Bad PR
Kattia~
It’s the perfect day for hockey. Except when you’re the boss. Tired, hot, and in a sweltering kitchen melting your skin off. But your staff is watching hockey like the sport is the one paying for their checks every week. I mean who even watches hockey?
Kattia’s footsteps are brief as she heads towards the break room. She wipes the sweat of her brows both irritated but relieved she’s no longer in the hot kitchen. Every time she sees that broken door open, falling off its hinges, she can’t help but sigh. Everywhere else in the restaurant is perfected for the vibe except well, the dilapidated break room and the nasty restrooms. This was a temporary stopover and 6 months turn to a year and now we’re here.
Hockey is blasting on the television, her staff glued to it like gum on the bottom of your shoes. The game is actually incredibly stupid. Who wants to fight on ice? No one deserves to be in the cold. The tv captures her attention for a brief second. Well I guess the sport is not too bad. That man smiling on the screen is not too shabby. But that’s not the point this is a place of employment not a bar.
She sighs. “Turn it off!” Her voice echoes in the small room. With just the sound of her voice her staff scurries, closing the television faster than any player on that screen could glide across the ice.
“We were just you know…” Bobby, one of the cooks says.
“Thirsting over grown men with sticks,” she fires back as she reaches the front of the room.
The room falls silently.
“Like today is Valentine’s Day. We need to be taking this seriously!” Kattia says as she walks to the front of the room. “Literally never goes well for us.”
“It’s just a rerun, and Valentine’s Day never goes well for us because you’re not a romantic. If you were a romantic it would’ve went well but you’re not,” Bobby explains, though jokingly.
“And you’re about to be unemployed Bobby,” she says as she braises a fake smile.
“You wish and Hockey is the national sport of Jersey you can’t take that away from us.”
Kattia just stares him down. What the hell is he even talking about? The national sport of New Jersey is hating on New Jersey but hating on anyone who tries to hate on New Jersey. Everybody knows that.
“New York has football and baseball we have hockey.”
All she can do is shake her head in disapproval and do what she came here to do. The pre-Valentine’s Day survival plan. “Anyways… Valentine’s Day… starting to think that day is cursed for us. Never goes well. We always end up on the news and not for good reasons. Our opening year someone chocked on a wedding ring, second year that rapper burned his hair tried suing us. Now we’re on our third year. I am praying this goes well. Because when we open up that new location I want us to be known because of the food, service, and atmosphere. Not our mess ups. Lily anything I should be on the lookout for?”
Lily, the hostess as well as Kattia’s best friend, (albeit such a statement would be denied by Kattia) speaks up, “We have Ivan Swanson.”
Kattia gasps. Ivan Swanson. The Ivan Swanson? Not only is he a great chef but a great food critique. Once he writes a good review of your restaurant you’re on your way to get a Michelin star. “Pause. No not tonight. Please no celebrity.”
Lily shakes her head. “Can’t. His reservation’s at 5:30 it’s currently 3:30 less than a four hour window that’s La Citadelle’s policy.”
Kattia groans. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Maybe this won’t be bad. It’ll be good and she’ll get her Michelin star and she’ll be a world wide known chef. “Fine. Anything else?”
Lily is slow to speak again. “Giovanni Matthias,” she says almost at whisper level. “And his girlfriend… also at 5:30.”
“Lily I’m going to kill you,” Kattia says.
Bobby and the others spring up screaming. “Yes! Giovanni!”
“Lily please say you’re lying.”
Lily shakes her head.
“Hell yeah the golden boy of hockey! Golden boy of hockey. Star of his season Giovanny Mathias. I’m so excited!” Bobby spurts outs.
“Lily I’m busy today. I have calls to make for the charity. If anything goes wrong…”
“I’ll be in charge as always. We should get to our stations and get everything started. What’s the specials?”
Kattia rubs her forehead. “Right specials… disaster with a side of Bad Pr.”
“Please it’s Giovanni, what could go wrong?” Bobby asks.
Kattia rolls her eyes. “Bobby I’m going to start shaking with anxiety stop it! Anyways specials we have diri djon djon back on the menu and an oxtail legume. Dessert for today only is…” Kattia taps her forehead trying to remember. “We have some heart shaped kokiyols topped with chocolate served either whipped cream and strawberries and Haitian mini cakes, heart shaped.”
“Damn you working us today!” Bobby comments.
“Yeah you’re here to work. Go.”
Everyone but Lily leaves out the break room all rushing to get their stations and get everything started for the opening this evening.
Lily walks up to Kattia. “In my defense I told you about Ivan.”
“Yes but you didn’t say when.”
“And Giovanni was an hour ago.”
“Lily I swear if it’s a proposal…”
“It.. maybe…”
“No. I’m going to my office.” Kattia walks to exit of the room. She fights with the door before she hits against it with her shoulder. “Get this door fixed Lily.”
“Got it!” Lily says as she follows after Katrina. “So about…”
Katrina hears what Lily is trying to hint at. Things are starting to go in the direction, in the more unprofessional side of things. She hates mixing business with pleasure, well in this case her personal life. “Well that other thing I did not go to… and anyways dating is on the back burner for now. And you when are you going to do your thing huh?” They stop in front of the mahogany door with Kattia’s full name engraved. “When? Huh? When you do your thing, I’ll do my thing and bring that in the front burner.”
Lily sighs and looks in another direction just to meet Emmanuel, the sommelier.
“What are you guys even talking about? It’s like you guys speak in riddles that no one can really decode.”
“That’s the point Emmanuel and make sure the good wine is out tonight, bye.”
“Wait you can’t stay dressed like that as the boss. Something else that’s on the back burner I see.”
“Yeah my extra clothes are in there.” Lily has been hounding her about changing clothes and looking more professional in the workplace. But she lives in sweats, they’re more comfortable.
Kattia rushes to her office in disbelief about this Valentine’s Day. This is hopefully a good year for Valentine’s Day. Maybe the curse won’t strike. But then again…
She sighs as she sinks into her chair. She grabs her planner and checks off staff meeting and underlines phone calls. On top of being a restaurant owner, chef, Kattia also owns a charity. Yon Kout Men, which in English translates to a Helping Hand. The charity specifically caters to the youth of her community, proving a third space where they can stay after school. Sometimes they even do field trips.
But the thing about charities is she needs money. Yes the restaurant is making profit but it all goes back to the business so she throws fundraisers. One of them being this spring, a gala. She has it all planned out but she needs a special guest to generate interest. That’s why she needs to make phone calls.
She sighs and dials the numbers. This feels like begging and she hates begging. The phone rings a few times before someone on the other line answers. “Hi yes this is Kattia St. Louis, I’m the founder of the charity A Helping Hand and I would like to speak to Mr. Jaxon Raines.”
“This is his assistant,” the other line says.
“Oh that’s great. I saw that he wanted to be more involved with charity and I’d like to offer that. A Helping Hand is throwing a charity gala, on Saturday March 21st. We’ll provide transportation, food as well as a bonus pay of $500.”
“Miss St. Louis I’d like to inform you that…” the other line pauses for a moment.
Well damn at least she got someone on the line. Usually she calls and there’s no answer and then she texts and no one answers. Not having that many connections is getting to be infuriating.
“That Mr Raines…” the other line starts up again. “Has A Helping Hand on his radar. Located in New Jersey right?”
“Yes. Yes we are.”
“Great I’ll pass on the message to him. Ultimately Mr. Raines will decide however I can say there is a strong possibility that he’ll say yes.”
“Perfect thank you!” Kattia says excitedly. Kattia spends a good chunk of time exchanging information with the assistant on the phone. Jaxon Raines is great because he’s an upcoming R&B singer. Very talented, charismatic, and people love to see him perform. This will drive interest for sure.
“Alright thank you Miss St. Louis I’ll pass on all the information and you have a great evening.”
“Perfect thank you!” Kattia lets out a breath of fresh air as she hangs up the phone. She checks the time on her phone and it’s already 6:15 and no one has bursted into her office screaming disaster yet. Maybe this is good. Maybe Valentine’s Day we’ll be just fine.
Not even a second later one of her newer servers, Lina bursts in. Panicked and a wine soaked blouse. She should’ve knocked on wood, damn.
“Pause what’s happening?” Kattia asks as she immediately springs to her feet.
“So I’m serving this couple right and what happened was he told me to smile it’s Valentine’s Day.”
“Alright red flag number one.”
“I felt uncomfortable by the comment so I get Lily and then as Lily speaks his date starts rambling about it’s a harmless comment and being rude for no reason so I’m like please calm down you’re disturbing other guests and then she drops her fork and as I crouch to get it as I stand up I hit the table wine spills on me and she gets angrier, they’re asking for the owner.”
Kattia sighs. Well damn. She doesn’t think she has the will to control herself even when Swanson is here. Kattia will not stand for her staff being disrespected and traumatized all in the name of ‘the customer is right’. Sometimes the customer is an asshole and they must know that. Another sigh quietly escapes her lips. Another Valentine’s Day, she must bring justice to her staff. She’s the owner, she can do whatever she wants.
Kattia follows Lina to the table where Lily is still there, standing awkwardly. “Hi how can I assist you today?” She says as she dismisses Lily.
“Who even are you?” says this patron Kattia assumes is the date.
“The owner.”
“Well you’re not dressed like it,” the date says, disgust written all over her face.
“Well I can afford comfort. So how can I assist you?” Kattia asks not as polite as she’d like but she won’t let this lady just talk to her any other way.
“Well your staff is incompetent.”
“No they’re not!” Kattia quickly fires back.
The man at the table finally speaks. “Well they’re not the most coordinate,” the man at the table chimes in.
And she recognizes that handsome face, she just doesn’t know where. Everything about this man wants to scream luxury. But the key word here is want, he’s faking it. The gold ring on his pinky, the high end gray suit, the designer glasses. She knows a thing or two about suits, because well… she’s see a thing or two on how they’re made.
“Well… have you thought about that people have a life and it’s not everyday they’re happy go lucky?”
“Well it’s the day of love,” the man fires back.
Kattia raises an eyebrow. “So what?”
“So I see where they get their entitlement from.”
“And I’m still trying to find out where you’re getting yours from. You’re a guest here act like it!” Kattia says almost as a command.
“Do you know who I am?”
Kattia chuckles to herself. No and she does not care however she’d like to know who does he think he is? “Doesn’t matter you come in here you treat my staff with respect. Got it? And it’s incredibly sexist to tell a woman to smile especially in a place of business. Be happy we’re not filing a lawsuit!”
The table quiets down.
“Well in that case… we’ll enjoy our meal quietly. Nice decor by the way. Never been to a restaurant like this before.”’
“Thought so.”
“You’re very feisty.”
“I don’t tolerate disrespect. The same way I wouldn’t let one of them disrespect you. You’re not to disrespect my staff. Okay. I’ll get you some wine on the house. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day.” Kattia walks to the heart of the restaurant where she likes to be. The whole people thing is not her thing. Cooking is her thing.
She throws on her apron and immediately starts working with her team. Everyone follows the lead because when it boils down to it no one in this kitchen is better than her.
“So did you see Giovanni?” Bobby asks. “He’s a fine piece of hockey machinery.”
“I don’t know I don’t care.“
“Do you like anything besides cooking, yelling at people, and being right?”
Kattia shakes her head. She does like these things. “Well… I like all of those and going home to sleep.”
Bobby rolls his eyes. “Boring. No clubbing? No sports?”
Kattia shakes her head, “No.”
Just as Kattia thinks this Valentine’s Day is going well Lina walks into the kitchen once again panicked.
“It’s the same couple again… she thinks the food is… bad.”
“Oh hell no! My cooking?” She says as she starts to laugh not out of amusement but out of piping rage. “My recipes? My cooking?” She starts to pace around. “I’m about to go off.”
“But that guy Ivan is there,” Bobby reminds Kattia
She takes a deep breath. “Right… but they’re still getting a piece of my mind.”
Kattia walks back out to the dining room. The lights are still dim and the music still romantic. But she’s heated as hell and wants a fight. She walks up to the table a tight smile on her face. “So… you don’t like the food?”
“Yes we want it comped,” the man says.
Kattia takes in a deep breath. “You ate it all, no!”
“Well that doesn’t matter it was… not up to par.”
“Your attitude is not up to par. You’ve made me and my staff’s lives hell tonight so pay and get the hell out.”
“You have no bedside manners.”
“Who cares? This isn’t a hospital! And I ain’t nursing you back to health. I might send you there if you keep trying it.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“I don’t care!”
The man stands up shaking his head. “Giovanni Mathias. I can make or break this place and right now I’m about to break it.”
Oh it all makes sense. What did Bobby say ‘golden boy of hockey?’ No wonder he thinks he’s all that. He maybe the best on the ice but in the kitchen she’s the best and no one will tell her otherwise wise. “Oh makes sense, you’re a fucking loser.”
“Excuse me?” Giovanni asks his voice dangerously low. “Me? No just for that I’m not paying anything.”
Kattia rolls her eyes. “You have been a pain in my ass and up my ass this evening. I don’t care. You’re paying.”
“I’m telling my followers about this,” Giovanni’s girlfriend says.
Both Giovanni and Kattia both look back at her and tell her “Shut up.”
“Don’t speak to my girlfriend like that.”
“Well you just spoke to her like that.”
Kattia can see the man is not willing to keep this fight going. He takes out a checkbook. Old fashion. He signs a check and place it on the table. “There. Hopefully I’m never back here.”
“Hopefully! Jackass!”
Giovanni shakes his head and grabs his girlfriend leaving.
“Yeah. Leave and you’re not welcomed here!” Kattia takes a deep breath only to see that people are recording and that this is still her establishment. Well damn. Maybe one day the idea of being right will not bait her as much into such public arguments. She smiles awkwardly. “Everyone enjoy your meal. Wine on the house tonight,” she says trying to atone but it’s not working. The atmosphere is tenser than some cold butter.
She sighs. She really should stay in the kitchen more often. Kattia starts walking back to the kitchen but only to spot Ivan walking towards her.
“Great food, though the atmosphere could use a little work don’t you think?” He asks his tone disappointed.
She forgot about that too. Well damn. Here’s one of her shots at getting that Michelin Star. She sighs. “You’re right, I’m sorry Mr. Swanson… hopefully I can see you again.
“Maybe.”
Kattia stands there watching her dream walk away from her. One foot in front of the other out the door.
