This choice: No matter the scheme, Gina has a swift solution to Gloria's acts of vengeance. • Go Back... “Thank you Senorita Bianchi, I could never stand that woman” sighed Oscar with a rush of relief.
“Oh Senior Huerta” chuckled Gina placing a reassuring hand on her new business partner’s shoulder “she won’t be bothering you or your family anymore”
“We can’t thank you enough” beamed Alejandra Huerta “our los nietos will know what you have done for them this day”
Gina smiled with a modest blush warming her cheeks.
“No no, I’m just here to help a family in the community and I look forward to our partnership”
“Then a toast” insisted Oscar as he shot into the back room.
“Well, maybe just one” relented Gina with a grin “but first could I get a photo with you both?”
The question came with a smooth draw of her phone from inside the small clutch bag she had at her hip, the text for the post she would use to accompany the photo she was about to take already ready.
*****
“DANNI! Get me Vinnie and SOMETHING sweet!”
Gloria was pissed.
Gina was a slip of a girl with no business experience compared to Gloria and here she was stealing her business? This was unacceptable and things were going to get ugly from here on out.
“He...here you go Miss Vander...” stammered Danni stretching out an index card as well as a whole cream cake on a crystal stand.
The assistant found herself cut off brutally as Gloria snatched both items from her, slamming the index card down whilst grabbing a folk from her desk drawer that violently began stabbing into the two tiered sponge.
“Get out” spat Gloria around a mouthful of half chewed cake, her none eating hand punching numbers into her desk phone which began ringing as Danni scampered away.
“Vincent Scrowler, food critic”
“Bianchi, tomorrow” spat Gloria with no hint of pleasantries.
“Ahh, Miss Vandergast, a pleasure as always” drawled Vincent somewhere between sarcasm and irritation.
He’d suffered enough ball bustings at the hands of Miss Vandergast since she’d emerged on the scene but she had paid him handsomely over the years which was one of the few things maintaining their awkward quote on quote working relationship.
“I don’t want to hear it” scoffed Gloria through bulging cake filled cheeks “just go and EVISCERATE the girl TOMORROW”
“Hmm” sighed Vincent as he adjusted the grip on his phone “I’ll do my job”
*****
“Thanks for dining with us tonight” purred Gina as she followed a sweet couple out the door, wiping her hands on her apron as she did.
“It was amazing” gushed the woman “you’re food is so delicious, my husband will need his pants letting out soon”
“Well you would say that seeing as yours already HAVE been let out” teased the aforementioned husband as he posted a sizeable tip into the jar by the door.
“You’re so sweet, see you soon!” chirped Gina as she held the door, waving the couple off.
As Gina turned to head back to the kitchen the antique bell rang against the top of the door to which the young Italian instinctively span around.
“Welcome to our restau...oh Mr Scrowler, please come in” ushered Gina “what do I owe this honour tonight?”
“Good evening Miss Bianchi” returned Vincent as he hung his jacket by the door “if I could just have a table for one this evening that would be wonderful”
“This way Mr Scrowler” smiled Gina, beckoning the tall critic into the restaurant.
Although Gina had never personally met Vincent Scrowler his reputation proceeded him. Aside from his prolific critics column her father had warned her against the often cutting food critic and how his written words had ended chef’s with years of experience.
Six months in seemed like a perfect time to cross that bridge if not coincidental given her meeting with Gloria the day before.
As Gina seated Vincent in a quiet corner of the restaurant she stepped herself in front of the critic where his eyes immediately drew to the young woman’s exposed middle where her shirt was tied up under her breasts.
“What can I get for you ton...”
“Is that dress code fitting of health regulations in this city Miss Bianchi?”
“Oh erm yes, we’re fully checked out here, I actually have a really good relationship with...”
“Uh huh, well in that case I will have some of that signature Bianchi pasta” retorted Vincent, not even glancing over a menu.
“Coming right up Signore” smiled Gina as she practically ran back to the kitchen, a flash of panic on her face.
*****
“Shit Iz, Scrowler is here!” hissed Gina into her phone, ducked behind the fridges.
“Who?” grunted Isabella clearly eating.
“The food critic papa always spoke about!”
“Oh...oh! You ok?” swallowed Isabella realising the gravity of the situation.
“No, I’m freaking out and he wants papa’s special pasta!” hissed Gina again, glancing round as her kitchen continued to work busily around her.
“Well then make it, you can do that dish blindfolded” reassured Isabella.
“Yeah I guess...it’s got to be that Vandergast woman though” resigned Gina, wondering if she’d pushed too far.
“Yeah? Well screw her, you got this!” urged the older sister “besides, Benito has you covered with the other plan so she can’t touch that, just cook your little ass off tonight”
Gina breathed heavily before standing up straight.
“Yeah, you’re right, thanks Iz”
“You bet, now go make some pasta”
With a small smirk Gina shoved her phone away and, with a determined stride untied her shirt allowing it to tumble back over her olive tanned stomach as she swiped up a pan.
*****
“Good morning Danni” purred Gloria as she strutted past her assistant, pushing her office doors open with a smile in her face.
“Good...morning?”
Danni was confused, the sudden mood change with her boss was unsettling after the days of foul mood but then, it was Wednesday which everybody in the food industry knew was Scrowler’s Scrawlings day; Vincent Scrowler’s food critic column.
“Danni darling, has the paper come in yet?” cooed Gloria from her desk, her seat groaning softly.
“Erm, yes! Yes it has” replied Danni leaping from her own desk with the smoothly folded paper in her hand.
“How wonderful” purred Gloria as she gleefully stared at the paper.
“Here you go Miss” Danni cautiously offered as she placed the paper on the desk before her boss “shall I get your morning coffee now?”
“Oh yes please Danni” replied Gloria, not really listening as she started flicking through the paper.
Danni walked away with an almost smile on her slightly chubby face, was today going to be a good day?
The young assistant had been gone all of 3 minutes and 52 seconds when that estimation had gone down the pan.
“That absolute waste of...oh I’m gonna...where’s my...DANNI!”
“Miss Vandergast?” meekly asked Danni with a coffee cup in her hand.
Don’t you Miss...just listen to this” spat Gloria, eyes wide and wild.
‘Despite a sudden and unexpected change in leadership, the Bianchi chain has not lost any of its family orientated charm. Whilst Gina Bianchi, the new ‘don’ of the chain, may be slightly unconventional in her business model which anybody on social media and other such modern outlets will know and attest to, she has not lost what was at the heart of the family restaurants; food. Whilst I may spend hours waxing lyrical about the delectable culinary delights I was honoured with during my visit I shall do no such thing and instead urge any and everyone to visit and enjoy what young Gina Bianchi has to offer.
I await the opportunity to return as well as visit Miss Bianchi’s newest venture due to open soon’
“Well that’s not...” started Danni before being screamed into silence.
“HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DESTROY HER!” screamed Gloria with a pulsating vein in her forehead “get him on the phone now!”
Danni nodded fearfully as she disappeared back to her desk to make the call.
Still fuming, Gloria’s eyes snapped to the phone when it rang before snatching it up.
“What are you playing at! I asked you to tear her a new one and THIS is what I get?”
“Good morning Gloria” sneered Vincent with genuine disdain this time.
“Don’t you...hngh...and why have you endorsed her new venture?!”
“Because she deserved it Gloria and I advise you to leave the girl alone” retorted Vincent “she is a talent that you can’t bully out”
“Oh you just wa...”
BEEEEP
“Son of a...what Danni?!”
Danni nearly jumped out of her skin as her boss turned on her so viciously.
“Th...the...the mail is here” declared the blonde as she dropped it down on the desk.
A glare was enough to send Danni scuttling out as Gloria tore open the large envelope and yanked the documents out.
It was a planning application, that was clear, but a delicately hand written note was stuck to the first page.
‘You didn’t think the Huerta’s were my only plan did you? GB X’
Gloria angrily flicked through the pages to see a neo-classical masterpiece of architecture with high occupancy and a state of the art kitchen.
Practically frothing at the mouth Gloria reached the back page where another note was stuck with a picture attached with Gina shaking hands with an unknown individual.
‘By the way, this is all legit so don’t even think about it’
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