" she knocked two times and said, "Room service!"

"Come in" she heard a woman speak.

She opened the door at 45 degrees and then, she comfortably opened the door fully.

"Your lunch has arrived sir and ma'am" she announced and plated them on the table.

She placed the sandwich, poured the hot water onto the fragrant tea leaves, and then poured it hot on the tea cups.

"Thank you" Mary smiled at the waiter. She had specifically chosen Mercury's signature black tea for it reminded her of this place.

Reveries, the moment she took a sip she felt lost. She felt like a sandcastle.

"Um," she took another sip and before she knew it, had it all.

"Can you make some more of it? About 1 litre" She smiled, and Nathan's face fell. When will they even be able to have it all?

"Uh… ok" she did as she was told.

Nathan said no words and just simply enjoyed the sandwich.

"Mrs. Adams, I have brewed the tea" She left her note and then she collected the dirty utensils and placed them on her cart.

"Oh, thank you!"

She handed over the dirty materials to the kitchen stallions and then she went back to her work. The work was hectic, the menu items needed a long time of preparation.

In a blink of an eye, it was evening. Miraki had continuously served brunch, lunch, and snacks to the couple.

"Miraki, you know you don't need to work as a waiter. The staff is finally free of charge, '' the chef said. She could finally take a breather, she thought. Constantly working under pressure and also being the front-line server took everything in her. Her strength. Her confidence and her energy.

(In the venue)

Luke greeted the Adams couple in the lobby and took them to the dining hall. It was a good opportunity to extend his business internationally.

Luke didn't have to talk much. Something he liked.

"I see that you have progressed a lot despite the short amount of time of the establishment of the company," Nathan remarked as he slurped his tea.

They were at Mercury's newly renovated outlet.

"Indeed, we have, it is thanks to all our hardworking staff who produce the most excellent products and our loyal customers who wholeheartedly enjoy them," he said.

"Ho ho and you have successfully been able to capture my wife's heart as well."

The conversations were fun and laughter. Light-hearted conversations for they weren't at a business meeting but a casual dinner. Nathan liked that Luke kept it fun and didn't talk about business. He didn't want to face his wife's wrath.

The waiter came in and served them the appetizer.

"Oh, where did the earlier waitress go? I wanted another cup of tea" she said in a dilemma.

Luke raised his eyebrows. There was someone else who served them? But at times they were very low on staff. His lips tightened.

"Oh well, I shall have it tomorrow then," she said and then they had their appetizers. Luke left then after that, wishing them a joyous meal. He didn't want to interrupt the couple's happy time.

The full-course meal was served and by the end, they had no more room for more meals.

"Uh, that was a very fulfilling meal. I can eat no more now."

"How about some tea, hubby?" Mary suggested. Nathan swore he had tea enough for a year but for his beloved wife, he agreed.

Then came the signature tea of mercury.

*

It was a starry night, unlike the previous night. Miraki gazed at the twinkling beauties, if only she could shine brightly like them.

But he couldn't. Not everything we wished for was granted and not everything we ask for could be given.

Dwindling in her little world of stars Miraki walked until she hit a wall. "Ouch," she hit her head into something firm but not a wall.

As she looked up, she met a pair of sharply gazing blue eyes. 'Oh no, it's the director' she gasped.