Everything is on track, and Jaasiel is set to interview the chefs for all the restaurants. If they can’t pass his level of scrutiny, then they are not good enough to cook at one of my restaurants. Surprisingly he agreed to teach up-and-coming chefs in a school he plans to run. Not only will he train chefs but will offer cooking classes to the public. Jaasiel’s school will have two types of classes, one will have an audience watching a chef prepare specific meals and the other will allow participants to cook with the chef. Jaasiel will train the chefs on the menu items and that chef will prepare that menu. They will also serve lunch during the week—it’s a great way for the new chefs to intern and get real life experience. He has however agreed to cook for one of the classes once a month and he has convinced his friend TaVonna to also run a baking class and they will do a class together once a month. For Jaasiel that is huge, but I guess it is different from cooking for a restaurant. He will have creative freedom to create a menu and cook what he wants when he wants. I can’t wait to see him really stretch himself with this project. Even though we have taken a step back from our first business, it has given us the chance to do other things that we are interested in. Outside of interviews, I’ve had an influx of requests for designs, not just in Mississippi or the United States but internationally. To be fair Peter’s five-star resort on water helped with that too.
Once I am sure that the plans are okay and construction is on track I head home. Carla texted to let me know she is on her way and her ETA. Even though I still have a few hours before she gets here, I have another appointment meeting me at the house. The new build is closer to the house than the housing complex, so I find myself pulling in the driveway a short time later. As I am getting out of the car another car pulls up and it’s Thad, my appointment.
“Thad, how are you?” I greet him as we shake hands.
“Asher, I am doing well, but not as well as you, your name is all over the place.”
“I’m trying,” I tell him. “Come on in.”
We enter the house and head back to the office to conduct our business. An hour later I am walking Thad out, our business is concluded, and Thad remains the best in the business. I head to my wing of the house to prepare for Carla. We can finally have the talk that is weeks overdue, and depending on what we decide together we will know what direction we are headed in. The flowers, and food have been delivered, I walk out into my closet straight out of the shower to throw on some clothes. I am anxious to see her again and hope we can get through dinner without me being inside of her. She is my new drug and I never intend to go to rehab for her. As I am thinking about her the door opens and there she is standing in my doorway.
“Hi honey! I’m home!”