Candice's job hunt had not been going so well. She had interviewed for positions in the muggle and magical worlds- but had yet to find herself hired. Her new friend- Dolly St. James- had pointed her in the direction of Calaveras- a restaurant in Diagon Alley. Candice was trying not to get her hopes up, but the idea of a job cooking in a restaurant thrilled her. Maybe she could even do desserts- and get paid to bake for people. If she had the money, Candy would have opened up her own bakery- but she didn't! Not that she was certain she would have been successful with that endeavor.

She opted for a cute but simple dress that had recently been added to her wardrobe. It was fitting, but Candy didn't feel self conscious in it- and confidence was important for an interview.

After entering the restaurant, Candice had a few brief words with a woman at the front, and soon found herself being led to a back room. She assumed it to be an office of some sort, and took a seat in a large chair, and tried to prevent herself from fidgeting awkwardly. It was odd to be in a big room like that, by herself. And Candice felt a bit out of place, and incredibly nervous. Every interview she had been on in the last month had left her feeling nervous and incapable.

When the door opened, Candy rose to her feet, offering a smile to the woman who entered. "Good morning, Miss Renfield!" Candy greeted, hoping it wasn't too over eager. "I hope I'm not too early."

Meredith was feeling fairly popular as of late. She had barely hired on another kitchen staff and another potential employee was asking about interviews. Meredith wasn't sure how many more kitchen staff they needed, but depending on where Stavenson's talents lay, they could find use for her.

She was helping Frankie out in the kitchen- checking the ingredients of a 'special' customers soup when Jess came in to tell her Candice had arrived and was waiting in the office. Meredith thanked the maitre d', double checked her work, and gave Frankie the clear to send it out.

Meredith excited the kitchen hanging up her apron by the doorway and walking down the hallway to her office. Her  usual heels weren't really the best for kitchen work, but she managed it.

Meredith entered her office and smiled at the blond woman, looking quite cute and professional in her outfit. "Hello Ms. Stevenson," she said, extending a hand to the woman. "You're not too early at all. Right on time, as it happens."

The woman walked to the back of her desk and took a seat. Normal business meetings she usually offered a drink, but as this was a job interview, the alcohol could stay in the cupboard for now.

"How are you doing today, Ms. Stevnson?"

Candice took the hand and smiled brightly. "You can call me Candice if you like- or even Candy if you're feeling particularly familiar. I'm sure that you could agree that being called Miss-Anything often makes a lady feel much older than she actually is." It was certainly better than Dr. Stevenson though- not that she was often addressed as such at the ministry before losing her job. Most people had far meaner things to say, or called her just Stevenson.

After Meredith sat down, so did Candy, carefully gathering the skirt of the dress beneath her as she did so. It was still awkward to wear ones that fit, but she liked it better. Dolly had impeccable tastes as well. She might just have to let her replace her entire wardrobe. Candy could keep just enough baggy sweaters and beat up blue jeans for those frumpy days. Those days where you felt hideous. Though, Candice supposed, it was exactly those days when you ought to go out of your way to dress up. 

"I'm actually doing quite well!" she answered. "It's nice to be in Diagon for something other than errands. I'm always in and out without getting to really enjoy myself. It's also wonderful to get to have a look 'round your restaurant. I've heard so many wonderful things!" It might be exactly beneficial to admit that she wasn't familiar with Calaveras- but if Candice lied, then surely the owner would find out. There was absolutely no reason to start things off on the wrong foot if she could manage to avoid it.

All smiles, this one was. It always vaguely amused Meredith when she stopped to think about the variety of wizards and witches that had met her in this office. Only a month ago, she had encountered the pale Phil and his missing fingers and now sitting across from her was a curvy bubble blonde woman who (if background checks could be believed) was about as far away from shady dealings as Santa Claus.

"Candice it is then," Meredith said. "You can call me Meredith or Ms. Renfield. I've gotten used to being addressed as either; some of the patrons can be so formal."

Meredith didn't actually mind being thought of or feeling a little older than she was. At 24, the woman was quite young and she met with a fair amount of witches and wizards a great deal older than she was. Being called by her surname made her feel older but in a good way- she didn't want to feel that anyone else thought her a child.

Meredith smiled as Candice talked, finding her happy demeanor a tad catching. Well that and she was still amusing herself by comparing recent visitors and meetings in this office to Candice.

"I'm very glad to hear that," Meredith said. "We try very hard to give this place a good reputation. Now, you're interested in working in the kitchen, is that correct? Do you have much cooking experience?"

Candice nodded when she asked about the kitchen. "That's right, Dolly St. James suggested it to me." And then Meredith asked her about her experiences in the kitchen, and Candice didn't even try to fight the faint blush that crept into her cheeks as she figured out the proper way to respond to the question.

The woman wasn't about to lie- this was far too important an opportunity to mess up. "To be perfectly honest with you, Meredith, I haven't any professional experience in the kitchen. I spend a lot of my time cooking. I really enjoy baking and desserts more than anything else. I've got a lot of skill, actually, and I just really wanted to learn more about it and have a chance to do something that I loved for once."

"I've been working at the Ministry of Magic for a while," Candice told her. "I was a psychiatrist there. I worked with criminals, ex-azzies, and with the DMLE. I tried to do rehabilitation and anger management for them- because I really believe in helping people, and I think that everyone has the chance to change for the good. I don't think anyone or anything is incapable of being saved. So I tried to help. But I was never happy there. The aurors and I didn't see eye to eye. Eventually I lost my job over a disagreement with the head of the auror office. That was about a month ago."

"And since then, I've just really wanted to find something to do that gave me a sense of accomplishment and joy. I'm a bit old now, to decide to change career paths I suppose- but you've at least got to try, haven't you? I don't want to spend the rest of my life under-appreciated,  or in an environment I don't enjoy- with so much hostility. I've got my faults, Miss Renfield- everyone has their faults, but I don't want to be somewhere where all they do is point them out to me."

She nodded then, having said her piece, and folded her hands in her lap. "That being said, I'd like a chance to prove to you that I know my way around a kitchen. I can give you a demonstration if you like. I certainly don't expect to be hired on blind faith alone."

A friend of Dolly? Hmmm. Meredith was curious how close the pair was. Dolly was a frequent patron and her presence brought a great deal of business and money to Calaveras (not including the socialites own apt funds). However Dolly was a long way from running Calaveras. Meredith appreciated the woman pointing Candice to the restaurant, but she would have to prove her mettle before getting hired.

Meredith listened to Candice describe her last job. She had heard as much, minus the more personal details, from her sources when she had had her employees check out this potential employees background. Last thing she needed was a Ministry spy in the kitchen.

The search had also discovered that Candice had been in school with Meredith, and in the same house, though the blonde was a few years ahead of Meredith and the restaurant owner had been quite the timid and reclusive child. She very rarely found anything worth knowing from Hogwarts records searches, but purposely excluding information from searches didn't seem particularly wise.

"My sympathies- that sounds like a work situation you were better off getting out of," Meredith told the woman. "I worked with the Ministry briefly- I was a low-level secretary. They can be quite stiff-necked. You must have a great deal of patience working with them, as well as the criminals."

She thought Candice was a bit naiive if she really believed all that about second chances and rehabilitating ex-azzies. Maybe for the petty thieves, but not ex-azzies. However, it might be better if Candice had rose-colored glasses on while she worked at Calaveras, Meredith could still do her usual work and Candice might be more comfortable with the couple of known criminals on her staff (all for small time crimes, nothing serious, but convicted nonetheless).

It didn't take long for Meredith to figure out the Ministry life wasn't for her. Luckily, circumstances had changed for the better (or worse, depending on who you asked). Certainly Meredith could be sympathetic to someone else wanting to move on from the Ministry.

"I think a kitchen demonstration would be beneficial to the both of us," Meredith said. "What exactly were you looking to do in the kitchen? If you don't have any professional experience, what about personal skills? There must be some reason that you choose to apply for kitchen rather than a waitress or bartender."

Candice shrugged with a smile. "Patience is a virtue is what my grandmother used to always tell me. Besides, I really thought I was doing some good there- at least, I thought that up until the end. But I don't want to speak ill of them. The DMLE has a tough life, and they have things more important things to worry about than trying to spare my feelings. I guess I was just a little too sensitive." And a little too nosy, considering the circumstances behind her dismissal.

"Any type of cooking," Candice told her. "I bake and do desserts more than anything else. I'm always cooking at home. I do cookies, muffins, pies, cakes, sweets... Anything I have a recipe for, really. Other than desserts mostly I am really good with comfort foods. The type of things that my grandmother taught me how to do. I'm not sure if you specialize in any magical dishes- but I'll admit I don't have much experience there. I don't generally lace my cookies or muffins with potions. I mean, I know how to do it- I've made them to cheer friends up before, but it's not something I do all the time."

"The kitchen is just a passion of mine," Candice confessed. "Anytime I want to cheer up, I cook. When I'm in a good mood, I cook. I love to entertain my friends and have dinner parties and I like knowing that the things I've made make other people happy. I know it sounds incredibly cheesy, but it's satisfying to know that something as simple as cooking for people can make their days a little better."

She was worried that she sounded like a dork- Candice didn't want Meredith to think that she was exagerating. Candice loved to cook- she really did. And the idea of doing it for a living was exciting and inviting. Candy was being one hundred percent genuine- and she hoped that this woman could tell. "So really, where ever in the kitchen you need me, I would love to do it!"

Well she was just the epitomey of a sweet thing, wasn't she?, Meredith thought to herself as Candice talked a little more about her time with the DMLE. It just reassured Meredith's previous thought that if Candice was hired, Meredith and her staff would have no difficulty carrying on business as usual without arousing suspicion from the woman.

Of course, that was if she was hired, which was still very much in the air. Certainly her resume was lacking and while her previous connection to  the DMLE could be valuable to get some inside information out of, Meredith had her restaurant's reputation of quality food to uphold.

However, one thing Calaveras did not have was a pastry chef. Considering the upcoming holiday, that was something that could become an obvious flaw to guests. She had Dolly's book release party in the 13, Lothorio and Vedir's charity event the following day. Vedir had already approached her about possible desert items to fit the holiday. Considering Meredith had outsourced just the decorating, she didn't really spend much time thinking about the supposed holiday of romance.

"It just so happens, that we are in need of a baker," Meredith told the woman. "We're hosting a few Valentine's day events this year and one of my patrons specifically requested desert items to fit the holiday. We haven't done much for Valentine's Day before this year, so it will all be very new. You wouldn't be chance happen to know a recipe for a desert or two that fits this description?"

She certainly seemed the type to be baking heart-shaped cookies and decorating with flowers and whatever else was supposed to be cheerful and festive. If she was half as skilled as she was happy, things might work in Meredith's favor.

In need of a baker?! Candy perked, and smiled brightly. That was definitely the sort of thing that Candice would absolutely love to do. "Valentine's Day recipe?" Candice asked. "Of course I do! Cookies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins... Just about anything, really. I usually make these cute, heart shaped cookies and decorate them with messages. I made a batch one year that said 'bite me'. They were really popular with my friends. I gave them out as gifts to my girlfriends. A girl can never have enough sweets on the holiday." Especially if the girl was single. Usually Candice baked to distract her from being lonely on Valentine's Day.

"Cupcakes are great for Valentine's Day, too. Decorations on them and ingredients are easy to tweak. I know that in some place it's really popular to put weak love potions into baked goods for the holidays. I'm not sure how safe that would be with such an event, though." Or how ethical if you weren't telling people about it. But Candy wouldn't bring that part up- she didn't want to question the other woman's ethics- it was hardly professional behavior!

"Chocolate covered strawberries would also be good. Dark, milk, and white chocolates- on skewers. A romantic treat if nothing else, and the holiday is about romance!" It was also quite successful in making single people feel even more alone and desperate for love. Not that Candice was desperate- but she was lonely. So no doubt- if she did get the job- it would be nice for her to have a distraction for the holiday. Being in a kitchen baking for the masses instead of just herself and her friends... "Really it just depends on the route you want to go for what would be good. There are endless possibilities!"

Meredith leaned back in her chair and listened to Candice do on and on about possible Valentine’s Day sweets.  Well there was a list right there. Meredith supposed she shouldn’t really be too surprised. A woman as…perky as Candice was seemed just the sort to spend hours in the kitchen on little heart cookies with sayings. To be fair, Meredith rather liked the idea of hearts declaring ‘bite me’ and weak love potions in cupcakes.

“Endless possibilities are good, because there’s quite a few things to be done,” Meredith said. “Dolly may have already told you, but one of the events is for her and her new book. Invite only sort of thing. ‘bite me’ and love potion cupcakes might not be exactly what we’re looking for there, although….”

Meredith paused before continuing to muse aloud, “…given the subject material, ‘bite me’ cookies might actually work.”

Well, it wasn’t like Dolly was Jane Austen or anything. That had been the romance novels Meredith had read in school, albeit tucked away in a corner of a library beneath a copy of Hogwarts, a History. If her first love had been a Mr. Darcy instead of a high-ranking muggle mob flunkie, how much different would her life be. Strange to wonder about, really. Meredith quite enjoyed the life she had now, scars and all.

“But for both events, chocolate dipped strawberries might be just the thing. Simple but effective. Lots of possibilities for designs, or perhaps chocolate fondue fountain,” Meredith continued. Well, point in Candice’s favor, she had gotten Meredith’s brainstorm mind turning. She might have a use after all.
 
And after Valentine’s Day, depending on customer reactions, maybe they could continue serving chocolate covered strawberries, with sugar skull designs in white chocolate on top.

“If you can bake half as well as you talk, I think you’ll be perfect for what I need,” Meredith told her. “I can give you the full access of my kitchen and all the details of the events that will be happening and you can get a job and a chance to show off your wares. Let’s see how you do.”

Candice grinned. "I think Dolly would like the bite-me cookies. But I could talk it over with her, too. I'm sure she has very set ideas of what she wants the event to be like. I really don't want to make too cheesy- it's too important to her." That and it would detract from the level of class- and Candice wanted the event to be as classy as possible for Dolly. It was important to her- she didn't want to ruin it.

"Fondue fountains are always a hit. You can have such a variety of things to be dipped- could have white, milk, dark chocolate fountains. Maybe even try something different- go with sometimes caramel? I know a lot of people love caramels. Have little cake squares to be dipped, different fruits, maybe some candies. Pretzels could be good, too, for those who don't want to overdose on sweets." Though the holiday was supposed to be overindulgent. That was the whole point of Valentine's Day in Candy's opinion.

She was thrilled to hear Meredith told her that she could use the kitchen for the job- get a chance to show off. A pretty big even to turn into an audition, but it would really help her to prove her merit to Meredith, to the rest of the staff at Calaveras, and to the wizarding society as a whole. Just imagine if everything was a big hit! Everyone would be talking about her food, her designs, her desserts- maybe people would even be interested in hiring her for a few private events. Eventually- if she really proved her worth- Candice might even be able to have her own dessert shop. That would be years and years down the road- a decade, maybe longer. But you had to start somewhere.

"Wow, really?" she exclaimed, smiling brightly. "I know you aren't going to be disappointed!" she assured Meredith. "I can get together a list of different ideas, and some samples- bring them in over the next couple of days, let you do some taste testing, and we can definitely make it a real collaborative effort. Could let the others in the kitchen take a hand in it, too. I really like to get feedback on things, and for a project this big it would be needed for sure. Would that work for you?" Candice asked.

"That way it won't be a surprise that evening. It's your restaurant- so it's your reputation on the line if I don't deliver, and I couldn't live with myself if I messed it up for you. I think you'll be pleasantly surprise though. It's a subtle art- to make sure desserts aren't too sweet or too tart. And I've got a great taste for it. And there are so many aphrodesiacs that can be used as ingredients- natural ones. We could have an aphrodesiac theme for desserts? Chocolates, bananas, strawberries, figs, almonds- even champagne! And all of those are really easy to incorporate into desserts."