"Robert, can I wear this dress tonight?" Judith turned around towards Robert.
"What was the event? I can't recall." Robert said, looking up from his papers.
Judith sighed. "Just a dinner with friends, I told you I was going out."
"I remembered you going out, only forgot the occasion. You look stunning in that dress." He got up and kissed her cheek. "But you always do." He smiled. "Where do you sleep tonight? Here or at my place?"
"I will sleep in my own home. We can see each other again this weekend." Judith was already walking back to her bedroom.
"I will have that dinner this weekend." Robert said, but Judith didn't listen anymore. He sighed.
Robert checked the delivery. He had a special guest tonight, the prime minister was dining at his restaurant. "John? Did you see the Bluefin tuna? It seems it's missing." Robert looked at John, his sous chef.
"I already put it away, it's too expensive to get lost." He winked, and went on with the preparations for tonight.
"Do you think the prime minister will like it here?" Robert asked.
"If we just think she won't, then it will lift off the pressure."
Robert chuckled. He could always count on the level-headed thinking of John.
"Well, I am off. I will see you tonight."
Robert needed to pay his mother a visit. She said there was something urgent.
"Finally, you could make time for me." Violet said, when Robert kissed her cheek.
"If I recall correctly you were the one who encouraged me to open up that restaurant."
"Yeah, yeah, never mind. How is Judith? Are things finally progressing?"
Robert sighed, things weren't progressing at all. He didn't know if he loved her or not. He grew accustomed to her. "We are alright. And no, there is no sign of a marriage yet."
"You are 30 years old. It's high time you get married and start a family." Violet raised her eyebrows. "Judith is a fine woman, why don't you ask her."
"I don't know. It's just not the time. What was it you needed me for?" Robert said annoyed.
"Marmaduke and Rosamund are finalising their wedding day and Rosamund doesn't want to ask you, but I will. Can you arrange her dinner?"
Robert sighed. "Does Rosamund really want that?" He knew his sister, when she didn't ask, it wasn't something she really wanted.
He saw his mother doubt for a second, it was really quick and it was that he was looking at her face, otherwise he would not have seen it.
"I will talk with Rosamund." He said. "I have to go back to the restaurant. The prime minister is coming." He kissed his mother on her cheek.
"The prime minister is dining at 'Le Grantham' and I am not invited tonight?"
Robert chuckled. "The restaurant is closed for normal guests tonight."
"I am not a normal guest. I am your mother!" Violet said.
He kissed her cheek again. "Sorry, mama, you need better connections this time to get in. I can't get you in."
"It's your restaurant." Violet huffed.
"Listen up everybody." Robert gathered all his kitchen staff. "We have a big night tonight. We can not afford any screw-ups. Anybody who messes up will be fired."
John looked at Robert and raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything in front of everybody.
"John will lead this evening, listen to his orders and we will have a wonderful evening. As you know our guest tonight is a special one. The prime minister is coming with her entourage. Anna, I expect you to be in full control of the dining room area as our Maître D'." He nodded towards both Anna and John. "I expect all of you to follow her lead and Anna, if anything is wrong, notify me directly."
Robert was wringing his hands and looked at the clock. "Right, two hours to go. Let's start working."
John took Robert aside. "Don't you think threatening dismissal is a bit too much?"
"Definitely not. They need to know what is at stake here. If we don't perform our best, we will be known as that restaurant that failed the prime minister."
John tapped Robert's shoulder. "Try to breathe tonight."
Robert smiled, John was a dear friend and wonderful colleague.
"Why isn't the tuna ready? And where are the vegetables?" Robert shouted at his kitchen staff. "Anna, did they enjoy the appetizer? Everybody has their drinks?"
"The guests are enjoying themselves. I hear only compliments about the food." Anna smiled.
"Good good." Robert hummed, he turned around towards the kitchen staff. "Why aren't there vegetables on this plate? Come on people, we need to serve the main course in 3 minutes."
"William, pass the sauce will yah?" John said. He was also shouting orders to the staff. Until now the kitchen worked smooth and no incidents
Robert got home late, he had a chat with the prime minister. She praised his food and restaurant. He changed into his pyjamas and crawled in his bed. It was a shame, Judith wasn't here, he thought. Although he wasn't sure if he really wanted her, he hunkered for some love. Somebody to crawl next to when he got home. But most of all somebody who would ask how his day was.
He picked up his phone and texted Judith. 'Hello dear, I had a wonderful evening. Everything went according to plan. I hope you had a good evening. See you soon. X Robert.'
He sighed, he already knew he wouldn't get a text back. Tomorrow evening she would say, she didn't had time to react. Or she would ignore it in total.
He turned around and pulled the duvet cover up. Maybe he should break up with her, but what then. He never met a woman he had a real connection with. Judith was in that retrospect the best he could have.