I reached the kitchen to find everyone extremely busy. Normally, the kitchens are very busy as the restaurant are hardly empty. Not only the resident guest but also the guests from outside are sometimes welcomed. So, the busy behaviour of everyone was quite normal. But today, the atmosphere appeared to be very different. Everyone was rus.h.i.+ng around, pus.h.i.+ng people and seemed very tensed. I spotted Tanya among the hubbub. I quickly reached her and pulled her to a side.

"Hey what's going on?" I asked her seeing that even she looked quite nervous

"Tony you are finally here. Did you take the books from Anastasia Chef?" she asked looking at me with relief but there was still underlying tension in her words

"I haven't met Chef Anastasia yet. In fact, isn't she in the office?" I asked eyeing the office door behind Tanya

"I don't think so. Chef Boris ordered all the chefs to be present at his office. I thought you might have met her when you came" she said, biting her lips

Actually, I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't see anyone while coming. It was my afternoon s.h.i.+ft today and Chef Anastasia was in morning s.h.i.+ft. I had to collect the books from her and get the briefing on last day (which was an off day for me) and today's current work status.

"Anyways, meet her first. She will brief you on everything. I can just tell you that a very important guest is suppose to come today. A small c.o.c.ktail party will be held in the pool side. The Chairman himself sent the order. Everyone is in turmoil because of that"

"CHAIRMAN??" I was abruptly brought to full attention when I heard that.

Chairman sending order to one particular resort or hotel was quite a rare event. Hardly ever, Chairman gives an order to any particular hotel. Except for regular visits in some of the profitable hotel branches, unless it is for rounds checking the progres of the hotel, Chairman doesn't comes to the hotel. Plus, this Resort is a newly launched one and the project of this resort is handled by Robbie. So, the visitation of Chairman along with an important guest is straight up kick in the gut.

But if the Chairman wants to welcome a guest in his hotel, the hotel has to present a perfect image. No mistake are allowed. More than the ones in the lower posts, the one in the higher posts will be sweating buckets right now. One mistake and the higher posts will be bashed mercilessly. I already started feeling the pressure from just hearing that it is the Chairman's order

"Am leaving. The event order had already been sent. I have to go to the garde mange" Tanya said. Her voice showing a hint of impatience and urgency

She was about to leave when I held her back again. "Tanya, after work today, meet me"

Tanya's eyes became round with surprise, "Why?"

"Just do" I told her

"But Tony after the c.o.c.ktail party, it will be nearly midnight" Tanya's voice rose a pitch higher

"Just meet me" I repeated my words before leaving

I didn't waited to see her expression as I quickly left to take over the s.h.i.+ft.

EXECUTIVE CHEF OFFICE

Standing outside the office of Executive Chef, I was feeling slightly nervous. Chairman's order was not a common matter and the pressure on the Sous Chefs and the Executives will be very high. I breathed in deeply and knocked on the door.

"Come in" I heard Boris's voice at once

I went in to see all the three Sous Chef along with one Executive Sous Chef present there. All five pair of eyes looked at me as I opened the door. Being suddenly thrown into the limelight, I felt kind of uncomfortable. But my discomfort was soon released as the sharp voice of Chef Boris spoke,

"Finally, you are here, Chef Tony. Please quickly join in. I am briefing on today's event"

I nodded, quickly closed the door and joined in. As soon as I joined I heard Boris speaking as if continuing from an earlier conversation,

"As you all already know that it is the Chairman's order to hold a party. From the event order received, it will be a c.o.c.ktail party of 15 pax. The party will be held near the swimming pool so it is not a sit down party. Therefore, the buffet that will be set is either finger buffet or fork buffet. Hence, the menu is mostly based on appetizers suitable with rum, brandy and vodka based c.o.c.ktails that are to be served in the party"

Everyone nodded along with me to show that we got the point.

"Excuse me sir. Since, the menu is already set, had it been set in line with the c.o.c.ktails to be served? The food had to pair well with the c.o.c.ktails otherwise, the food value and taste would be affected if the pairing is not maintained" the bespectacled Executive Sous Chef in his late forties spoke out his concerns

"The Event managing team informed me that the menu had been personally taken care of by the Food and Beverage Manager" Boris answered to which the bespectacled Chef nodded with relief

Boris's eyes looked around waiting for more questions to pop up, but when there was no more queries, he continued on,

"The menu have three vegetarian items and five non vegetarian item. Though, it is not a mandatory course but dessert had been included in honour of the special guest attending the party. The menu had already been circulated around the kitchens. The supervising team must take care of the food production, so, that not even the slightest mistake occurs. It's our reputation and prestige as a Chef on line. So, do your best"

Everyone again nodded. Boris continued his briefing as he a.s.signed every Sous Chefs and the Executive Sous Chef, their responsibilities and the team they will be supervising. As soon as everyone received their orders, they were immediately dismissed. I was the last one left and was waiting for my order as soon as the last Sous Chef along with the Executive Sous Chef were dismissed. But Boris didn't speak immediately. He waited till they left and closed the door. Once it was only the two of us left, did Boris opened his mouth to speak. His penetrating eyes looked at me in an odd light which I couldn't decipher,

"Chairman Walker had asked me to inform you to be his personal host tonight" Boris said, his eyes narrowed and his tone soft but sharp like the knife

"WhWHAT??" I said, perplexed, "How can I be a host, Boris? I am a Chef!!"

"I know. In fact, I was bewildered myself. I tried to explain the Chairman that you can't be the host as you have no training whatsoever in the field and as it is a stand up c.o.c.ktail party, basically one host was enough to entertain the guests. But he specifically mentioned you to be the personal host of his and his special guest" Boris said, his voice was calm but I could clearly hear the questioning tone underlying it.

My mouth fell open in shock. What the h.e.l.l!! How can I be a host when I am trained as a Chef. My people skill is pretty bad. All I am good at is cooking food. The maximum I can do is supervising my team members and taking care of the food item so that it's quality is maintained. But a host?!! Why? I was so taken aback that for a few seconds I could utter no word. Seeing me so surprised, Boris's brows creased even more, he asked me in low questioning tone,

"May I know Tony, exactly how the Chairman of such huge hotel chain know the name of a mere Sous Chef of one of his branch?"

I looked at Boris still recovering from the previous shock. Hearing Boris's question, my eyes widen in a panic. I suddenly realized that the Chairman also happens to be the father of Robbie. Was the Chairman doing this on purpose? Could it be it is his way of exacting revenge? I wanted to hit my head on the wall!! I looked at Boris who was observing me with his arms crossed across his chest. The mood turned so heavy in the office that anyone could feel the pressure. I had no answer to his question, so all I could do is divert his mind,

"Who is the special guest that the Chairman will be welcoming to the party?"

Boris's clever little eyes narrowed at my question so much that they were almost a straight line. He could clearly understand that I was trying to change the subject but still he answered,

"I am not sure but I have heard he is in the field of the import and export business. But recently, he had entered the politics and had been in quite a favourable position. Maybe the Chairman is trying to curry favor from him"