Esmee brought a bowl of oeufs cocotte, an egg-based dish cooked with a mixture of cheese, bacon, and other spices and lightly toasted. She also got a plate of garlic bread to complete the cocotte oeufs she made for William. William smiled broadly when finally Esmee approached him, who was sitting at the bar table.
"It looks very delicious," said William.
"You won't know what it's like if you don't try it," said Esmee. She then sat next to William and waited for him to eat the breakfast she had made.
"Bon appétit," said William. He took a piece of garlic bread and dipped it in the oeufs cocotte.
William's eyes lit up as he chewed on the food Esmee had prepared. He was about to open his mouth to praise Esmee, but Esmee quickly put her index finger on William's lips.
"Don't talk. Just enjoy the food," Esmee said.
William smiled with his mouth full of food. He nodded his head and went back to enjoying his breakfast. Esmee, who saw William enjoying the food she had made, smiled and started to eat her food.
----
"I guess I won't mind if you ask me to help you shop every day," William said after he finished the food Esmee made for him.
"Do you expect me to make you breakfast daily?" asked Esmee.
William chuckled at Esmee's question. "You can read my mind too."
Esmee took a deep breath. She grabbed her glass of water and drank it. After that, she went back to talking to William. "I love to see someone enjoy the food I make."
"That's why you built this restaurant?" William asked.
Esmee shook her head. "My grandfather built this restaurant. The name of this restaurant is taken from the name of my grandmother, Amelie."
William nodded his head. "I'm guessing your cooking talent must have passed down from your grandmother, right?"
Esmee laughed softly. "At first, I could not cook. But seeing my mother and grandmother, who was always in the kitchen, I finally joined in learning it."
Esmee then turned and looked at William. "I don't know much about you. How about you tell me about yourself now. Think of it as a job interview."
William looked back at Esmee with a small laugh. "Looks like I'm not ready for a job interview."
"Just tell me where you're from. I know you must be a newcomer to this place," said Esmee.
William muttered for a moment before he spoke to Esmee. "I was born in Paris. My family lives in the suburbs of Paris."
"What were you doing before coming here?"
"I work at a hotel in Paris," William answered.
Esmee nodded. "Aaah, I see. You seem to adapt quickly to the environment here. Besides?"
William shrugged. "I don't do much. I work and sometimes have fun with my friends."
"Then why did you come here?"
"I want to make you sell your little restaurant," William thought in his mind.
William laughed softly. He took a deep breath before answering Esmee's question about his purpose in coming to Riquewihr. "Too many painful memories in Paris, and I wanted some fresh air."
"But you seem to be enjoying your life in Paris," said Esmee.
William grabbed a glass of water and drank it again. "Honestly, I don't want to return to Paris."
"You're going to stay here?" asked Esmee.
William shook his head. "I'm thinking of moving to Manhattan."
"I thought you'd stay here," said Esmee.
William laughed softly and teased Esmee. "Are you sad that I'm finally out of here?"
Esmee shrugged. "Not really. I've seen a lot of workers come and go. That's their right. I've never stopped my workers from walking out of here. What's more, the restaurant is not too busy like before."
William was then intrigued to ask Esmee the reason for not selling her restaurant even though the owner had sold other buildings around the restaurant. "Why don't you just sell it? I heard the shop owner around here has already sold his shop."
Esmee took a deep breath. "I can't do it."
William looked at Esmee with a bit of confusion. "What's stopping you from selling this restaurant?"
Esmee chuckled. "My mother. I promised not to sell this restaurant."
William was silent for a moment after hearing why Esmee didn't want to sell her restaurant. Meanwhile, Esmee spoke to William again.
"This restaurant is precious to me because it is my family's legacy. I spent half my life in this restaurant. I could say this restaurant is like a part of my family. How can I sell my own family?" Esmee asked William back.
William was silent again and digested the answer given by Esmee. He wanted to ask Esmee a lot. But Esmee's explanation about why she didn't sell her restaurant left William's tongue numb to the point where he couldn't ask any more questions.
Esmee suddenly tapped William's shoulder. "Don't worry too much about it. I'm not planning on giving up this restaurant to anyone. You can work here as long as you want. I'll continue to uphold this place."
Esmee then tidied up the leftovers from their breakfast. She then took the dirty bowl and plate to the kitchen.
William watched Esmee's back walking towards the kitchen. He muttered in his heart. "Why do I suddenly feel like a bad person?"
William then chuckled. He immediately took out his cell phone and told Charles to carry out their plan last night.
"After all, I have to seize this restaurant so I can get the rights to my inheritance," William said firmly.
----
Towards lunchtime, Charles came to D'Amelie's restaurant as he had planned. As soon as he stepped into the restaurant, a female waiter greeted Charles and smiled kindly.
"For how many people?"
"One," replied Charles.
"Please. Follow me."
Charles then walked after the Servant who greeted him. The waiter ushered him to an empty table by the window. After Charles sat down, the waiter handed Charles the menu book.
"Do you want to order right away, or do you want to see the menu first?"
Charles opened the menu book given to him while talking to the waiter. "I looked at the menu first."
"Okay. You can call me right away if you want to order food."
Charles nodded. "By the way, can I take pictures of the inside of this restaurant?"
The waiter serving Charles nodded her head. "Of course. There are no restrictions on taking pictures here."
"Thank you," said Charles.
The waiter nodded again slowly. She then left Charles' table. When the Servant left, Charles took out his cell phone and messaged William.
"I've been at the restaurant."
Long after Charles sent the message, William replied to his message. "Do your job well. I'm cleaning vegetables."
Charles stifled a laugh after reading William's reply. During the time he worked for William, he had never once seen William doing domestic work. William doesn't even have to bother cooking because a personal chef always serves him.
"Looks like he's enjoying his new job," Charles muttered, holding back a laugh.
Charles then immediately took pictures of the inside of the restaurant. He took photos of several corners of the restaurant that looked beautiful and classic. After taking photographs, Charles again called the waiter and immediately ordered food.
****
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