Page 21 of Things We Need to Say (Second Chance Love Stories #2)

Emma nodded. ‘If that happens, it happens. But I need to stand up for myself. I’ve let her get away with it for far too long.’

‘You’re right, of course. And it’s good that you’re thinking it through and not rushing into it.

And it would be even nicer if you stayed.

’ His tone had softened and Emma felt as though they were heading back into dangerous territory.

She took a sip of her coffee and was about to head out of the room when he moved closer.

‘I really enjoyed last night. Especially when it was just the two of us. Might be nice to do it again sometime?’

‘I enjoyed going out with everyone . It’s nice to have work friends.’

‘So this is where you are!’ Faye Greenwood, one of the senior managers, bustled into the staffroom. ‘I’ve been looking for you. Might have known you’d be slacking in here. Come on, you’ve got work to do. The afternoon-tea function isn’t going to manage itself.’

For a second Emma wondered why Faye thought she was a slacker, as though this happened all the time. But then she latched on to what Faye had said about running the function.

‘I thought Heather was in charge of that.’

‘Heather has gone home sick. Migraine apparently. Brought on by stress. So you’d better get yourself down to the Orchid Suite and make sure it’s set up in time. The guests will be arriving in an hour.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Emma put her coffee down and went to leave, but Faye wasn’t finished.

‘And you’ll be in charge of the running of the function as I’ll be setting up for the awards event in the Clover Suite. I’ll need you to help me with that when you’ve finished. It’s all hands to the pump today, Emma, and I expect you to pull your weight.

‘Yes, of course. I’ll get on it straight away.’

* * *

Emma dashed straight back to the office and picked up the clipboard with all the information for the afternoon’s function.

She quickly glanced through it. Then she put her notebook back into her bag and locked it in her desk drawer, slipping the key into her pocket.

Heather might have done a runner following her threat, but she didn’t really trust anyone at the moment and she didn’t want the book getting into the wrong hands.

She straightened her hair back into her ponytail and took a deep breath as she prepared to step into the fray.

With Heather out of sight for the evening and Emma being under Faye’s scrutiny, she would show Faye she was a hard worker and could be a good manager if she was given half a chance.

This was her opportunity and she was determined to make the most of it.

* * *

The Orchid Suite was one of the hotel’s more intimate function suites, with French doors that led out to the small but immaculate garden at the back of the hotel. Today it had been decorated with Happy Birthday banners and balloons with 70 on them, but that was where the preparations ended.

Emma took one look at the chaos of the rest of the room and went into battle.

The serving staff had been working at a snail’s pace with no one to supervise them, and they were nowhere near ready.

Only half the tables were set and there was more chatter going on than polishing the silver and glasses.

‘Hi, everyone.’ She spoke in her loudest voice while also forcing a smile. ‘The guests will be arriving in an hour, so I think we need to step up the pace to make sure we’re ready.’

‘Where’s Heather?’ Sally, a waitress whom Emma had always found sullen and uncooperative, asked.

‘She’s gone home sick. So you’ll have to put up with me. Now let’s get organised. Sally and Joanne, you’re on silver. Quick as you can so we can get the tables laid up. Eric, John, same with the glasses. Amy, how are you at folding napkins into fans?’

Amy smiled. ‘Yes, I like doing that.’

‘Good, and, if you haven’t finished when the tables are set, we’ll all join in to help. Now, I’ll go and get the centrepieces, and when I’m done I’ll start laying up the tables, so make sure you have plenty for me to work with.’

‘You’re going to lay the tables?’ Sally asked in surprise.

‘Yes.’

‘Heather usually leaves us to it.’

‘Well, I’m not Heather and we don’t have much time left. It’s teamwork we need now and that means everyone. Got it?’

Sally nodded and, as Emma turned her back on her, she smiled to herself. She’d show them. She’d show them all.

* * *

It was all going well, Emma thought, standing at the edge of the reception room as the servers poured drinks for the fifty guests.

After her little pep talk, the team had pulled together and Emma had quickly realised that showing them she was capable of doing whatever she asked them to do was a wise move.

Even Sally had seemed to thaw a little. The room had been ready on time, and now the champagne was flowing and the kitchen was ready to serve the afternoon tea.

Emma was just about to ask the guests to find their places when the woman whose birthday it was came rushing towards her, looking panic-stricken.

Emma instantly went to her side. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘No, I’m afraid not,’ the woman said breathlessly.

‘It’s my granddaughter.’ She pointed out a teenage girl dressed like a goth.

‘Last week she was vegetarian, which is down on the menu choices, but in the last five minutes she’s told me that she’s now vegan, so what I’ve ordered for her isn’t suitable. I’m sorry it’s such short notice.’

‘Well, I’m sure we can accommodate that,’ Emma said. She hoped the kitchen could back her up. ‘Let me just go and have a word with Chef.’

As Emma was about to leave the room, Sally came over.

‘Is anything wrong?’ she asked.

‘Just a last-minute dietary requirement. I need to go and see Chef. Can you keep the drinks flowing in my absence?’

‘Will do.’ Sally smiled and Emma was amazed at the change in her from earlier that afternoon.

The heat from the kitchen hit her as she walked through the swing door, while a cacophony of busyness assaulted her ears.

Chef was standing in the middle of the kitchen directing operations.

As Emma walked towards him, he turned round.

He was a stickler for precision and ruled his kitchen with a rod of iron.

He was also known for having a grudge against any front-of-house staff member who didn’t do exactly as he asked them, the moment he asked them to do it.

‘Ah, Miss Taylor, the afternoon-tea trays are just about ready to go. Do you want to send your staff in to collect them?’

‘Not quite,’ Emma said, her voice quavering. ‘I have a slight problem. I’ve just been told one of the vegetarian dishes now needs to be vegan. I know it’s last minute, but I’d really appreciate it if you could accommodate that.’

‘Right, well we do have vegan options on the restaurant menu, so we’ll just have to find something we can switch. ...’

‘If you could, I would really appreciate it. This is only the second function I’ve managed on my own and I need it to go well.’

‘Where’s Heather?’

‘Sick, apparently.’

‘And left you in the lurch?’

‘Something like that.’

‘Okay, so we’ve got vegan cheese tartlets on the menu and I could rustle up some bean wraps, and then there’s vegan chocolate cake. If you can give me ten minutes, I’ll have it sorted for you.’

‘That will be perfect. Thank you so much.’

‘My pleasure. Especially when you’ve asked so nicely, rather than come in here demanding.’

Emma rushed back to the function room with a sigh of relief, knowing that disaster had been averted. Sally looked up as she came through the door and she nodded towards her with a smile before going to speak to the guest of honour.

‘Oh, thank you so much,’ the lady said, beaming at her, when Emma told her it had all been arranged. ‘I’ve been planning this party for months and want everyone to enjoy it. I’m very grateful.’

‘It’s our pleasure,’ Emma replied. ‘Give me five minutes, and I’ll start to ask everyone to find their seats.’

‘Excellent. Thank you again.’

Emma smiled. It was good to be appreciated.

* * *

‘Thank you again for a wonderful afternoon.’ The guest of honour came over to Emma as the last of the tea cups were being cleared away.

Emma sensed a presence by her side and turned to see that Faye Greenwood had entered the room.

‘I hope everything was to your satisfaction?’ Faye asked before Emma could reply.

‘It was far more than satisfactory. The food was excellent, the service ran like clockwork and this young lady went out of her way to make a last-minute adjustment. Carly loved her meal, by the way — she had everyone wanting to try her vegan cheese tartlets.’

‘I’m only glad we could accommodate her,’ Emma replied. ‘And, most importantly of all, that you’ve had a lovely birthday.’

‘Oh, I have! And so many of my friends have said it’s the best afternoon tea they’ve ever tasted.’

‘That’s lovely to hear. Is there anything else I can do for you?’

‘No, thank you, dear, I just have to say my goodbyes to everyone and then we’ll be on our way.’

Emma smiled as the woman went to join her friends.

‘Well, that obviously went well,’ Faye said. ‘Looks like you did a good job.’

Emma blushed slightly at the praise. ‘It all went according to plan and the guests seemed happy.’

‘And that’s the main thing. But now, there’s no rest for the wicked. The function in the Clover Suite is about to start and I need you and two of your servers.’

‘Sure,’ Emma said. She spotted Sally and beckoned her over.

‘There’s another function about to start and they’re short on servers. Would you and Amy be able to help out?’

Sally smiled. ‘Of course, I’ll go and grab her. Where is it?’

‘Clover Suite,’ Emma replied. She turned back to Faye, to find her frowning. ‘Is anything the matter?’

‘No, not really,’ Faye replied. ‘I’m just a bit surprised, that’s all. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sally smile before. At least not when you ask her to do something. How did you manage that?’

Emma blushed, but tried to sound nonchalant. ‘She’s a really good worker when you get on the right side of her.’

‘Well, you certainly seem to have managed that.’