"I'm home! Don't forget to lock your door, Esmee!" shouted Marie before she left the restaurant after the restaurant's operating hours had ended.
"Don't worry. You guys are careful," Esmee said to Marie and one of the waitresses who worked in her restaurant.
The two smiled at Esmee, and then they left D'Amelie's restaurant. After the two had left, Esmee returned to the kitchen to check if she had turned off all the stoves and gas.
"Why are you still here?" Esmee asked when she saw William still in the kitchen.
William was sitting on a small chair in the kitchen, leaning his body against the wall. "It seems the restaurant is a little busier today than yesterday."
Esmee took a deep breath while nodding her head. "I was thinking about closing the restaurant early. But before dinner, a lot of people came."
Esmee then looked at William. "Are you tired?"
"A bit," William replied.
"Take a break before going home. If you want, you can have a cold beer in the fridge," Esmee said.
"Isn't that for sale?"
"I'll put it in your bill later. I'll calculate everything before payday. You'll pay for it with your salary later," Esmee replied.
William laughed. "Okay then. I think I need something refreshing."
William stood up from his seat and walked out of the kitchen. Esmee laughed when she saw William coming out of the kitchen. She checked the stove and the back door to ensure no rodents had sneaked into the restaurant.
After confirming everything, Esmee came out of the kitchen. She walked up the stairs to her room on the top floor.
Sitting alone in the restaurant, William was silent when he saw Esmee go upstairs. He then took a sip of a cold bottle of beer that he had just taken and was silent again while observing the atmosphere in the restaurant.
The quiet atmosphere at Riquewihr made William a little strange. There were no impromptu meetings, appointments with business associates, women clinging like ants to him, and no partying at Riquewihr. He felt that his life had slowed down a little after two days of arriving at Riquewihr.
When William was silent while enjoying a beer bottle, his cell phone suddenly rang. He answered. William took a deep breath when he heard his father's voice on the other end of the phone.
"I've only been here two days, and you've already contacted me. You've never contacted me this early, old man," William said.
"Have you made the restaurant owner sell the restaurant?" asked Alexander.
William took another deep breath. "Once I get it, I will contact you straight away."
William then hung up his phone with his father. He snorted and took another sip of his beer. After his beer ran out, William stood up from his seat. He walked to the stairs.
"Esmee! I am leaving!" shouted William from the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes! Be careful and watch your step, William!" Esmee said from above.
William chuckled and directly stepped out of the restaurant. He also left a five-euro in the cash register drawer.
----
Not long after William left the restaurant, Esmee got out of her room and left the restaurant. She will start working part-time at a club in the center of Riquewihr.
Esmee didn't want to start her first day on the wrong note because she was late. In a hurry, Esmee took out her bicycle, which she kept behind her restaurant. After that, she pedaled the bike to get to the club.
----
"You seem very busy, Willy," Charles teased as soon as William reached their temporary home.
William took a deep breath and plopped down on the sofa. "Don't you have something to eat? Why is it that every time I come, you're just watching television? I'm not paying you to sit in front of the television like old madam."
Charles laughed at what William said and responded. "You're like an old man complaining to his wife after a long day at work."
William glanced at Charles. "I promise I'll cut your salary once I finish my job here."
"Don't do that," said Charles, blinking his eyes at William. He also tugged at the sleeve of William's shirt like a sulky girl.
"Stop it," said William.
"I won't stop him until you promise not to cut my salary," Charles said.
William pulled at his arm. But Charles drew it back again.
"Stop it, Charles."
"No," said Charles.
William chuckled. "You piece of shit. How was your job? Have you done what I ordered?"
Charles let go of William's arm. He then turned to the laptop on the table in front of them. He took the computer and showed him his review with their paid people.
"Look. I always do my job well," said Charles proudly.
"Tomorrow, do it again like today," said William.
"No problem. I'd also be happy to return to that restaurant," Charles said.
William looked at Charles suspiciously. "Looks like I missed something."
Charles chuckled. His eyes lit up as he looked at William.
"Don't look at me with your perverted look," William said.
"What is the name of the waiter with curly hair?" asked Charles.
William's brow furrowed as soon as he heard Charles' question. "You mean Marie?"
Charles' face suddenly lit up. "So, her name is Marie?"
William nodded slowly. He kept an eye on Charles's gleaming face. "You like her?"
Charles smirked at William. "What about you? Wasn't there a woman that caught your eye in that restaurant?"
"I'm too busy peeling and chopping vegetables," William said. He chuckled as he stood up and walked toward his room.
"Isn't the owner beautiful too? Were you with her all day in the kitchen? You're not interested in her?" Charles shouted as William closed his bedroom door.
Charles laughed as William slammed his bedroom door firmly. Meanwhile, William sighed behind his bedroom door. He removed the black shirt and threw it into the basket.
After that, William lay down on his bed. He crouched and folded his arms in front of his chest. His fatigue made him unconsciously close his eyes and drift off to sleep.
----
Esmee looked at the watch on her wrist after she wiped the sweat off her forehead. She tidied her things and prepared to leave the club.
"Good job, Esmee," said Pierre, the cook at the club where Esmee works part-time.
"Thank you, Pierre," said Esmee.
"Later, I'll stop by your restaurant."
"Of course. I will cook a special dish for you."
"See you tomorrow night. Be careful on the way."
Esmee nodded her head with a small smile. She then pedaled her bicycle back to her house. Pierre smiled as he looked at Esmee, who was walking away. He then turned and went back into the club to pack his things and returned to his house.
****
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