Chapter 1: Bonjour D'Amelie 1
William gazes at the rows of vineyards along the road he leads to the village of Riquewihr in the mountainous region of Alsace, France. He reads files containing information about a restaurant in the area. The restaurant is in the middle of a row of old buildings almost entirely owned by William's family property company.
His father wanted to build a hotel in the area because he saw the extraordinary tourism potential. Of all the shop owners, only the restaurant was unwilling to sell its place to their company. However, the company is already offering large sums of money.
And this is where William is now. He has a mission to destroy the restaurant, so the owner will sell it to their company.
"We're here," Charles said to William as their car stopped in front of the restaurant.
William read the sign in front of the restaurant. D'Amelie. He then took a deep breath.
"I wouldn't have bothered to come here just to destroy a small restaurant like this if this wasn't about my fortune," William muttered as he took in the atmosphere around the restaurant.
"You've read all the information I gave you, right?" asked Charles.
William nodded his head and then asked Charles back. "You've arranged everything, right?"
"I've already paid some workers to resign," Charles replied.
"Good then," said William.
"What about where I live?" William continued.
"You'll live a few blocks from here. It's not very big, but everything you need is there."
"Then, let's put my things first. After that, I will return to this place," said William
Charles nodded slowly to the driver, who escorted them. The car they were riding left in front of D'Amelie's restaurant.
----
Esmee took a deep breath after seeing the car that stopped in front of her restaurant suddenly leave. "I thought they were going to come in."
"Calm down, Esmee. We will get customers," said Marie, the waitress at the Esmee family's restaurant.
"Lately, the restaurant is getting more peaceful. Only a few people stop by. How can I continue this restaurant if things continue like this?" Esmee grumbled.
"Maybe it's because the developer has bought the building around this restaurant. It had a significant impact on us. Why don't you sell it to them?" Marie asked.
Esmee shook her head. "I promised my mom that I wouldn't sell this restaurant. It's all I have after she left me."
Marie shrugged her shoulders. "Then I have nothing more to say."
Esmee then looked at Marie with a slightly pitiful look. "Are you also going to resign like the others?"
Marie immediately shook her head. "I will never leave you. We have been good friends since childhood. How could I leave you?"
Esmee smiled. "Thank you, Marie. I appreciate that. Let me know if you want to go. I won't hold you."
Esmee and Marie looked at each other while laughing together. Their laughter stopped when they heard the sound of the bell hanging above the restaurant door. A sign that there are visitors who enter the restaurant.
Marie immediately walked toward the visitor while Esmee returned to the kitchen to get ready to take food orders. Esmee is the restaurant owner, and she is also the Head Cook of the restaurant. All the food menus served at D'Amelie's restaurant are recipes from generation to generation by her family.
Ting.
Esmee appeared behind a small window separating the kitchen from the restaurant area. She smiled as she accepted the food order written by Marie. Next, along with another person who worked in the kitchen, Esmee began preparing orders for diners in her restaurant.
----
"Wow, I barely unrecognized you," said Charles after seeing William change.
William has changed his appearance from wearing a suit and a black turtleneck shirt to a jeans suit with a white t-shirt wrapped in a navy blue flannel shirt. His brown hair, which he used to style neatly, was made a little messy by letting a few strands down his forehead.
"I'm leaving now," William said before leaving his old residential building.
Charles nodded his head. "Good luck, Bro!"
William then left the building. He would return to D'Amelie restaurant to apply for a job. While walking toward the restaurant, William noticed the atmosphere around the village.
The cobblestone streets and old buildings in the village are still well-maintained. Several foreign tourists who passed him seemed amazed by the atmosphere in the town.
After ten minutes of walking, William finally arrived in front of D'Amelie's restaurant. He grabbed the sheet stuck in the restaurant entrance and immediately entered the restaurant. William caught the ambiance in the restaurant when a woman wearing a white shirt and black skirt came up to him.
"For how many people?" the woman asked.
"I didn't come to eat. I wanted to ask about the job vacancies you guys posted. Is this still available?" William asked back to the woman while showing her the leaflet he was carrying.
The woman nodded in understanding. "Oh, all right. Wait a minute. I'll call the owner of the restaurant."
William smiled at the woman while nodding his head. "Thank you."
----
"Esmee," called Marie.
Esmee, preparing the Tarte flambee ordered by the visitor, immediately turned to Marie, who called out to her. "What's going on, Marie?"
"A man wants to apply for a job," answered Marie.
Esmee was silent for a moment. She then took off her apron and immediately washed his hands.
"Please continue. I'm out for a bit," Esmee said to the kitchen worker who helped her. She then walked out of the kitchen.
"Which one is it?" Esmee asked Marie.
"That handsome guy in the blue shirt over there," Marie pointed at the restaurant entrance.
Esmee chuckled lightly at the expression on Marie's face that lit up. "Pay attention to the other guests. I'll see him."
"Please accept him," begged Marie.
"I decided after talking to him," said Esmee. She then walked over to the man Marie pointed to.
"Bonjour," said Esmee to the man she came to.
----
William immediately turned his head when he heard the voice of a woman who greeted him. He then smiled at the woman while holding out his hand. "You own this restaurant? I'm William."
Esmee nodded her head while welcoming William's handshake. "Esmee. Marie said you wanted to work here?"
William nodded his head. "Are the vacancies still available?"
"The vacancies are still available. But before that, I have to tell you something," Esmee said.
"I can do anything. You don't have to worry," William said excitedly.
Esmee smiled faintly at William's enthusiasm. "It's not about that. I might not be able to pay that high compared to other places. Do you still want to work here?"
"No problem. It's hard to find a job at a time like this anyway," William said.
"Okay, if you don't mind. When can you start work?"
"As soon as possible."
"Today?"
William nodded his head.
"Then you can start in the kitchen with me. It is to be dinner soon. I need someone to help cut the vegetables and other ingredients," Esmee explained.
"Okay," said William.
"Come with me," said Esmee. She then walked towards the kitchen.
William chuckled softly and immediately followed Esmee, who walked towards the kitchen.
****
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