The City Held Its Silence by Irel Knx 29

29 Cutting Corners 

29 Cutting Corners 

JASMINE’S POV 

Apparently, the owner was the Carrington company. I was surprised when I found out. I never expected to hear of the Carringtons again… 

But it made sense they were practically the champions of restaurant industry, completely dominating it. They owned multiple successful fast food chains and restaurants in the country as well as internationally. I thought of the other restaurants I had applied to, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them were also under the Carrington company. 

“Since you were there even when the owner was there would you say has changed the most since the change in ownership?” I asked Josh. 

“Mmhmm, I would say they are cutting corners now. The chefs say their budget was cut so they have been forced to buy cheaper ingredients for the kitchen. Cheaper ingredients will drastically change the flavour of of a dish,” Josh explained. “It seems the customers have noticed too because I’ve had customers complain to me about dishes they liked not being up to par.” 

My eyes widened when he mentioned the complaints, as that had happened to me too. There were times when a customer would complain about their food. I just thought maybe the chefs had made a mistake in the kitchen or something but it was actually a sign of a deeper problem. 

I felt saddened because I remembered when I ate here in the past. I thought the garden house was a great restaurant with great food. So for it to start falling short now it was sad to see. 

“So who knows where the company will be in a year or two?” Mike asked. 

I didn’t know whether The Garden House closes in future or not. I never ate at the restaurant again after that time with Keith and Anthony and neither did I keep up with it afterwards. I suppose I would find out in due time. 

Hopefully, it wouldn’t close down just yet, I just started working here after all. I hoped there was time for things to turn around. I thought to myself. 

“But these new owners I heard they own a lot of other successful restaurants, right? So why is this one failing?” Megan asked. 

12:54 CD 

T 

1/4 

< 

29 Cutting Corners 

That was a good question I thought to myself. A question with a sad answer, 

unfortunately. 

“Well I’ve heard that sometimes bigger companies will buy another company in the same industry not to continue running them but to get rid of competition,” I explained to her. “So if they close it down after buying it doesn’t matter.” 

It was something I’d overheard during a meal/meeting with Keith and his business partners and thought it applied in this case. The garden house was big business that had been doing well it was big competition to other restaurant businesses. 

“But isn’t that just a waste of money?” She went on to ask. 

“Initially it may be a waste of money but in the long run the company will make it back and even more due to less competition.” I further explained. 

In the grand scheme of things the Carringtons‘ losing this restaurant chain was insignificant when they owned so many other more successful ones, they would definitely make so much more than they lost from this. Still, what a shame. The garden house was a good restaurant. But I guess this was how business worked. 

“What are the four of you whispering about?” A voice then said causing myself, Mike and Megan to shriek in surprise. Josh remained calm though. 

“Nothing!” Megan and Mike said suspiciously. 

I cocked my eyebrow at how obvious the two were being. 

“I swear you two share one brain cell,” Josh commented. 

“Right,” the waiter replied suspicious of the two. “Anyway break times over let’s prepare the tables for dinner time service.” 

The rest of the week progressed uneventfully. Everyday I would come in the morning to the late afternoon. I would serve breakfast, then help set up the table for lunch service, then serve lunch and then help set up for dinner service before I clocked out. 

As the week came to an end I thought of what what I could do with Tony this time during this weekend. Then I realised I might not have time to. I had to go to the hospital and also had to sell some of the luxury items Diana had brought to the house. I was disappointed I was really enjoying our mother, son play dates but I had to take care of those things. 

12:54 

2/4 

< 

29 Cutting Corners 

I didn’t have time during the week to do it since I had work so this was the only time I 

could do this. 

It was Friday morning and I was currently doing breakfast service. I taken some orders from two tables and had just put them into the POS machine by the bar counter of dining hall so the chefs could at ot to their queue of orders. 1 

Looking around the dining area I then caught sight of Mike serving dishes to a table nearby. He then suspiciously look around the restaurant as to see if anyone was looking at him. He took out his phone and then began to walk towards the back of the 

restaurant. 

“Trying to escape the shift again?” I asked him when I reached him. 

“No!” He said suspiciously as he looked me surprised. 

“Come on before you make Megan upset,” I pointed him in the direction of the kitchen. “Come on let’s go,” I ordered him to come with me. Mike would go into the back of the restaurant and be on a call whenever I caught him skipping his shift. 

We then saw the manager walk by. He was with someone. It was a middle aged man in a fine suit talking to him. Their dynamic seemed interesting as the man seemed to be dominating the conversation. The manager lead the man in the direction of his office. 

“Who’s that with the manager?” I asked Mike as we looked in the direction they had 

gone. 

I’m not sure but he’s one of superiors of the company. I think he works closely with the CEO.” Mike explained. “He often comes in from time to time and inspects the place.” 

12:54