Sarah Jasper looked Jacob up and down, her eyes slightly red.
The once-spirited boss, the man she had silently liked for many years, had now fallen into such a state. She felt a pang of sadness and wanted to rush over and give him a hug.
But thinking of the fact that Jacob had a family, she suppressed that impulse.
“I’m doing well, not running a business, feeling light and free.”
Jacob shrugged with a smile.
Just as Sarah Jasper was about to say something else, a server hurried over: “Manager, there’s a customer over there who wants to return a dish.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
Sarah Jasper replied and then smiled apologetically at Jacob: “Brother Jacob, I just returned after the New Year. Let’s have a meal together sometime; I’ll contact you on WhatsApp.”
“Sure, go ahead and be busy!”
Jacob nodded slightly. Given Sarah Jasper’s experience and ability in the restaurant industry, it was somewhat beneath her to be a manager at such a small barbecue restaurant.
When Jacob had five restaurants, she had helped him manage three of them. “Uber 018 is ready.”
At that moment, a server called out to him.
Pulling his thoughts back from drifting away, Jacob took the packed takeaway and quickly left.
Inside the restaurant.
After dealing with a difficult customer, Sarah Jasper turned to look at the waiting area, but the familiar figure was already gone.
She stared blankly at the spot where the man had just been.
Last year, when all of Jacob’s hot pot restaurants closed, she was probably the saddest person after Jacob himself.
Initially, she had just wanted to work to earn money, but by chance, she became Jacob’s employee. Over time, she gradually fell for this sunny, capable boss.
She worked even harder, hoping to earn his appreciation and recognition.
Eventually, Jacob indeed trusted her and recognized her workability, promoting her to manager. However, she lacked the courage to confess her feelings, fearing that if she failed, they wouldn’t even be able to maintain their current relationship.
Later, when Karen came to work part-time at the restaurant, she watched as the boss she admired got together with her and eventually married and had children.
Sarah Jasper could only bury her feelings deep inside, working diligently, accompanying Jacob in another way.
But last year, everything ended. She no longer had a reason to be by his side. Disheartened, she returned to her hometown, accepting her mother’s matchmaking arrangements. She met several suitors, but they just didn’t click.
In fact, she knew it wasn’t that she couldn’t connect with them; it was mainly because she still had lingering feelings.
So, when the New Year came, she returned to Onitsha.
“Sarah, do you know that delivery guy from earlier?”
While Sarah Jasper was lost in thought, a young female server gently tapped her arm and asked with a smile.
“He’s my boss.”
Sarah Jasper replied casually.
“Ah?”
“Boss?”
The female server looked skeptical, as if she wanted to ask why the boss was delivering food.
“Oh, he used to be.”
Sarah Jasper added.
“I see.”
The female server laughed: “Sarah, are you secretly pleased? He used to be so arrogant, and now he’s delivering food!”
“What are you thinking!”
Sarah Jasper lightly tapped her on the head: “Not all bosses are like our current one.”
“He’s very good to me and to the other employees too!”
“Uh?”
“So, he’s a good boss?” The female server was a bit surprised. She had worked as a waitress for two years, moving between three restaurants, and had yet to encounter the legendary good boss.
Sarah Jasper smiled: “If he opens a restaurant again, I would still be willing to work for him!”
After saying that, Sarah Jasper took out her phone, opened WhatsApp, and found the chat with Jacob. The last message was sent during the New Year.
She hesitated for a moment, then edited a message and sent it: The environment is slowly getting better; I’m always ready for the boss’s call!
“Sarah, he’s delivering food now!”
“Are you planning to go deliver food with him?”
The female server teased from the side.
“If he needs it, I wouldn’t mind.”
Sarah Jasper shrugged lightly.
“Uh?”
The female server was slightly taken aback, then a look of realization crossed her face: “Sarah, do you like him??”
Sarah Jasper did not respond directly but tapped the other person’s head again: “Get back to work; all you do is gossip!”
After delivering the order from the barbecue restaurant, Jacob finished work and headed home.
Today, he completed a total of 42 deliveries, earning around 160 dollars. Including the money from Vienna, he made over 200 dollars.
Recently, Jacob’s daily income has been around 200 to 300 dollars, a stark contrast to when he was running a hot pot restaurant.
