“Except the vegan fare is not Italiano, Adriano,” his damsel mused seductively, “And the vino is of a less than superior quality,”

“Come with me, Signorina,” he said with a deep-seated tremolo, “and Adriano will see what he can do for your hoi polloi.”

Just at that moment, from behind them, a slim, lively figure emerged in full chef’s garb and Elodie was stunned to see Amanda de Lucca, heading towards their designated table for a friendly chat, which quickly became a characteristically extended Mandy monologue.

“Can you believe it?” She informed them, “I wanted a short sharp shiny holiday (I think I need deep sleep therapy) and was head-hunted, snapped up, actually by my Mum’s brother who runs the place” said Mandy giggling.

“So this is where she got a job,” thought Elodie gleefully, wishing Mandy well, but well out of her life, and listened intently to the confusing narrative of her bête noire.

“I was on holiday,” said Mandy, “and someone in the firm got married, then someone rang in sick, and they were desperate. So here I am, helping out my dear old Uncle Adriano. That’s him over there talking to your event organiser.”

They looked beyond her at an empty space.

“He asked,” she continued, “did I want to work in Ristorante Swank, or Lucky Swank, the Asian adjunct (so many Swanks). I said the Asian one. He said okay, but when I got there it was taken. It’s odd how life works really,” she sighed, “My Mum said that what’s meant to be is meant to be, and to look at whatever fate brings as like a miracle, and it will become one.”

They all nodded as Mark moved to contribute, but to no avail.

“Acceptance, after observation and reflection is important,” she continued, “Like when I went for three positions vacant, but hummed and hawed, and dilly-dallied for a day, thinking I had a choice, seeing that the one I was offered in the first place” (she raised her thumb) “I rejected, but then I missed out on the one I really wanted” (she raised her forefinger) “so I went back to the one I was offered in the first place,” (she raised her thumb) “but that had been given to someone else, so I’ve got the third,” (Mandy quite unintentionally raised a rude finger) “my least favourite. So you see you think you have choices but you don’t.”