As a joke, you ordered something elaborate that wasn't on the menu at a restaurant. You didn't know that it was a code word...
Waiting for my date to arrive, I perused the menu trying, to distract myself from my increasing anxiety. I hadn't been on a date in years. My friends thought it was time and set me up with someone they had met at a party. Apparently, she was perfect, which made how I felt even worse, nothing like meeting someone perfect and finding that she isn't interested in you...
I thought about writing a list of things I could talk about to impress her. I wasn't the best looking with my broken nose from a fight I got into back in high school, and well, overall, I just was some quiet, nerdy kid who spent his days hidden in the toilets or library.
I started to focus more on the menu. I knew I had to pick something that she would find approving. But I also wanted to play it safe. But I had to impress but not too much. Ugh, this was so difficult.
I eventually hit the Pizza list and decided that this might be a good option. It's safe and, if things were going well, we had the option to share food. But what toppings will she like? I could go cheese only as everyone loves a classic cheese pizza but, what if she wanted meat? Or vegetarian? I continued to ponder what pizza to order I noticed right at the bottom of the menu there was a pizza called the 'Gold Pizza'.
The choices of toppings were extravagant. Not only could you get the usual cheese, pepperoni, and chicken but, it also included lobster, caviar, truffle and if you could afford it 23-carat, (edible) gold shavings. I pulled out my calculator and started to do the sums on which toppings I could afford. In total, it was looking alright but adding in those gold shavings hiked the price right up.
As I sat there scratching my head, I felt someone beside me. I thought at first it was my date but when I looked up, it was the waiter.
"Are you ready to order Sir,?"
"Uh, not really, I'm still waiting. Although I do have a question about this Gold Pizza."
"What would you like to know?"
"Can I choose what toppings to add and not to add?"
"Yes, of course, Sir."
"Does anyone ever order the 23-carat gold shavings?"
The waiter pulled a curious face. "sometimes, if they can afford it."
"Are they actually edible?"
The waiter stood there even with an even more curious look on his face. "Yes... would you like to talk to someone about this more?"
"Uh, yeah, sure. That would be great thank you."
The waiter walked away. I knew I wasn't going to order the gold shavings. It was way out of my budget but I figured it would kill some time while I waited for my date to arrive. Plus if we were discussing the gold flakes when we arrived it may show that I have some class or... something.
I looked back up and saw someone dressed as a butler walk toward me.
"Good evening sir, I heard you were enquiring after the 23-caret gold shavings. on the Gold Pizza."
"Yes, I was curious to know if people have ordered this before."
"Yes, we, on occasion, have people who like to splurge and order the gold shavings. But not many."
"Is it worth it? Like are they actually edible?"
"I don't think I am best to answer that question." the Butler said with a look of confusion. "Are you interested in the gold shavings on the pizza Sir?"
At that moment, for reasons that, I still have no idea why I decided to try the gold flakes. Why not. This could be the last date I ever go on. Hell, she could have walked in already, taken one look at me and walked straight back out.
"Yes, I will take one gold pizza with everything."
"everything?"
"Yes, everything."
"Including the gold shavings Sir?" The Butler said with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, including the gold shavings," I said feeling, a bit insulted that he didn't think I could afford it. Which was true but he didn't need to know that.
"Very well Sir. If you could come with me, we need to take payment at the back," he replied, turning to walk away and clearly expecting me to follow.
"Why?"
The Butler, looked back even more confused than before.
"It's a large sum of money. I am sure you can appreciate that with this type of order, discretion is something we feel is... necessary."
"Oh yes, of course," As I got up from my seat, I did a mental facepalm. Of course, I should go and pay for this elsewhere. The last thing I needed was my date showing up and watching my card decline in this ridiculous order.
As we walked to the back I turned around to check that my date hadn't arrived. Still nothing. I turned back and continued to follow the Butler. I was deep in my thoughts about my date rejecting me before I realised that we had entered the back of the restaurant and was entering, some dark room that had nothing on the wall and just one table and chair in the room.
I suddenly felt my stomach drop. This didn't look like an office. The Butler gestured for me to walk in. I was about to turn around and say I changed my mind but I suddenly felt someone else standing behind me. I turned around and sure enough, there was another person dressed as some sort of Butler. I gave a weary smile and walked into the room. The Butler I met at the table followed me in while the other closed the door behind us. The Butler walked around to the other side of the table I suddenly noticed that I had massive sweat patches under my arms. Great just what I needed.
"You were not who we were expecting."
"Expecting?"
"Yes. We knew that they were sending someone new but we didn't think it would be someone so.... young."
"Haha, what can I say..." I laughed awkwardly running my hand through the back of my hair.
"Name?"
"Julian Rashford" I replied.
The Butler raises his eyebrow again. "OK... Using your code name already I see. I guess it's probably better that way. The little we know of each other the easier it is to deny we ever met.
"We ever... met?"
"Yes. The mission we need you to do Mr Rashford is a dangerous one. If we don't capture the asset in the next 48 hours there will be another war."
"Wait, a war! All I wanted to know about the gold shavings on the pizza?!"
"Yes. You should have been briefed before you came here. That's how you got the code word."
"The code word?"
"Yes... The Code word 'Are they actually edible?' A lot of people like to ask questions about that Gold Pizza but no one ever orders it. Through the code word 'Are they actually edible' and then agreeing to purchase the pizza you confirmed your identity to us that you are the man for this mission.
My mouth dropped. I had said a codeword that had unlocked some mission that I wasn't meant to be a part of. How did this happen? And what do I do now? Do I tell them the truth? But what if I'm not meant to know any of this what would they do? would they kill me for knowing? But if I don't say anything then I am dead anyway as I have no idea how to be a spy. While my mind was spinning I was suddenly shoved forward by the Butler to the other side of the room.
"We don't have much time Mr Rashford. Here is your bag with the items you requested. Also the files with all the information you require." The Butler said as he pushed a brick into the wall which seemed to unlock a secret door.
"From this point on you are on your own. There is no support or backup so if this thing goes sideways there is no backup. Good luck Mr Rashford. We are all counting on you to succeed."
Suddenly I was pushed through the secret door and it abruptly closed behind me, leaving me in the dark, wondering how the codeword 'Are they actually edible' got me into this.
