Max woke up before sunrise, as usual.
His body still ached from the past few days, but quitting was never on his mind.
He threw on a light jacket and stepped out of the house, yawning into the chilly morning air.
The sky was a pale gray, and the streets were still quiet.
He stood in front of the restaurant just as the soft glow of the supply truck appeared down the road.
The delivery arrived at **4:30 AM sharp**.
"Morning, Max!" the regular driver called out as he opened the back of the truck.
"Morning. Same quantity as usual."
Max began unloading the crates one by one — cheese, fresh bread, eggs, butter, coffee, a few vegetables.
All ingredients for the **three breakfast dishes** he now served daily: **grilled cheese**, **egg toast**, and the **soup of the day**.
He quickly stocked everything inside and arranged the kitchen with his usual precision.
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By **6:00 AM**, Max had cleaned the tables, wiped every surface, and neatly arranged the shelves Emily had installed the night before.
The new warm lighting gave the space a cozy, inviting feel.
He sat briefly, taking a deep breath before jumping into prep work.
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By **8:00 AM**, familiar faces began to arrive.
**Mr. Kwan**, the elderly man who came daily, entered today with his granddaughter.
"Morning, Max. I promised she'd try the soup her grandma loved."
"Morning! We've got tomato herb soup today — I think she'll love it."
They took their usual table, and Max got to work.
Just minutes later, **Laura**, the college student who adored grilled cheese, walked in.
"I came early to be first in line!" she said with a grin.
"You're a regular now — your seat's reserved," Max replied, already preparing her usual.
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Around **9:00 AM**, a stranger entered — hoodie pulled up, camera hanging from his neck.
He sat alone by the window and quietly ordered grilled cheese, the soup, and a black coffee.
He didn't say much, but he was snapping pictures of everything — the food, the decor, even the wooden counter.
Max didn't interrupt, though he noticed how closely the man paid attention to details.
After finishing his meal, the man slipped out, leaving behind a small business card beneath his cup.
Max picked it up and read:
> **Marcus Long – Food Blogger, Top 10 NYC Reviewers**
His eyebrows shot up.
> "Looks like the word is spreading faster than I expected…"
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By **11:00 AM**, the pressure was building.
Orders were coming faster. The tidy kitchen now felt too tight for just one person.
Max wiped his hands and paused to look around.
> "I need help… If this keeps up, I won't be able to handle it alone."
He pulled out his phone and opened a local job posting site.
He typed a simple ad:
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Help Wanted – Max's Table
A rapidly growing local restaurant is hiring:
Assistant Cook
Prep & Counter Staff
Server/Cashier
Kitchen Cleaner
Immediate start.
Full-time or part-time available.
Apply in person after **2 PM**, or email:
---
After hitting publish, Max got back to work.
---
Around **12:30 PM**, the first lunch wave hit — even though Max hadn't officially announced a lunch menu.
People were ordering the same breakfast items in larger portions, with personalized tweaks.
"Max, can you add tomato slices to the grilled cheese?"
"Can I get just the soup, but with extra bread on the side?"
He did his best to adapt, offering small variations without compromising quality.
Despite the mounting fatigue, there was a spark in his eyes — a renewed determination.
---
As the sun began to set, Max turned off the last burner in the kitchen.
The restaurant had finally quieted down after a long, non-stop day.
Tables were spotless, the counter gleamed, and the gentle aroma of grilled cheese and soup still lingered in the air.
He sighed as he took off his apron and sank into one of the chairs, wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.
It had been a tiring day — but a satisfying one.
Just as he began to drift into his thoughts, the back door creaked open gently, and **Emily** stepped in, her usual bright smile in place and a design folder tucked under her arm.
"Looks like you need a break," she said.
Max smiled as he reached for a glass of water.
"A break, coffee, and a full week of sleep… but let's start with the coffee."
She sat beside him and opened the folder on the table.
"These are the initial concepts for the redesign. Warm colors, wood touches, and artificial plants so you don't have to worry about maintenance. I also added a design for an outdoor takeaway window."
Max leaned forward, studying the sketches.
"The details are beautiful... It makes the place feel alive."
She looked at him and said softly,
"It feels alive because of you — not just the design."
A moment of silence passed between them, before the front door chimed again.
The first young man walked in with hesitant steps.
He was tall, wearing a simple black t-shirt and holding a small folder in his hand.
"Good evening, I'm Jimmy. I saw the job post… is the position still open?"
"Of course. Have a seat."
Max shook his hand and began asking about his experience. Turned out, Jimmy had worked as a cashier at a fast-food chain for two years.
Max jotted down a few notes.
A few minutes later, a girl with tied-back brown hair and a shy smile entered.
"My name's Kayla. I used to be a prep cook."
Then came a large-built man in his late thirties named **Rick**, very straightforward:
"I'm not a chef, but I clean faster than anyone, and I know how to manage a kitchen without getting in the cook's way."
Finally, a cheerful young man walked in wearing a tiny chef's hat.
He introduced himself with confidence:
"I'm Tommy. Beginner cook, fast hands, and ready to learn whatever you need."
Max sat down with all of them and explained the nature of the job, the responsibilities, and the hours.
> "I need people to start **tomorrow morning at 4:30 AM** — work goes until we close and finish cleaning."
Everyone agreed.
"The pay isn't great yet, but this place is growing fast. You'll be part of something from the ground up… and there will be raises in time."
They all accepted the base salary, received their schedules, and left with genuine smiles.
After everyone left, Max sat down again alone.
He opened his ledger.
Total Sales Today:$723
Expenses (Supplies & Operations):$176
Net Profit:$547
He summoned the transparent system screen with a thought.
> 547 points added
> Current Points: 2,143
> System Level: 2
> Progress to Next Level: 1,143 / 10,000
A level 2 spin was available, but he chose to ignore it for now.
> "I'll spin when I'm rested and ready to use whatever recipe I unlock. Not the time for risks."
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Ordering Extra Supplies
Max pulled out his phone and called one of his trusted suppliers.
"I need double the usual order tomorrow.
Cheese, bread, vegetables, and extra packaging.
I've got a team now — I need to be ready for everything."
He hung up feeling, for the first time since he opened, that things were under control.
---
Business Account Update
He opened his banking app and transferred $400 from today's profits.
New Business Account Balance:$1,900
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Before he left, he looked back through the glass door at the empty interior.
Calm after the storm… but the bigger storm was coming.
He smiled as he locked up.
> "Tomorrow... we begin a new chapter."
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