All Chapters of Underpaid Chef: From Back Kitchen to Boss: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

My father, Michael Caldwell's, hand began to tremble. "Mitch! Don't you dare agree to this! Your uncle clearly said the profits would be split equally—"Before he could finish speaking, my cousin, Maxwell Caldwell, knitted his brows and cut him off. "Let's get one thing straight, Uncle Michael. My dad rented this place, bought the equipment, and hired the staff. All that talk about splitting the profits was nothing more than a courtesy! How thick-skinned do you have to be to actually take it seriously?" My other cousin, Melanie Caldwell, curled her lips and let out a chuckle. "Besides, we haven't even billed you for all the food you two sneak from the kitchen. So, don't push your luck!"I merely listened. I remembered the year Dad and I invested in the business. Back then, the storefront was still just a dilapidated food stall where the flies outnumbered the customers. My uncle, Malcolm Caldwell, had shown up at our house with a basket of fruit. With an earnest look on his face,

"You're not coming back?" Maxwell's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell does that mean? Are you telling me that you're quitting right now?" His voice rose another octave, drawing the attention of several nearby vendors. "Mitchell, you're just a lousy line cook! My dad took pity on you two losers and gave you a job in our restaurant. How can you be so ungrateful?" I flicked the water off my hands and looked up. "Since we're just lousy line cooks, why are you getting your panties in a bunch?"I paused for a beat before adding, "Unless... you're worried that your restaurant will tank without us?"He immediately jeered. "You think our restaurant will tank without you? You seriously think way too highly of yourself, Mitchell!"Then he waved his phone, his expression smug. "Let me let you in on a little secret. I've just received news that Mr. Henderson, the wealthy tycoon from Aqualis, is coming to dine at the best seafood restaurant in our city next week! The bill is going to

Melanie instantly collapsed onto the ground. Dressed in her elegant gown, she was left eating dust as the luxury cars sped off. "No way… This can't be happening!"Uncle Malcolm was also so enraged that he kicked Maxwell hard in the thigh. "Why didn't you keep a closer eye on Mitchell that day, you useless piece of trash? How could you not even know he was opening a restaurant? Didn't you tell me Mr. Henderson was definitely going to come to our restaurant? "Well, look at us now! My seafood! My money! What the hell am I supposed to do now?" Maxwell yelped and clutched his leg, looking utterly pathetic.…Mr. Henderson's fleet soon pulled up to Oceantis. He stepped out of the car, looked at the massive storefront, and nodded in approval. He then turned around and extended his hand to me. "Congratulations, Mr. Caldwell!"I shook his hand. "Welcome, Mr. Henderson! Please, come on in."He led his massive entourage inside, and all of them took their seats, filling all 12 round table

I was caught off guard. I tapped on the news article, and inside, Uncle Malcolm's restaurant's name was written there in black and white. The attached photos showed several ambulances parked at their entrance, with flashing lights illuminating a few patrons clutching their stomachs as they were lifted onto stretchers. Standing off to the side were Uncle Malcolm and Maxwell, their faces completely drained of color. The comment section had already exploded. "Holy crap! Isn't this restaurant number one on the Must-Eat List? How could something like this happen?""I literally ate there last month… Thank God I'm fine….""I heard it was because the kitchen was unhygienic! The seafood wasn't fresh! Someone apparently got diarrhea so bad that they were severely dehydrated!""How is a place like this even allowed to stay open? Hurry up and shut it down!"My brows knitted together as a bad feeling settled into my gut. Maxwell had said that he had a plan. Could it be that he had forced th

Dad spotted them first and called out to me. I stepped outside and stood at the entrance, looking at the three of them. Uncle Malcolm cleared his throat and lowered his head. "Mitch, all these years, I know… I haven't exactly done right by you. But, looking back, you've been with me since you were a kid, and I wasn't always bad to you. Right now, times are hard for your uncle."Could you... find it in you to give me a hand? I can do the grunt work, run errands, and do whatever's needed. When the business takes off, I won't ask for much… just a little something will do..." Dad stood beside me in silence. I looked up and met his eyes calmly. "Uncle Malcolm, when you slapped eight thousand dollars down on the table in front of us, did you ever imagine that this day would come?" Uncle Malcolm parted his lips, but I continued, "You once took my dad's hand and wouldn't let him speak. You blew smoke in my face and told us to know our place. So, what I'm trying to say is... Oceantis isn