"I saw her in Ruslka, at the Met. She was inspiring, Charles. I sat in the orchestra just ten rows in. The set was stunning. How they opened with her climbing on top a black tree beneath the moon, above a pool of water gave me goose bumps."
"Sounds splendid, I've never seen Renee live. I've never been to the Met."
"You should go, Charles. New York is not that far and you can get special deals on tickets. I'll show you anytime you like."
"Oh it's not a question of money; honest, I just never really had the time." Charles, said taking the cup from his lips, slowly, distinctively, setting it down on the table.
At that moment Ryan was passing Charles' table and he sneered, "Opera is for the birds."
That's when they heard Emile shout from the kitchen, "Pay him no mind he's dangerous!"
"Sorry," Sherman tilted his head down toward Charles and said," the two of them are always at it. This is Ryan, and that loud man back there is our chef Emilie."
Emilie stepped out of the kitchen and walked to the table.
"Forgive me, sir. I never step out of the kitchen during business hours, but I ask you, would you put up with an assistant and dishwasher like this? Only moments ago he told me my mushrooms were rinsed, and I insisted I never rinse the mushrooms I am an experienced chef not Suzy Homemaker! I never rinse the mushrooms and I never wash the pans!"
Sherman's lips cheekily pursed into an embarrassed smile like he was about to turn red. "What Emilie means, Charles is he never uses a harsh abrasive on the steel."
"He never washes a thing anyway. I do all the real work," Ryan said brushing past Emilie on his way back to the kitchen.
"I never do real work, Ryan? Who cooks all the meals around here? You?" Emile cried while he chased Ryan back into the kitchen.
Sherman's eye's followed Emilie and Ryan till the door closed behind them.
"I suppose I should say at this point deep down they really love each other, but I don't think that's the case." Sherman said winking at Charles.
Charles smiled, "They are fun nonetheless."
"Up to a point, Charles, up to a point..."
