The billionaire's only desire-Chapter 29: Backfired

It has gotten worse over the past two weeks. Her colleagues at the restaurant have been trying to make her life miserable with their constant name-calling and mockery.

And her male colleagues goggle at her with lust and make sexist jokes at her expense. Some of them offered her money to have sex with her.

It has been hell. But she keeps her head up, ignoring them and focusing on making the best meals for the customers.

"No wonder the head chef praises her so much, even though the dishes she makes are nothing special. She is obviously sleeping with him," Maya heard a female chef say to a waitress as she approached the washroom sink to wash her hands.

They quickly stopped talking when they saw her. Maya washed her hands under the running water and dried them with the paper towel provided. She turned to the two women who were gossiping about her. "Do I also sleep with the customers who enjoy the meals I cook?"

They bowed their head in shame and quickly rushed out.

"Cowards," Maya murmurs.

Maya entered the kitchen. And of course, her colleagues were gossiping about her, deliberately speaking loudly so she could hear the awful things they were saying.

"It’s burning." Maya prompted a chef who had dipped potatoes in the fryer. The chef was busy gossiping about Maya with another chef, so didn’t notice.

"Oops," The chef quickly removed the potatoes from the fryer.

"Maybe you should focus on cooking instead of gossiping," Maya snapped at her.

The chef was so embarrassed that she stopped talking to the colleague she was gossiping with.

Maya turned to her right. Dan is plunging daggers at her, but she remains unfazed. She has yet to report him to HR for his sexual harassment. She is waiting for this heat to die down before reporting him.

For now, she will simply ignore him

"Maya," the head chef, Antonio Mendez, called out her name. "Come over," he gestured with the pan he was holding. "Stand by my side."

Maya followed his instructions, standing to his right with her hands clasped behind her back.

The head chef began clinking a spoon against the pan, capturing everyone’s attention. "Gather around, chefs, dishwashers, waiters—everyone"

A sea of people formed in the center of the grand kitchen. At the forefront stood Maya and the head chef.

"For the past two weeks, you have all been acting like little children, embarrassing yourselves." The head chef barks in a thick accent.

Murmurs filtered through the crowd.

"Quiet!" he silenced everyone.

"For two weeks, Chef Deluca has been the subject of your childish gossip-mongering."

All eyes turned to Maya, making her feel oddly self-conscious.

The head chef rants on, "I silently observe, hoping that as adults, you would come to realize how childish your behavior is. But you proved me wrong; you continued to verbally harass your colleague, Chef DeLuca, for two weeks! Can you imagine?"

Shame washed over everyone’s faces as their heads cowered.

"The restaurant management and I don’t give a damn about what Chef DeLuca does outside of the restaurant. All we care about is her excellent cooking skills."

A small smile of relief hit Maya’s face. For a hot moment, she feared that the restaurant management might fire her over this scandal, but it turns out they are on her side!

"I want you all to apologize to Chef Deluca," he ordered.

"We are Sorry, Chef Deluca," they said in sync.

Maya nodded, accepting their apology.

"If I hear any of you utter Chef Deluca’s name in a bad light, a significant amount of money will be deducted from your salaries," he warned.

The kitchen was filled with murmurs of discontent.

Maya’s respect for the head chef tripled. "Thank you for coming to my defense, Chef Mendez," she said to only his hearing. Her heart filled with gratitude.

The head chef patted her back. "I’ve got you, kid."

He continued speaking, "Let’s move on to some good news. We all know our sous chef is being transferred to a new branch." Everyone nodded, including Maya.

"We need a replacement. The management and I had planned to wait two months more before officially appointing the new Sous Chef, leaving the position vacant for a while. However, your childish antics have forced us to change our minds. We are appointing our new Sous Chef today." He paused, glancing at them. "Our new Sous Chef is..."

Suspense hung in the air as everyone waited in anticipation. The head chef turned to Maya. Maya held her breath for a few seconds.

"Chef DeLuca is our new sous chef."

The room turned into a graveyard; so silent that you could even hear a hairpin drop. Then, suddenly, applause erupted, acknowledging Maya as the new Sous Chef.

Maya stood frozen in a daze, She couldn’t believe it. She remained motionless as praises and words of congratulations were directed at her.

"Chef DeLuca is now my second-in-command, so you are required to show her the same respect you show me. Now disperse and return to your cooking stations, sinks, and tables."

"Kid, follow me," the head chef prompts Maya.

Maya followed him to the office. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she began to voice her concerns and doubts.

"Why me? I just started working here barely four months ago, and I lack the experience required for this position." It typically takes chefs three to five years to become a Sous Chef, and she achieved it in just four months. This is mind-blowing.

"Chef Deluca, you underestimate yourself. You are far too qualified to be just a junior chef. You were trained in one of the best culinary schools, and you are a very talented chef. As a novice, you cook like a veteran Chef with many years of experience. When I tasted the dish you prepared on your first day here, I was worried you might steal my job," he laughed.

Maya laughed as well, her head swelling with pride

The head chef looked at her with admiration as he continued to sing her praises. "Honestly, I don’t compliment you enough. I thought it might go to your head and make you start slacking off. But you keep surprising me with your excellent dishes. The restaurant customers love every meal you cook. You are the best candidate to fill this position. "

Maya was speechless and overjoyed.

"Congratulations, Maya," he said as he shook her hand.

"Thank you so much! I won’t disappoint you!" Maya exclaimed.

***

Maya got off work early due to her promotion, and she was buzzing with excitement. As she walked toward the basement, she spotted Soraya descending the stairs.

"Hey Soraya, thanks to the little stunt you pulled I got an early promotion," Maya said, winking at her.

"What do you mean, you bastard?" Soraya hissed

"Your revenge backfired! I’m now a Sous Chef, so thank you," Maya did a little bow.

Soraya’s face fell. "You weren’t fired?"

"No, thank you for helping me get the promotion two months early," Maya replied.

Maya blew Soraya a kiss and walked away, trailing with laughter while Soraya’s nostrils flared as she indulged in her bitterness and anger.

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