The next morning, Raquel arrived at Hunter's for work before Alexa. She had spent the night at her girl's house before heading home in the morning to shower and change into her work attire of black pants and a black polo shirt with the Hunter's logo on it.
"Morning. Another day on the grind," Bayley said when Raquel walked into the kitchen. She didn't need to announce that Alexa wasn't in yet. That was self-evident since no orders were immediately issued.
"Morning," Raquel said, heading to wash her hands. Once she had done that, she gloved up and went over to help Bayley start the prep work for when the kitchen opened in an hour, ahead of lunch time. The bar was already open, but didn't offer a breakfast menu. "How was your night?"
"Went home, showered, ate, passed out in front of the TV. Same thing I do most nights," Bayley said with a small laugh. It was hardly surprising, given the demands of working in this kitchen under Alexa, who somehow seemed to work just as hard but without the fatigue affecting her anything like as much as her underlings. Raquel realised she hadn't helped the previous night. The fryer oil she had spilled had taken more than half an hour to clean up.
"Sorry about last night. The stupid handle just slipped out of my hand."
Bayley waved her off. "Shit happens. Next time it'll be me who makes a mess, no doubt."
Raquel genuinely liked working with the easy-going and talented sous chef. It was one of the few positives of doing pot washing and waitressing for minimum wage – the main privilege of course being to have a job at all in these difficult economic times. Why Bayley stuck it out working under Alexa was something of a mystery though. Sous chefs were a lot more sought after than waitresses. Or maybe all head chefs were like that, and Bayley knew it would be the same wherever she went? To hell with it, she thought, deciding to come out and ask the question.
"Why do you stay here, with the way Alexa drives you so hard?"
Bayley continued working while she answered. "Several reasons. Alexa's not much worse that other head chefs I've worked under. I like working at Hunter's. And also, despite how she is when the kitchen is open, Alexa has taught me several dishes that I didn't know how to make before. I'm talking about dishes that we don't serve here – she showed me just to teach me and I appreciate that."
Raquel nodded, glad that if only fleetingly, the nice side of Alexa also came through at work. Bayley's comments proved to have reached their conclusion just in time, for Alexa came through the door into the kitchen. She was already wearing her chef's attire, ready to get straight to work once she had washed her hands.
"Morning," the diminutive but intimidating head chef said.
"Morning, chef," Raquel and Bayley said in unison.
Barely had Alexa washed her hands when Stephanie Helmsley, one of the owners of Hunter's, came into the kitchen. "Alexa, can I see you in the office before you get started, please?"
Not bothering to hide annoyance at the interruption to her pre-opening routine, Alexa complied. "Bayley, inventory the walk-in as your next job," she barked over her shoulder before leaving the kitchen.
Following Stephanie through a nearby 'staff only' door that led to a locker room, a store room and an office, Alexa resisted demanding to know what this was about.
The description office was perhaps a little generous. There was a small desk in the room, with an old computer, a couple of worn leather office chairs and a pair of filing cabinets. Various paperwork littered the desk, triggering Alexa's almost compulsive need for tidiness.
Stephanie closed the door and sat down behind the desk as Alexa to the seat opposite her. The owner looked pleased with whatever she was about to say.
"Alexa, Hunter and I have read through our reviews on various sites for the past few months. We like to keep an eye on them to see how we're doing. The vast majority are five stars, and almost all of the five star ones make positive comments about our food. That's why, although it's a little early for our annual reviews, we've decided to give you and Bayley ten per-cent pay increases with immediate effect."
"Thank you," Alexa said, showing appreciation for the raise, yet no emotion at the praise her food was being given. She knew how good it was herself, and fully expected the positive feedback. "But there are three of us in the kitchen."
"Sorry?"
"I said there are three of us on my team. If I'm getting a raise and Bayley is getting a raise, Raquel should get one too."
Stephanie's expression was somewhat dismissive, even though she as the owner was nonetheless wary of Alexa. Everyone at Hunter's was. "Raquel's a waitress and pot washer. We could get anyone to do that job for minimum wage."
"Was she washing pots when you just went in there?" Alexa demanded, leaning forward a little.
"No. She was helping to prep the kitchen," Stephanie admitted defensively.
"Right. She was prepping the kitchen. My kitchen. Which makes her part of my team. The team that are getting you those five star reviews. So I'll say it again: Thank you for the raise. No doubt Bayley will appreciate it too. Since we're getting it, Raquel gets it too. Do I need to point out that since she makes the least money, the raise will mean the most to her? Do the right thing."
Stephanie's expression conceded the point. Whether that was because of a convincing argument or due to a desire to avoid an outright confrontation wasn't clear.
"Alright, Alexa, we'll increase Raquel's wage ten per-cent too. I respect you standing up for your team. You know how much Hunter and I admire how you run the kitchen."
Alexa nodded and smiled slightly in acceptance of the further praise. It didn't escape her that she had responded to being given a raise by going on the attack. It was now time to do what she rarely did at work; show some humility.
"Sorry if I was too forceful there. You know how I am. Just wanted the right thing to be done for Raquel when she works as hard in that kitchen as Bayley and I do. She deserves the raise."
"No problem. And you were right to make that point. I'll let them know individually," Stephanie said, getting up, bringing the short meeting to a close, likely somewhat relieved to do so.
When they both got back to the kitchen, Bayley was nowhere to be seen - no doubt in the walk-in as Alexa had instructed. For that reason, Stephanie looked at Raquel.
"Need to see you in the office, please."
Raquel immediately had a 'what have I done wrong' look on her face. Alexa watched her leave, giving no hint of the good news to come. "Are you in the walk-in, Bayley?" she called out.
"Yes, chef! Just started the inventory!" came Bayley's reply.
"Don't take all day about it! I want to do a stock order before we open!"
"Yes, chef!"
Meanwhile, Raquel followed Stephanie into the office and they both sat down at the desk.
"Don't look so worried, this is good news," Stephanie said with a smile on her face.
"Oh?" Raquel asked hopefully.
Stephanie gave the same explanation she had given to Alexa about the recent reviews. "For that reason, Hunter and I decided that all of the kitchen staff will get immediate pay increases. You'll be making ten per-cent more as from today."
"Oh! Thanks so much. I really appreciate it," Raquel said, beaming in delight.
"You're welcome. Keep up the good work. Speaking of, you'd better get back to it before Alexa comes back here on the warpath."
The latter sentence was delivered with humour, but Raquel thought there was maybe a fifty per-cent chance of it happening for real.
"You're right, I'll get back. Thanks again, Stephanie. The raise will really help me a lot. I can't tell you how much, actually."
"Good to hear," Stephanie said, smiling broadly, showing no indication whatsoever that she hadn't planned to include Raquel in the pay increases all along. "Send Bayley to see me, would you?"
"Of course."
Feeling on top of the world, Raquel went back to the kitchen and straight to the walk-in to speak to Bayley.
"Bay, Steph wants to see you in the office."
Bayley looked at her, trying to decipher if the conversation was going to be positive or negative. "Figured I'd be next. What's going on?"
"I'd better not say," Raquel replied, giving nothing away.
"Like that is it?" Bayley said, heading out of the walk-in.
Raquel followed her colleague, then got back to work on the kitchen prep, making sure she was working near Alexa. Once Bayley was gone, she was safe to break the news.
"I got a raise. Ten per-cent," she announced happily.
Just for a moment, they were communicating on a personal level rather than a professional one, as evidence by the pleased look on Alexa's face and the warm tone of her voice. "Glad to hear that. You deserve it. Now come on, we've got a lot to do."
"Yes, chef," Raquel said, wishing they could have shared a hug and a kiss. This wasn't the time or place for that though. She felt confident she would see the goddess later.
A/N: Even Stephanie feels intimidated by Alexa at Hunter's, but Alexa used that for a good reason this time, getting Raquel included in the pay rises.
How might the goddess help mami celebrate?