Jake POV
"Was that a play or what?" I ask Kate. She looks at me surprised and then laughs. I was caught off guard. She continues to laugh for like an hour until she stops with a few giggles.
"I'm sorry for laughing at you Jake! But what you said is so funny" she apologises and laughs harder.
Everyone turns to look at us and I feel embarrassed. Aaron raises a dark eyebrow at me.
Kate finally stops laughing and I thank God she's done.
"Now! That wasn't a play Jake! It was reality" Kate says through giggles.
"Oh" I say realising. That's why Aaron looks worried and is behaving somewhat scared.
"Its like Mr Cartwright and Danny have a feud" I suggest
"Yes! It all started when Danny pranked Mr Cartwright" Kate states.
"He pranked him?" I ask. I couldn't believe it.
"The thing is, Mr Cartwright is the meanest teacher on campus and Danny wanted to prove that he's not afraid of him. So he succeeded in pranking him but Mr Cartwright did not forgive him for that! And since then, they've become like cat and mouse! Thanks to their alpha who gives them silly ideas and got me in this neck and leg band" Kate rattles and I listen carefully.
"Their Alpha? Wait what are you insinuating? You mean Danny is in a gang?" I ask Kate surprised.
"Yes he is! Its a very popular gang in the school!" Kate says with a shrug.
I wanted to know more about this gang and their alpha.
"So who's their alpha?" I ask Kate and she snorts.
"That cold blooded girl! She's so pathetic! She thinks she has the world under her feet just because she's a little alpha of a stupid gang and all they do is cause trouble" Kate sneers.
She's a female? I wonder who she is.
"What's her name?" I ask curiously.
"Nicole Anderson! The savage who got me in this stupid neck and leg band" Kate states with anger and venom laced in her tone and I'm shocked.
Nicole Anderson? Is it the one I know or someone else? She couldn't have done this to Kate. No! It could be a different Nicole Anderson.
"She's on suspension for a month now. But I heard she will be coming after two weeks" Kate spits.
The only way I can find out this is if this Nicole is the same as the one I know. I need to ask her the school she attends but I don't that she's the one. I'm quite suspicious and curious now.
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The day went by really fast. Danny was given two weeks suspension for verbal abuse against teachers but he didn't care about that. Aaron and I talked a bit about the soccer team. I was planning to join it but my work also matters! Kate and I exchanged numbers too. I think she's not bad after all! She's a nice person.
I am currently at home playing games on my phone. When it was 6:30pm, I went to bath and got prepared to go to work.
I got to work at exactly fifty minutes past the hour six. I got down from my car and walked into the restaurant.
I entered the kitchen and saw my fellow chef cooking. He was a nice person and a good friend.
"Hey Jeff! What are you still doing in there? Your shift is almost over" I tell him. He turns around and sees me. He laughs.
"Actually today you're not cooking here buddy" Jeff explains.
"Why? Did they change my shift? Or was I fired?" I ask him confused about the whole situation
"No no no! Relax bro" Jeff says and am glad.
"Today, you're cooking for the boss himself! He's throwing his daughter's birthday party tonight! She's turning sixteen" Jeff spits and a lump forms in my throat.
"Dude! I have a lot to cook right? Cos I'm going to bake a huge cake, bake pastries, cook all kinds of food etcetera etcetera" I say worriedly. I really have work to do tonight.
"How can the boss leave you alone to cook Jake? He got two other best chefs in the country to help you" Jeff states.
"Really?" I ask shocked.
Jeff nods and I smile.
"Unfortunately, I am not one of them! I would be here cooking some stakes for the customers" Jeff says with sadness laced in his tone.
"Its nothing Jeff! You are still the best chef in the world! I really admire you Jeff! Don't be sad" I tell him with my hands on his shoulders. He smiles a little and nods.
"You're an awesome guy Jake! I'm glad you had this opportunity! Good luck" he says and hugs me.
"Oh Jake you are already in!" My boss enters interrupting.
"I guess you guys are saying goodbye" the boss suggests.
I nod and wipe a tear from under my eyes. I was a very emotional guy. It makes me look weak but I'm not that weak! Am a strong guy who would fight for anything.
"Let's get going! The birthday party starts at nine! Guests would be arriving soon and the other chefs are waiting for you" my boss says and I say goodbye to Jeff before leaving the kitchen.
We left to the restaurant's parking lot.
"Follow my lead" my boss instructs.
"Wait boss! I just wanna tell you that I'm grateful to you for choosing me to cook at your daughter's birthday party tonight" I say really grateful. I was really honoured.
"Oh Jake! We all know you are an excellent cook! That's why I chose you instead of Jeff. But Jeff too cooks good food! He's been a loyal employee to me. But its nothing really! You don't have to thank me! I have to thank you" My boss states and I smile.
"Let's go shall we! I don't want to be late for my daughter's party" my boss says and enters his car. I enter mine and follow him down the road.
As I drive I think about what my boss said some minutes ago.
I know guests will be arriving at the party and am sure my dad will be part of these guests. I just hope he doesn't bring his family along. His wife and three sons! I don't want yo meet them so soon. I'm not prepared for that. But I just hope I don't meet my dad at the party. I'm not ready to hear his stories and the reasons why he abandoned us! No! He abandoned us! And I hate him for that! He's not my dad! A real dad would never leave his children no matter what! If I knew this was going to happen, I would have gotten a new look so that my dad doesn't recognize me. I would have dyed my hair or something!
My boss enters his house and I follow with my car. We park and get down. My boss' house was quite huge. It had a large lawn in front with many flowers. But there were lots of decorations around. Pink and blue balloons and lots of canopies for the guests.
"You would bake the birthday cake cook some hotdogs and do a barbecue" my boss tells me.
"I made it clear to the other chefs" he adds as we enter his house. The inside was beautiful. It was decorated with flowers.
"Honey! I'm home" the boss announces and a plump woman comes out. She had short brown hair and was dressed in a pink velvet dress.
She comes to hug him.
"Am glad you're back" she says and plants a kiss on her husband's cheek. My boss chuckles.
"And you must be Jake" she says to me and I nod with a smile
She offers her hand and I shake it.
"My husband has been talking about you all the time! I finally got to meet you" she says sweetly. She was a nice woman.
I just flash her a smile.
"My husband says you will be making my daughter's cake" she says and I nod
"He just told me ma'am" I reply politely
"I would show you the design my daughter wants" she says
"Where's she?" My boss asks
"In her room! She's getting ready for the party"
"I'll go and check on her" my boss says and leaves.
"Here's the design!" My boss' wife says and shows me a cake styled in the form of high heels. It was pink in colour with what looked like glitter on it.
"Wow!" I blurt with my eyes wide.
"I told her it was a bit too much but she insisted so we got the cutter for it! Can you bake it?" She asks me.
I look at the picture again. It wouldn't be so hard! It just needs time and patience.
"I'll try" I reply.
She yelps and gives me a hug.
"Thank you! I was afraid you wouldn't be able to bake it" she admits and puts her manicured hands on her chest.
"Its almost nine! Its now eight thirty! Let's go to the kitchen" she says and I follow her lead.
We enter the kitchen and the other two chefs were already there dressed in white, both males.
"Hey there! Your friend has arrived! This is Jake" My boss' wife announces.
They both look at me with smiles.
"Welcome buddy" one says. He had hazel eyes and dark hair
"Hello" the other says not too enthused. He had light green eyes and his hair was dyed white.
"So you'll be working with them! You guys are supposed to be done by eleven! And then at twelve my daughter can make her wish and cut her birthday cake! This is all a dream! She's finally sixteen!" My boss' wife announces and we all chuckle except the chef who said hello to me. He looked bored and rolled his eyes. What's up with him?
"See ya" she sung and vanished.
"Hey man! My name is Mark!" The guy with the dark hair and hazel eyes says and I respond with a handshake and a smile. The other didn't even bother to look at me or even introduce himself. He's such s meanie!
They had already started and I could see they had packaged most of the food.
"Mark! Can you show me where my working area is?" I ask him
"Sure! Over there!" He says pointing to a large table with everything I need to make the cake, hot dogs and barbecue. I change into my chef outfit and begin with the cake. I look at the picture. Then I begin to mix the ingredients and begin.
"Dude! What are you doing at my working area?" The other guy says. His voice was laced with annoyance. I look up to see him standing there with a dark eyebrow raised at me.
"Excuse me? Mark said this is my working area" I reply a bit annoyed
Gosh! He's so annoying.
"I don't care about what Mark said! Just pack your things and get a place to work" he barks at me. I feel like hitting him but I don't. I just pack all my stuff and took it to another table.
"Dude! That is also my table" he spits and a lump forms in my throat.
"Look Ian! The guy needs to work! Just let him use your table! After all you are not using it now" Mark comes to my defence.
"Shut your mouth Mark! I don't wanna hear your crap" he yells at Mark. I now knew his name..lan.
"And you! Get out of that place" lan says referring to me before turning to work on his ingredients. I sigh
"You can share a table with me Jake" Mark suggests.
I nod and move all my things there.
"Don't mind him! He's just a scum" Mark whispers.
My blood was boiling. I wanted to teach him a lesson he would never forget but all the same ,Mark was on my side.
I broke some eggs and whisked them in one bowl. Then I creamed some butter and sugar in another. This cake has to be delicious! Mark was frying some chicken wings.
I got the mixture ready. It was supposed to be pink and shaped like high heels. I dissolved strawberry powder in water and poured it into the mixture. It turns pink and I smile.
I got the shape cutter and poured my mixture into it. Then I pre -- heated the oven for the cake. When the oven was hot enough, I placed the shape cutter into it and closed it.
Then I began with the hotdogs. I saw lan open the oven and he places some cookies into it. Then he did something to the knob. The heat was increased.
"Hey lan! Didn't you see that I was baking the cake before you came and turned up the heat! That's not the temperature we use in baking cakes" I bark at him but he remains silent as if I was talking to a dead person.
He was really getting on my nerves. I don't like it when am angry. I'm a different person altogether when my mood switches to anger mode.
"Hey! Didn't you hear me?" I ask him. Mark looks worried but I don't care! I needed to teach this bastard a lesson!
He doesn't mind me.
"Ian!"I yell and he laughs at me. He turns and looks at me with a crooked expression.
" instead of making such a fuss about it why don't you lower the heat stupid?"he says in his baritone voice and laughs.
"Did he just call me ....." I trail off charging towards him but Mark holds me back and puts me in place. My anger was soaring higher and my heart was beating against my ribcage.
"Its not worth fighting!" Mark yells at me.
"And you lan! Stop making things difficult for us here! We are all chefs! We need to work together not to taunt each other" he yells at Ian.
A smirk appears on Ian's stupid face.
"Very well preacher! " he says to Mark and I feel like slapping his plastic face.
Mark glares at him quite annoyed by his comment. Who is this guy? I hate him already!
"Preach on" Ian says and turns to his working area chopping some tomatoes.
Mark snorts at him before returning to me.
"Relax bro! It will be time soon and we will leave this place and never see this jerk again" Mark says with a small smile. He was so nice. My anger began to dissipate with his kind words.
"Thanks Mark! You are right! And you're such a nice person! Not like this clown" I reply and Mark chuckles at my comment.
I lower the heat on the oven hoping it doesn't affect the cake and continue with the hotdogs.
After some time, I brought the cake out and removed it from the cutter. It didn't spoil and I was glad. I placed sixteen candles on it.
"The cake smells good" Mark compliments.
I nod in agreement. I was glad it was shaped like high heels just the way they want. I sprinkled something that looked like glitter on it and it sparkled. Then I put icing on it writing, Happy Birthday Madison!
Then I wrapped the cake up and placed it in a corner and continued with the hotdogs. I looked on the time on my watch and it was half past ten. We are supposed to be done by eleven. I looked out of the window. Guests were arriving. They were all looking glamorous. Most of them came with their children. I was glad I didn't spot my dad! He didn't make it.
When it was eleven we were all done. I was done with the barbecue too.
The boss' wife came to inspect and she was impressed with the cake! "Good work Jake! The cake is beautiful! Madison will love it" she compliments and lan coughs.
I glare at him and he flashes a fake smile. I roll my eyes and look at the woman.
"The waiters will be here to take the food and serve! I will keep the cake" she says and goes to pick it up.
"So gorgeous" she says and leaves the kitchen. I was glad she liked it.