Chinese Bride
Part II

Approaching the buffet table, someone tap my shoulder. Turns out the woman I was talking to.
Smilingly, she presents me her son. "Lian, meet my son. Yang Kun." Turns out he is the famous singer just finishing his performance. Still sweating, he is trying to wipe it from his forehead. I am trembling, first because he is looking at me. Second, because I am his fans. I love listening to his songs. Soon we are talking and even sharing the same plates of petit fours. I don't know why, but I find that he is amusing. Telling me stories about his concerts, his life as performer. I just listen. Not a peep of words come out. We exchange phone number at the end of our conversation. I never think that our conversation will have the continuing series. For me it's just merely once.

Three months later.

Busy with The Café, I already forgot the event and my encounter with Yang Kun. Rave reviews from critics about this new baby make me proud of who I am. The food they said have four star quality, while the price might be over pricey it's worth every cents. I put the price a bit higher than other restaurant, not because I want to have better profit margin. It's because of the place this restaurant in. The boutique hotel itself carries the weight I need to bear. The image I present for this restaurant is quite high. So, the price following the image. Actually this restaurant is the last restaurant I am going to build. No more. As I want to make my first, Starlight to have its own boulangerie and patisserie. And because I am venture to have part of second floor of Starlight to be sort of wine bar. I also have the offer to have next land parcel to make Starlight double in capacity. I borrow money from my father to buy the land, and put my own reserve to make the building.

Still in talks with the architecture company, but I already have the perspective of Starlight will be. I opt to have the new building back to back with the old one. With kitchen in its center, and the dining area for 3/4 part of façade. The other1/4 will be divided for big boulangerie and patisserie. The wine bar will be on the new building second floor, joined by open air dining area and private rooms on the old building. Then to make rooms for bigger pastry and bakery kitchen, I decided to move the offices for the third floor on new building. With that plan, I choose to close my restaurant for two months. All staffs will be having their paid holidays, and if paid holidays used up they will go to help my other three restaurants. All in all I am pushing everybody under my rooster to take the paid holiday they still have. Including me. Still have two months to go. I was wondering where my holiday will end up. My father told me that even though I have the holiday, does not mean that I can take the whole month doing nothing. There are still my other three babies to take care of.
"Dad, I know that since I am the owner I have to take responsibilities of those restaurants. But rules still rules. Holiday is holiday. Besides, those managers and chefs are capable of doing their job."

That night, someone call me in my cellphone. Unidentified number.
"Lian, it's me Yang Kun." He is in the city, performing for a concert yesterday. I want to go, but I am busy with Sora, my Gastro Pub.
"Hey, nice to hear from you." I am still projecting my mind on monthly food cost report from all of my restaurants. He invites me for drinks at his hotel bar. Food cost? Better have a glass of Merlot then. I say bye fleetingly to my mom, noting that I will be home late. Going to his hotel, I opt to take taxi. As I know I will not be able to drive later. I meet him at the bar and we order one bottle of merlot. One bottle turns into two, and when the bar closes its door. We are moving to the poolside decks. He asks if I want to have something to eat so he can order through room service. He doesn't know that I own one of the restaurant there. Ara, my seafood restaurant. I bring him through the back door with my own key. Then I tell him, that the restaurant is mine. He is flabbergasted. I cook for him  a bowl of seafood soup. Risotto and pan fried salmon with mustard cream. I even manage to steal two pieces of gateaux chocolate from the pantry. Cleaning everything behind, and closing the gas pipe
done. Then I jot down a note to Pierre, my chef. Stating that I have emergency use of the kitchen, sorry if I make mess. When I turn for the light switch I brush his body. He takes my chin and plant his lips upon mine. Sort of yanking my body, he press me into the wall. Nothing rough, but something romantic. I hold him close as he is to me.

Continuing to Part III