A few days later Chandler's restaurant was ready for business. He had customers lined up outside the doors.
Chandler opened the doors to Bing's Steakhouse with a smile on his face and the waiters stood patiently as they were ready to service.
He stood by the door as they came in and sat at a table "Things look great Mr. Bing." The manager said as he passed by.
Chandler smiled and turned to the man who helped him out along the way to get him to where he is now "No protest, no demonstration. The neighborhood loves it." He watched as they enjoyed their food.
"They're wondering where we've been all these years. Wondering how they ever did without us."
"How is the children food coming along? I know that's not our strong point."
"Well it's early yet, schools not out, and there is that family place nearby." Chandler said not enthused "Taste of Liberty."
"Judy Geller's store."
"Well her daughter owns it now." Chandler explained
Monica sat at her little restaurant waiting for business to walk in.
"They've been open six days and we are 1200 dollars less than the same week last year." Estle said looking up their data on the computer.
Rachel and Monica were trying to make the place look a little more homey by putting some lights up for the holiday. "Well that could be a fluke, right?" Monica said hopeful
"Or not."
"Their restaurant is new, it's a big. It will all shake out, meanwhile I'm putting up Christmas lights."
"That's a good idea."
"What if we have to fold?" Rachel asked "I'm never going to be able to find another job then I'm not going to be able to pay my rent. Then I'm gonna have to move. To Brooklyn."
"The joy of rent control. Six rooms, $450 a month." Ross joked cleaning off the counter and dusting the pictures on the wall.
"You know what, I can't believe you are bringing this up at a time like this. It's like those people who brag because they're tall."
"Guys we are not gonna fold." Monica said stopping them from panic.
"Okay.." Ross put his hands up in defend.
Monica looked out the window and saw what might be their first customer of the day. Seeing a closer look she knew who it was "Miranda."
Miranda heard Monica and walked in the restaurant.
"Hi." Monica opened the door for her
"Oh, Monica, are you surviving?"
"...Well." She said hesitant. "We are so excited about your knew recipe. When should we schedule a tasting?" Monica asked
"Oh it's not quite ready yet. Maybe in January after the holiday's. Will you still be in business in January?"
"We're doing great." She said putting on a fake smile. "Aren't we?" She looked towards her staff.
"No difference what so ever." Estle assured her
"Great." Rachel smiled
"Thank God." Miranda smiled "Well remember that you can count on me for anything. Support, rallies, picot lines. We can even get the times to write something." She said opening the door on her way out again "Or that nut from the observer."
"What nut?" Monica asked
"Pete something or other. The one that is so in love with his blackberry." She said leaving
"A nut? She called me a nut?" Pete said after hearing Monica's story from today's business.
"That's not the point. She thinks my restaurant is in trouble. Now why would she say that?" Monica said as her and Pete where headed to a holiday party. "We are fine."
"You are more than fine, you are absolutely fine." He assured her knocking on the door to the party.
"I'm fine." Monica repeated
The door flew open and a women greeted them "How are you?" She asked with a grin
Monica and Pete looked at each other "Fine." They said walking in to join the party and talk to some people.
Chandler was standing by Phoebe talking to a few people as he looked out at the corner of his eyes and saw someone walk in the room that looked rather familiar. And then it hit him, it was Monica Geller.
"Chandler can you get me another drink, I'm running low." Phoebe handed him her cup.
Chandler took her cup and walked off too refill it. He looked back around the corner and to Monica again before proceeding to the kitchen.
Monica excused herself from the group to go get a drink. "White wine please." She told the bar tender who was getting the drinks.
Chandler turned his head trying to not let Monica see him.
Monica looked over, she leaned her head slightly to get a better view "Oh!" She recognized him "Hello." She gave a friendly smile
Chandler turned having no choice but to face her. He put on a smile "Hi."
Monica smiled "Hi." She grabbed her drink "Do you remember me from the restaurant?"
"Of course I remember you, yes." He nodded "Hi,"
"Hey, how is your niece and nephew?"
Chandler laughed "They are great." He said taking his drink "I better go deliver this. I got a very thirsty date." He smiled "She is like a camel." He joked
Monica nodded "Chandler right? It's Chandler isn't it?"
"And you are Monica." He said walking away
Monica's smile dropped as she watched him leave. "Monica Geller." She said softly to herself walking away to mingle some more when someone stopped her.
"I cannot believe you were talking to Chandler Bing." He said
"Chandler Bing?" Monica asked not believing that it was true.
He nodded "Chandler Bing."
"As in-"
"As in the guy that is gonna take over everything." He said shaking his head walking away.
Monica was shocked from what he just said. 'Was that really Chandler Bing she was talking to?'
A few minutes later she found him again over by the food. She stopped and looked at him grabbing a plate "Bing, your last name is Bing?"
"B-I-N-G." He answered
"God." She sighed "I didn't-I didn't realize, I didn't know."
"Who you were with?" Chandler finished for her "I didn't know who you were with."
"Excuse me?"
"From the Godfather." He laughed "Sorry, it's from the Godfather. It's-" He cleared his throat "When the movie producer realized Tom Hank was..." He shook his head "It's just before the horses head ends up in the bed with all the bloody sheets...you know, he wakes up and is like Ah, Ahhhh, AHHH!" He imitated smiling "Never mind." He continued down the line of food.
"You were spying on me weren't you?" Monica said forgetting about what he just said and followed behind him in the line. "You probably rented those children."
"Now why would I spy on you?"
"Because I'm the competition. Which you know perfectly well of or you wouldn't have come in to see what it was like."
"Excuse me but my family was hungry and you were the closest restaurant." He explained going over to a desert dish and scraping off the outside.
"What is that? What are you doing?" Monica asked watching him.
Chandler scooped it up and put it on his plate.
"What? You are taking all the whipped cream." Monica said as he went to get some more just to irritate her. "That whipped cream is the main point to the desert." Monica rolled her eyes
Chandler put it on his plate "Look the reason I came into your restaurant is because we were all tried from the long day at the fair. It was a charming little restaurant and you probably what, sell 3,000 worth of food in a year."
Monica was surprised at how close he came to being right on the dot "How did you know that?"
"I'm in the food business."
"I, am in the food business." She corrected walking away
"I see." He followed her "And we are the soup kitchen. Only instead of a 10 gallon jug of olive oil for $3.99 that won't even fit on your kitchen cabinet, we, prepare expensive paltry." He said "Me, a spy? Absolutely. I have in my possession the super duper secret print out of the sales figures of the restaurant." He joked looking at Monica who was rolling her eyes "It was so full of its own virtue that I was immediately impelled to rush over there afraid it will put me out of business!"
Monica picked up the knife next to her and pointed it slightly towards him. She was speechless not knowing what to say next.
"What?" He looked at the knife in her hands "What?"
They were soon interrupted by Pete walking over to Monica "Hey. How are you doing? Pete Becker." He extended his hand towards Chandler.
"Chandler Bing." He said and Pete's smile and hand dropped to his side.
Monica kept her eye on him.
"Chandler Bing?" Pete said surprised
"B-I-N-G."
Pete took the knife out of Monica's hand "The inventor of the Steakhouse? Of course, the enemy of the food business, the destroyer of all restaurants..."
Monica put her arm around him in prevent him from talking.
"Tell me, how do you sleep at night?"
Before Chandler could speak Phoebe was next to join this little powwow. "I use a wonderful, over the counter drunk." She told Pete "Ultra dorm. Don't take the whole thing just half and you will wake up with the tinniest hang over." She smiled
Everyone starred at her shocked.
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