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Moira
![](moira2/portia2.jpg)
As Moira walks with Portia toward the car, the girl tells her her tennis lesson today has been cancelled. So she'll have to come along to the vet's with her this afternoon.
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Once Portia is dropped off at her school, Moira goes to the Farmer's Market for vegetables. As she goes to look at some tasty looking bell peppers, an exotic looking man asks about her car, the very fine old Mercedes the Arthags gave her the use of for doing their errands. Moira explains that it's her employer's car, and begins to turn back towards the produce, assuming that the man, obviously of Bill & Mercedes' set, wouldn't need to speak to her further. "My name is Joao," he introduces himself, surprising Moira away from her shopping. He tells her that he manages the Casa Linda Hotel and banquet hall in Beverly Hills. "I'm Moira," she answers, shaking his hand, and tells him she works for Bill & Mercedes Arthag. Joao's eyes light up at the Arthag name. "Ah, I was at Mercedes' opening last night. The appetizers were splendid. Mercedes bragged all night about her Irish girl who made them for her...this must be you?" he asks her.
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As she continues to shop, she tells Joao she did make the food for Mercedes' opening, and thanks him for the compliment. She doesn't tell him how much she resents hearing that Mercedes refers to her as 'her Irish girl' like she really was some kind of servant. Moira pays for her purchases with the credit card the Arthags gave her to shop for them, and Joao tells her her appetizers were a bigger hit at the party than the art was. "Do you hot meals as well?" he asks. "I mean catering, could you do large banquets?" It seems a strange question, but Moira then recalls the man manages the finest hotel & banquet hall in Beverly Hills. So she tells him indeed she could do a large banquet, that her dream is to have a restaurant of her own, to cook for large crowds every night. Joao smiles, "Let me buy you a cup of tea," he says. Moira looks at her watch. "I have twenty minutes. Then I must fetch Portia from school," she says.
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While they get a cup of tea, he explains that he isn't happy with his current chef. "The food is inconsistent. And sometimes flavorless. That's bad," he says, telling Moira he's been to other of Mercedes' parties that Moira has made food for, and that he appreciates her skill. "When can you come to the hotel and try out for the job?" he asks her. Moira looks sadly into her teacup, "I never have time to get away from my duties," she sighs.
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"I'd like to consider you for the chef position...but I don't want to upset the Arthags, you understand? They are important people," he tells her. "I will find a way to arrange this...just give me some time." Moira agrees to wait for whatever he arranges...what else is there to do? Now she must rush off and get Portia from school.
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