They Fired the Pregnant Chef, Then Chaos Hit the Hotel Chapter 07

They Fired the Pregnant Chef, Then Chaos Hit the Hotel Chapter 07

The lobby was already packed.

The kitchen manager stood to the side with her head down. Martin Walker’s face was pale.

Even the general manager had come downstairs.

He was trying to placate the guest’s family and the company representatives.

It was not working.

On the way there, Mia had already told me the details of what happened the night before.

It had been a corporate anniversary dinner for two hundred people. I had always handled events that size before, and there had never been a mistake.

But the chef running the line the night before had panicked.

The guest profile clearly stated severe nut allergy, yet she sent a sauce with almond flour to the head table.

When they finally noticed the problem, they mixed up the gluten-free plates with the regular plates.

The servers on-site did not know the menu well. The kitchen had no one who could confirm every substitution plan under pressure.

In the end, one VIP went into severe anaphylactic shock.

Hotel security called emergency services. Only then was the guest taken to the hospital and stabilized.

The whole banquet had been chaos.

There had not been one person on-site who could remember the process clearly and coordinate the kitchen and front of house under pressure.

This was a serious food safety incident.

The kind that could land on the local news.

The guest’s family had brought a banner. Their voices carried across the lobby.

“What kind of five-star hotel is this? You almost killed my husband. How did you even get your food safety certification?”

“I’m filing a complaint.”

“I’ll make sure this hotel gets shut down until you fix this.”

As the family grew more agitated, sweat began to bead on the general manager’s forehead.

I thought for a moment.

Then I walked downstairs.

“Olivia, where are you going? Be careful,” Mia called anxiously.

I waved her off and walked to the center of the crowd.

“Maria, please calm down first. The hotel will give you an answer.”

The guest’s wife, Maria, whipped her head around.

But when she saw me, she froze.

“Chef Olivia?”

“Chef Olivia, you’re finally here.”

“If you had been watching the kitchen yesterday, this never would have happened.”

“Those people didn’t treat my husband’s life like it mattered. They almost killed him.”

The general manager looked annoyed when he first saw me.

Then he hurried over and grabbed my arm.

“You know each other?”

I pulled my hand free.

“Not really. Her husband hosted two charity dinners at the hotel before. I handled both menus.”

But the general manager leaned in again.

“Olivia, the guest’s family is too emotional.”

“It looks like she’ll listen to you. Calm her down. If this gets any bigger, it will hurt the hotel.”

I did not answer the general manager.

I turned to Maria.

Her coat was faded from too many washes, the cuffs frayed, but she gripped the hospital bill tightly in one hand.

I vaguely remembered that her child was in poor health and needed long-term care.

Her husband was the backbone of their family.

I would help steady her.

But not for the general manager.

I did it so she could breathe again, even if only for a moment.

“Maria.”

I softened my voice.

“Don’t panic.”

“Our general manager just said this was the hotel’s mistake.”

“Our hotel has compensation rules for food-safety incidents. According to policy, last night’s banquet fees will be fully waived, and the hotel will pay an additional $500,000 in compensation.”

“The general manager is also willing to provide another $200,000 on humanitarian grounds.”

“Would that solution work for you?”

Maria opened her mouth, but no words came out.

The general manager was not happy that I had increased the compensation on my own.

But if $700,000 could save the hotel’s reputation, it was worth it. So he followed my lead and tried to persuade her too.

Maria still hesitated.

I knew she wanted the money.

But she also wanted justice for her husband.

I took her hand gently.

“Maria, don’t worry.”

“Even though your husband is out of danger now, we will still arrange for him to stay in the hospital for observation for half a month. The hotel will cover all related costs.”

“During that time, the hotel will also cover your family’s lost wages, transportation expenses, and care expenses.”

“At the same time, we will publicly announce the results of our internal review and hold the responsible parties accountable.”

“Would that be acceptable?”

Maria looked at me. Her eyes slowly turned red.

A sob broke out of her. When she spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper.

“Chef Olivia, I’ll listen to you.”

Only then did the general manager finally breathe out.

After Maria left, he patted my shoulder.

“Olivia, come to my office.”

“I have something to say to you.”