"We need to get another pot of French onion soup going! We're almost out and table nine just ordered five servings!"

Greg cut me off on his way to the fridge, nearly knocking the ladle out of my hand.

"Sorry Chef! I'm starting that soup right now."

It was a typical busy Friday night. The restaurant was alive with first night dates, anniversaries, birthdays, and business meetings. The kitchen was bustling, and while the chaotic atmosphere may cause some people stress, it brought me a sense of peace--a sense of purpose. I came alive in the kitchen with cutlery in my hand. It was about the only time I felt I had a voice that mattered as I shouted different orders to my team.

"Chef, there's a customer who would like to speak with you. Says he has a complaint." Jade, one of the servers, said as she popped her head through the kitchen door.

Andy, my Sous Chef and best friend, appeared by my side.

"Do you want me to see what's the matter? I know you don't like conflict and if its a guy..."

I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again. I gave her arm a light squeeze and shook my head.

"No, it's okay, I got it."

"Okay, if you're sure, but I'll be nearby."

"Thanks, I'm sure it's nothing serious."

I walked out of the kitchen and followed Jade as she led me to the upset customer. As I approached his table, he glared up at me.

"Hi, I'm Grace, the head Chef here. I heard there was some sort of problem. I would love to fix it. How can I help?"

The man looked me up and down with a mix of disgust and desire written on his face.

"I would love for you to fix it as well. Let's see if you can." His lips curled in a cruel smirk.

"Okay, well I would need to know the problem first." I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to appear unfazed.

"I ordered my steak medium and this," he said as he cut into it, "is most definitely not medium. It's more like rare."

I looked at the offending meat, which was in fact, a perfect medium, most of which had already been devoured.

"Well, I'm sure your wonderful server could have taken care of that. I do apologize. I will fix that right now for you."

I went to grab his plate, but he moved it aside, causing me to flinch and my nerves to go haywire.

"Yeah, but I shouldn't have had to get it sent back in the first place. And tell me, what kind of sauce is this?"

"It is a red wine sauce. It is one of my specialty sauces paired with the ribeye you ordered. There was a description on the menu."

"Seriously? Well despite the fact that it is in your DNA as a woman, I don't think you have a clue about what you're doing in the kitchen with a sauce like that."

I was momentarily stunned and completely embarrassed. This obnoxious man ate over half his "non medium" steak with the red wine sauce before he decided he had a problem. It was more than obvious what he was trying to do; it wouldn't be the first time someone tried getting a free meal out of the restaurant. But if he wanted to claim he didn't like it, I was willing to bite my tongue to diffuse the situation. I took a deep breath in before speaking.

"Is there something else you would like to try since you were not satisfied? Perhaps a more common garlic butter sauce on a newly cooked steak?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, that sounds great. Go ahead and throw in some shrimp too. But don't expect me to pay for any part of this meal. That includes her tip." He jerked his head at Jade who was visibly uncomfortable. "The only tip I'll give is to not serve customers food they didn't order."

I first saw red--embarrassment, anger, frustration. And then I saw blue--two electric blue pools staring into me, enticing a reaction out of me like two molecules colliding. I blinked, and it was gone; he was gone. But the emotion I felt was enough to ignite me.

I leaned in close, making sure to maintain eye contact. "That's a great tip. Except I have an even better one for you. When trying to scam a restaurant into giving you a free meal, don't eat almost every bite of it first before claiming you don't like it. Also, if you're going to insult the Chef, I wouldn't ask for another plate of 'freshly prepared' food." I spewed, using finger quotes for "freshly prepared" while winking.

"Excuse me!? Who do you think you are, you bitch? Are you really insinuating tampering of food?"

"It's Executive Chef to you, and I am not insinuating anything. And just so we are clear, you will be paying for the delicious meal you have already ate. But for the trouble, I'll throw in a free water to go as you make your way out of this establishment."

I nodded to Hugo, who was already in route with the guys check and made my way with a wide-eyed Jade back toward the kitchen.

I paced back and forth with my hands entwined trying to calm myself down. I could feel my cheeks completely flushed from my anger. I don't think I had ever been as enraged as I was.

"Holy shit Grace! What just happened!?"

I spun around to see Andy with a huge grin on her face.

"Where did you come from? How did you hear?"

"Hugo came and grabbed me. Said things were pretty intense. I showed up right when you were telling him you would serve him spit food."

"I did not say that...per se." I flushed, biting my bottom lip.

"No, but it was highly suggested. And highly badass. I'm so proud of you! He was a total tool. I have never heard you defend yourself that way, especially to a man."

That's because I never had. And I'm not sure what had taken me so damn long.

It felt good. Really good.

"Yeah, I don't know. I guess after almost getting pummeled by a moose, eaten by a bear, and attacked by a mountain lion, not much scares me." I chuckled. Thinking about that though, it wasn't entirely true. There were things that still scared me like forever chasing that high I had found in those mountains and always falling short.

****

The restaurant had just closed, and Andy and I were grabbing our things to head out for the night.

"Okay, so I have been holding it in all night, but I'm too excited to tell you."

"Tell me what?" I eyed Andy who wore a Cheshire grin on her face. I slipped on my jacket and we headed to the front door.

"I overheard Michelle on the phone the other day when she came down to check on everything."

Michelle is the owner of Whisk Me Away and had the opportunity to franchise it a couple years ago. She started another Whisk Me Away in Naperville, a city not far from Chicago, as a trial run for her expansion. Her plan had been to expand throughout the West. She managed the restaurant in Naperville, and since it was still so new, she only came back to our location once a week to make sure things were running smoothly and that we had everything we needed.

"Yeah, and?"

"And she's opening up another restaurant! It's happening so fast for her, I'm so excited. But that's not the best part."

I looked at her, patiently waiting for her to continue. When she kept eyeing me all weird, I groaned and gave her a small push.

"Well go on Andy! What's the best part?"

She looked like she was about to burst at any moment as she opened her mouth, spilling out its contents in one big slur.

"She wants to send one of us to run it and eventually co-own it, and I think it should be you!"

I blinked, trying to comprehend the news. Running my own restaurant would be huge. Especially if it turned into eventually owning it, or even co-owning it. The fact that Michelle was considering giving one of us the opportunity to take care of her restaurant franchise was amazing.

"Where is the new location?"

"Well its still under some construction right now, but the opening is soon. It was originally going to be some restaurant local to them but the contract fell through at the last mintue. Somehow, Michelle got word of it and picked up the contract."

Walking outside, I turned to lock the restaurants door. After placing the keys in my jacket, I looked back up at Andy who was giving me a look I had come to recognize as her "up to no good" look.

"Andy...what's going on? Where is the location?"

Her devious smile grew.

"Wyoming."