CHAPTER 3 LA GONDOLA

Arriving at the La Gondola, it appears that everyone is busy getting the restaurant ready for the day. Waiters are setting up the tables, and the workers in the galleys are all busy preparing all the ingredients that will be used to prepare food for any upcoming food orders for the day. It seems like no one noticed her entrance at all. Then the owner's secretary, Pipa, came down from the office, welcoming Annika and accommodating her. "Hey Annika, come and follow me. I’ll show you around and introduce you to everyone." Annika just followed Pipa is a tall woman with light brown skin, a very slender build, and very short, curly hair. She showed her the locker room, where Annika could leave her belongings and keep them, as well as the employee's comfort room, the employee's pantry room to eat lunch or dinner, and the nap room, where employees could take a nap in the afternoon because they work a split lunch and dinner shift. Afterward, Pipa showed Annika where the bar is for before and after dinner drinks, the main dining area, the cashier, and the kitchen where the food is cooked and prepared. She also introduced Annika to all the waiters and the restaurant manager, Larry, and the Captain Waiter, Syd. There were some waitresses too. She remembers the names Maryanne and Jenny, as they were so welcoming and so friendly to Annika. Pipa then led Annika to the reception area and showed her the reservation book. It’s a nice big blue book of the daily reservations of the customers. Pipa showed her the list of extension numbers for the office, HR, kitchen, waiter station, cashier, and most importantly, the extension of the two owners of La Gondola. And finally, Pipa told her that if anyone is interested in the painting, she just needs to advise Pipa, as easy as that. Pipa then gave Annika a final word, that she could start to work by arranging all the flowers in the vases and putting all the vases with fresh flowers on each table. It is past 10 in the morning; customers will be coming in an hour for lunch. Annika then finished putting all the vases on each table and then proceeded to put the reservation notes on each table based on the list of the names on the reservation book.

As the lunch guests began to arrive one by one, Annika smiled warmly to greet them. "Welcome to La Gondola! , " Please provide your name so I may make a reservation." She leads the guests to their respective tables and wishes their guests to enjoy their lunch. When all the guests are sitting and served, the main dining room becomes a little quiet. Some are doing business while waiting to be served, some are just having fun just to be out of their office. Annika just looks and observes each of her guests. She then thought about Bruce again "Where can he be at this time?" Bruce doesn’t know where Annika is working now. Annika was standing at the entrance of the main dining area just watching the guests, if anyone needed any assistance from the waiters. It’ll be nice to have Bruce as one of my guests here. She whispered to herself. Annika thought she would be on cloud 9 working if Bruce came to dine in. Bruce would see how pretty she is in business attire and heels.

Time goes by quickly, and the majority of the guests have finished their lunch, paid their bills, and are departing one by one. Annika is standing at the reception area right across from the steps where the guests walk their way out of the building. Annika has survived her first-ever shift at La Gondola. She enjoyed it so much that she forgot how time passed. She decided to change after her split shift and wander around the city and look at some items in the mall. She returned to La Gondola in the afternoon to prepare forher night shifts. She wonders how the night runs at La Gondola and what and who will be the celebrities, ex-pats, or politicians she will serve for the night. At 6 pm, Annika is already standing at the reception area, just waiting for some guests to show up at the steps.

A popular celebrity first came in with a well-known government officer, followed by a famous celebrity dermatologist, and then some ambassadors from different countries. Annika then pondered how popular this place is. She has never seen so many famous people in her life. The night goes on as usual, busy inside the dining room, where all the waiters are in action serving their guests; the kitchen, where you can hear Chef Bill’s voice in command. The bar is also busy with all the guests standing around it asking for drinks from the bartender. While Annika stood at the corner observing, looking for someone she could help and paying attention to everyone. 

Larry, Annika’s manager, came up and told Annika, "Good Job!" She then smiled back at Larry and responded, "Thanks Boss." Annika loves it when her boss can see how she loves her work. For her to do the job that you love doesn’t feel like work at all.

Annika went back to the reception area to check her schedule of reservations for the next day. She always makes sure that before the night ends, she has assigned seats for the next day's reservation. She wants everything ready for the next day. She jots down notes on whom she needs to call back to confirm their bookings. She stopped then and looked outside the window, where she could see from a distance all the beautiful lights on the streets. She then remembered Bruce and thought maybe he was in Industria with his friends. She still longs to see him one day. When will that be? . No one knows when. No one can tell. She can only hope for it.