Divine Chef System

Chapter 14: Chapter 14 – Morning Rush



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It was 4:30 AM sharp when Max stepped outside, just in time to see the delivery truck's headlights slicing through the morning fog. The vehicle pulled up beside the modest storefront, brakes hissing, engine humming.

"Morning, Max!" called out the driver as he climbed down from the cab.

"Morning. Same order as yesterday?" Max asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Yep. Got it all in the back. Fresh and early."

Together, they unloaded boxes of fresh bread loaves, thick slices of cheese, crates of eggs, bags of onions, tomatoes, milk, butter, and a couple of jars of high-quality roasted coffee beans. Max double-checked everything, signed the manifest, and wheeled the supplies inside.

By 5:15 AM, Max had finished restocking the fridge and pantry. He wiped down the counters, arranged utensils, and began warming the grill.

The team started to arrive shortly after.

Rick, as punctual as ever, entered with a nod and immediately began sweeping the front floor and checking the trash bins. No need for small talk—Rick liked to show his presence through action.

Kayla arrived with her hair tied in a bun, clutching a large insulated mug. "Morning," she said, stepping into the prep area and washing her hands. She went straight to slicing tomatoes and prepping the egg mix.

Jimmy walked in next, adjusting his glasses and yawning. He set his phone near the register and booted up the point-of-sale terminal. He hummed a tune while counting change and preparing paper receipts.

Finally, Tommy burst in with his signature small chef's cap slightly askew, clearly trying to hide how nervous he was.

"Hey! I'm ready. Where do you want me, Chef?" he asked.

Max smiled slightly. "With me. We're doing grilled cheese this morning. Watch carefully, then copy everything I do. Got it?"

Tommy nodded enthusiastically.

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By 6:00 AM, the team was in full prep mode. Max had a clipboard with the morning checklists and timelines.

"Grilled cheese ready station: check."

"Soup base simmering: check."

"Egg toast mix prepped and stored: check."

Tommy watched as Max assembled a sandwich—two slices of sourdough bread, one layer of cheddar, a thin brushing of garlic butter on the outer side. Then into the pan.

"Low heat. Don't rush the melt. Timing is flavor," Max murmured.

Tommy nodded again, repeating the steps clumsily at first, but improving quickly.

"I'll handle the final plate. You bring it here when it's ready," Max instructed.

He wanted to keep the final touches under control—his secret recipes were sacred, even if the ingredients were common.

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By 7:00 AM, the line began forming outside.

At 7:30, Max flipped the sign on the door: **OPEN**.

The first wave of customers streamed in—office workers, students, retirees. The place was alive within minutes.

Jimmy welcomed them warmly, Kayla passed him the first wave of orders, and Rick stayed sharp, wiping tables the second they emptied.

Max and Tommy churned out sandwich after sandwich. The soup ladle moved like clockwork in Max's hand.

A middle-aged woman took a sip of her tomato soup and paused mid-conversation. "Oh… wow. This is... something else."

At another table, a college student took a bite of egg toast and immediately pulled out her phone. "Guys, come here. You *have* to try this place."

The restaurant buzzed with chatter, clicks of camera phones, and the metallic sound of spatulas flipping grilled cheese.

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Max found himself at the counter between orders, answering questions.

"What kind of cheese is this?" someone asked.

"Sharp cheddar, with a hint of smoked gouda," he replied.

"Can I get it gluten-free?" another asked.

"Coming next week," he promised. "We're expanding the menu gradually."

Max overheard and scribbled a note: "Need gluten-free bread options."

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From 10:00 to noon, the place didn't slow down. A pair of tourists asked to take selfies with Max. A regular customer brought his co-workers. The tables turned over constantly.

By 11:45 AM, the breakfast menu was running low.

"We're almost out of the tomato soup!" Kayla called.

Max turned to Tommy. "You've earned this." He let Tommy prepare a sandwich from start to finish. It came out golden, balanced, and neatly plated.

Max gave him a nod of approval.

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After the lunch rush began easing, Max gathered the team near the back.

"You all did amazing today. I've never seen this place move so smoothly."

Tommy grinned. "Feels good to keep up."

Jimmy sipped water and asked, "Think we'll expand the menu soon?"

"Not yet. First we get consistent. Then we grow," Max replied.

He checked the stock—cheese almost gone, bread low, and soup pot scraped clean.

Time for a new supply order.

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Emily passed by later in the evening to check on how the team was holding up.

She peeked into the kitchen, smiled, and said, "Looks like you've got things running smoothly."

Max gave her a grateful nod. "Couldn't have done it without your design touches. The customers love the atmosphere."

She waved goodbye, promising to return later with more ideas once the next stage was ready.

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Back at his counter, Max opened the ledger:

* Total Sales: \$1,082

* Expenses: \$312

* Profit: \$770

System screen opened with a soft mental ping:

> ✅ 770 Points Added

> 🔢 Current: 2,913

> 🎯 Progress: 1,913 / 10,000

Max smirked. "Let's try another spin."

He focused.

The golden wheel spun once again...

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