"I'll be honest, looking over Bobbie's files you aren't worth keeping around. I mean, no wonder Kelly's is losing money. You show up when you want. I can't have you working here. You aren't employable." Gia said with a smile.
"You can't do this," Elizabeth cried. "I need this job."
"And I need someone who is going to show up for work every day. I have a line of people waiting to get the job you don't want." Gia said simply. "I need you to leave please; I have other candidates to interview."
"Ms.," Yuri placed a hand on Elizabeth's chair. She stood walking to the door without looking back.
Jason sat in his SUV as he watched Liz walk from the diner wiping her face. Gia told him she was not hiring the woman. He agreed once he saw her work history. Elizabeth was a liability that he did not need so he waited until she rounded the corner before he went into the restaurant.
Gia and Yuri sat at the counter looking over the files. Zander stood beside them flipping through a stack of papers.
"Can I help?" He shoved his hands into his pockets.
Gia looked up smiling softly at him. "Yes we need to hire about fifty people and the staffing agency scheduled eighty interviews for this afternoon. Yuri and Zander are handling the bakers and cooking line. I need someone to help with the wait staff. This is going to be an all-day gig."
Jason looked at the line of people waiting in the chilly weather for their interview. "What do I look for?"
"What do you want in a server? Nice, polite, caring, and punctual, things like that. I lean towards people with families and older people who need jobs. Can you handle it?" Gia did not wait for his reply. He took the stack of applications from her hands. "Let's open the doors."
"Wait for us," Carly came through the back door with Bobbie behind her. She took some of the applications from Jason. "Let's get this going because I was hoping you could make lunch."
"Whatever Carly, I have a kid and a husband to cook for." Gia laughed.
"Well I was going to join you for dinner, you know, get to know my little brother and sister." Carly rushed for the door before Gia could respond.
"That woman is a hot mess." She said kissing Yuri and Zander. "Everyone grab a table."
Jason watched her. She was worried about something. Maybe it was Yuri he looked pale. A part of him wanted to ask what was wrong but he did not want to alienate her. It was too soon to push her.
The day pressed slowly. Gia was determined to have most of the staff in place before day's end. If the candidate passed the plenary screening they were sent to Jason for their second interview, then to Gia. They hired forty-seven people. Gia decided they would offer part-time shifts for students. They still needed to hire twelve more full time workers. She rescheduled the applicants that could not stay for all the interviews. They were done by the o'clock.
Gia stood at the counter amazed at how well things were going. Jason left and came back with several pizza's. Yuri left and came back with Sammy who sat between Jason and Zander.
"Okay," Gia started. "At the rate things are progressing we will be open in a month. I want everyone trained in their position. Bobbie, I will accept your offer to help train the wait staff. That should not take more than a week. In the meantime, I want to make sure we don't lose anyone. So we are going to have them pass out free samples in the parks and docks. Carly has scheduled tastings for next week at the Metro Court."
"We have three conventions in town then." The blonde reached her slice. "Oh and Patrick's friend has the website up if you want to take a final look but it launched a few days ago."
"I'll look at it this evening. Jason, if you want I have a doctor's appointment next week. You can come." She offered surprising everyone.
"Thank you," he answered quickly.
"And now my wife will go home and rest so our daughter will grow strong." Yuri kissed her cheek. "I will pick you flowers and buy you chocolates then make love to you."
"God no," Zander moaned.
"Actually, I think we should have a family dinner." Gia suggested almost shily. "Don't ask me why but I want to try to put everything behind us. So Bobbie if you don't have any plans I would like you to join us. I talked to Zander we aren't ready to deal with Mike or Sonny yet."
Bobbie nodded swallowing the lump in her throat. Zander turned to Jason. A huge smile covered his face. "Gia likes controlling everyone's life. She has great instincts."
His sister smiled good-naturedly. Jason saw something flash in her eyes. Sadness at a memory she hoped to forget? There was defiantly a shade of pain then it was gone. He looked from Zander to Yuri knowing they had seen the same wave of emotion. The young man shot up from his seat. "We're going to have the dinner in a few days. Gia's tired. Jason can you help us get her and Sammy home?"
Everyone stilled at his sudden change.
"No," Yuri stepped forward placing a hand on the boys shoulder. "You want to protect Gia but I think it is time we all know why she cries when she sleeps."
Jason asked suddenly alert. "What happened?"
"There have been problems in the past before you gave us guards." Yuri told the man.
"Problems? Like what?" Bobbie sat forward.
Yuri shook his head. "Some place where we will not be overheard."
"I'll call Luke. We can use the club." Carly said as she opened her phone.
"Let's get this place situated and then we can leave." Bobbie suggested.
Jason was not listening. He focused on the siblings who held each other's gaze as they silently communicated. After a few moments they nodded in agreement. Whatever was happening was big and he needed to know what it was.
It will be about a week before I can update. My daughter has competitions for the next week. Between work and taking her around my brain most likely won't work.
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.