Restaurant of Love

The doors to the restaurant of love opened and merry bells jingled. A man in a crisp white shirt entered the restaurant, a woman close behind. She wore a dazzling red dress that wrapped tightly around her body. Anna Lee watched them enter from behind the lectern. She had been working here for a few years and already knew how a match looked like. But she would check anyway. But first she had to get their names.

‘Hello and welcome to the restaurant of love where you love our food, but the person across from you even more.’ Anna Lee said as she approached the pair.

‘Oh, no. We’re not here for love. This is a strictly work-related dinner.’ The man answered, taking a nervous glance at the woman. She nodded.

‘You do realise this restaurant is intended for people who want to have a romantic moment?’ said Anna Lee, handing them a little form on a clipboard.

‘I, er, never realised. But we’re here now, so let’s just stay,’ said the man quickly.

Anna Lee could tell straight away that the man knew fully well what this restaurant was about. People like this came all the time.

Men and women, their thoughts clouded with love who wanted to take a next step in their relationship.

‘Please put your name here and your guest here.’ Anna Lee pointed to different parts of the paper. ‘And sign here if you agree to deal with a fluctuation of prices with great results, and will be refunded if you are unhappy with our services.’

‘What does that mean?’ asked the man.

‘Oh don’t worry about it. It’s just the customary terms and conditions of your dining here.’

The man looked unsure, but signed the paper.

‘That’s all!’ Anna Lee said merrily as she took back the clipboard. ‘Follow me and I’ll show you the way to your table.’

She showed them to a table in the room with large potted plants which gave the space some privacy. Perfect.

The woman sat down and the man rushed over to help her. Very good indeed.

‘Here’s the menu. I’ll come back soon to take your orders.’

She strode away confidently into the kitchen. Through the thick steel doors that separated the romantic atmosphere of the restaurant from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.

Anna Lee went over to a big monitor where she inserted the names of the man and woman.

Mark and Carmen.

The match-maker program showed a bar fill up.

One hundred percent match!

She smiled as she grabbed a notebook and rushed back to the table.

‘Hello, are you ready to order?’ she asked, interrupting them on their chat about finances.

‘I think we are.’ said Carmen. ‘I’ll have the Tandoori rice curry with sparkling rosé wine.’

Anna Lee jotted it down in her notebook.

‘I’ll have the Moroccan fried chicken with your best wine.’

‘Excellent choices, your meals should arrive promptly.’

She scurried away and back to the kitchen.

‘Perfect match wants Moroccan fried chicken, Tandoori rice curry and rosé wine and our romantic wine for drinks! I’ll just prepare a ring.’

A loud cheer sounded in the room. It wasn’t everyday a perfect match was found.

Anna Lee inspected a selection of about a hundred rings. Each one was slightly different. One had a diamond, another was gold and another was shiny.

She had to find the perfect one. There was a silver one with an emerald situated in the middle of it.

This was the one.

Anna Lee grabbed it and gave it to the chef, who nodded.

‘We’ll prepare it. They’ll be engaged by sunset.’ he said.