[Paradise-IV] SD970401.20 JL "Tea for Two" Drake Gates, CIV & Chef Gaia, CIV
Paradise-IV Logs
Drake arrived at the Bazinga establishment. He was a frequent visitor
now that he knew the greeters by name. Strangely he was yet to meet the
proprietor of the business. He knew the original owner by reputation,
and if memory served well Gaia, the proprietor of this Bazinga's chain,
was his granddaughter. He hoped to meet her today, which was the reason
for his visit today.
Drake was planning an informal corporate event that would serve to
launch his company's cargo services to the well-established businesses
presently on Paradise. Most were small businesses but collectively, they
represented a significant client system that was too profitable to
ignore. Besides, it was always good to diversify the client base. Drake
Enterprise already had exclusive contracts with the civilian government,
and was presently working on one with Starfleet itself. It was only
reasonable to go after the private businesses as well.
Drake stopped the closest waiter to him, "Pardon me but do you know
where I can find Miss Gaia?" he asked.
"Bakery, that way, though the open door." The man pointed as he hurried
by with a plate of something that smelled quite delicious.
A slender, dark haired blonde stood with her back towards Drake. Her
hands were full. "Maia, Be a dear and grab the oven door for me. I need
to get these Kolache's in the oven for tomorrow and I have to start on
dessert." A dark haired brunette version of the blonde scurried towards
the oven and pulled the door open and pulled out the bread loaves and
turned around to place them on a rack. Maia looked up from the bread and
nodded towards Gaia. "You have a visitor." Gaia turned around after
closing the oven. "Hello, what can I do for you?"
Drake glanced from Gaia to Maia pleasantly surprised by their identical
features minus the hair. Smiling he turned his attention to Gaia. "My
name is Drake Gates- CEO of Drake Enterprises," he said extending a hand
in greeting. "I do not believe we have had the pleasure of meeting
though I am well aware of your establishment and the culinary skills you
possess."
"Gaia, pleased to meet you." Gaia wiped her hands on her apron and then
shook Drakes hand, hers was small in comparison.
"I was hoping I could secure a portion of your establishment for a small
informal business luncheon for roughly about fifty people. I am not an
event planner as you may have imagined, which is also part of the reason
I am here. I was hoping you would be able to plan and cater the event
providing appropriate entertainment for my business guests."
Gaia's dark eyes twinkled as a grin spread across her face. "It would be
my pleasure. Come lets have a seat in the small area by the bakery and
we can talk." Gaia lifted a PADD type object as she led Drake out of the
kitchen to a small quiet area that had a few tables that looked at a
open glassed unit with many pastries and the like. "Would you like some
thing to drink, coffee, tea or perhaps a pastry?" The dark blonde asked
as she slowly moved to take a seat and gestured with a raised hand for
Drake to do the same before she continued in a pleasant tone. "We have a
separate room for such occasions or if you prefer I can set you up in a
sectioned off area near the bar and gaming section upstairs away from
the dining room."
Drake took a seat, "I'll take a tea please, earl grey, one sugar one
milk." He shifted in his seat as he eyed the assortment of pastries that
looked quite tempting. "With this group of people, it might actually be
better to have it up by the bar and the gaming section. I suspect a few
individuals might want to have a few drinks and gaming."
"Gaia tapped lightly on the PADD "What day would you like to have your
luncheon?"
"Exactly a week from now," Drake replied. "We've already sent out
invites to reserve the date with the final venue to be announced."
Gaia nodded entered the information then looked up her dark eyes met
Drakes and with a inquiring tone asked. "Is there any thing in
particular that you would like served?"
"Not particularly," Drake replied with a grin as he glanced from the
pastries to Gaia. "I trust your culinary skills. I would however advise
that there be an assortments for varied diet requirements. If you like,
I can have my people send you the guest list if that will aide you in
planning for the event."
The hot tea arrived and a plate of assorted pastries and deserts along
with actual sugar lumps and a creamer.
Gaia replied "That list would be most helpful and the variety of dietary
needs will not be an issue." The El'Aurian then paused stood and poured
the tea. "Please, try some of the pastries." Gaia sat and crossed her
legs, her business demeanor relaxed a bit. As she listed a plate. "These
in particular are quite good with the tea. They have a touch of a citrus
to them."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Drake replied and he took a bite out
of one of the decadently delicious pastry. He took a sip of his tea and
took a bite out of another one. He was well aware that the pastries at
Bazinga's were quite good. This batch of pastries seemed even better,
and Drake would had have argued otherwise had he not tasted it himself.
Gaia too a sip of her tea and smiled as she leaned back to savor the
company. "So tell me Mr. Drake how do you know of Bazinga's?"
"Oh well..." Drake paused and he took a sip of tea and a few seconds to
actually swallow before he spoke. "I spent quite a great deal of time on
Risa and Bazinga's was one of my favourite hangout spots. They always
made the best steak there." He paused as if reminiscing about the past.
"I have also met a few other Bazinga's on some of the many planets I
have had the opportunity to visit. It is quite a popular chain of
restaurants, which I can only imagine is a testament to the brilliant
business mind of your grandfather."
Gaia chuckled "I guess he figured he had better do something with two
growing girls to take care of. The family business is very rewarding,
though demanding. I suspect that yours is too. What exactly is that you
do?" The dark blonde too had a swallow of tea and tilted her head. The
look on her face was one of pure interest.
"The business of transportation," Drake replied with an easy smile on
his face. "I move people and cargo wherever they need to go although I
specialize mostly in the latter. However, I think since coming here I am
beginning to realize and appreciate the value of diversification." He
paused. "And what of you? How has this planet shaped your business?"
Gaia chuckled ever so softly a small frown burrowed her forehead and
then was replaced just as quickly with her usual smooth one. "It has
been interesting, the miners are distrustful, the fleeters are as
seemingly distrustful. When the miners do come in they are disruptive
and cause issues among themselves and with any one else that happens to
be here. It is no wonder there is contention between the two. I would
like to help but I must make the time in my schedule to meet with both
sides to see how one business can help the community I live in." Gaia
paused took another sip of her tea.
The dark blonde leaned forward "Tell me do you have any problems moving
cargo quickly from the nearest non-federation outpost to here? What
about the federation are they easy to deal with when moving cargo?"
"A fair amount," Drake replied his mind immediately thinking to the
Erps-Kwerps system where he had lost two ships to pirates in the span of
a month. But that was through no fault of the Federation. The local
pirates in that system have been getting bolder and bolder as of late
and the local government was adamant that it had things under control
despite all evidence to the contrary.
"The Federation is actually surprisingly not that difficult to deal
with. As long as the contents of your cargo are in order and you are not
doing anything illegal they hardly bother you." There was also the
matter of reputation Drake surmised. He had worked long and hard to
build the reputation of his company such that it was generally regarded
as straight-laced and not one to enter into illegal transactions.
"Starfleet on the other hand is a different story I have heard. As a
military organization- and a highly bureaucratic one at that, there can
be several layers of hoops you have to jump through to move things
along. It's tedious but also necessary in a way given that they deal
with security threats."
He leaned forward closer to Gaia his mind suddenly registering a
thought. "Why are you inquiring about cargo transport? Are you looking
to move something?"
Gaia shrugged "I might need things that are highly delicate to the
nature of this business to be moved from time to time. In that endeavor
at those times I like to find people who are discrete and trustworthy."
Gaia leaned back and took another sip of her cooling tea. "and you Mr.
Gates appear quite trustworthy to me."
"My gratitude for the compliment," Drake replied with a slight bow of
his head. "And of course my company's services are always available
anytime you need it. You need but just ask." Drake grinned as he added,
"And I happen to know that the CEO might even be willing to work out
favourable discounts for you."
Gaia chuckled and winked "Discounts are at all times quite grateful.
But, I fear that if there is nothing else Drake. I take my leave from
your most pleasant company and our wonderful conversation and return to
my duties as Chef." Gaia placed her cup down on the table.
Drake nodded with a smile. "My pleasure, and I equally enjoyed your
company. Until we meet again then."
"Until then." Gaia turned towards the kitchen.
Drake Gates
CEO Drake Enterprises
Paradise IV
&
Chef Gaia
Bazinga's Proprietor
Paradize IV
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