CHAPTER 5
Five days later, Oliver still isn’t working in the kitchen, though I’m pretty much enjoying my job as the days go by.
Ever since I started writing notes to the elusive Brandon Lucien, I’m beginning to feel his presence—like I’m actually cooking for a person. He isn’t so invisible anymore. He’s actually, and peculiarly, responding to my notes.
For today’s lunch, I heartily make him a marinated and smoked chicken with tzatziki sauce. This time, I make him brownies for dessert.
I write him a note again.
“Try the food with a glass of champagne. It tastes better.”
Ms. Lennie doesn’t seem to mind me anymore, but she always tastes the food before serving it to our boss. As usual, I never expect a reaction from her. When she returns, I find another note from him, and this time he provides a note clipper.
However, the brownie box went back untouched.
I read his note.
You’re right. A glass of champagne does make it taste better. But weren’t you told not to improvise? I don’t eat brownies.
I laugh at his answer. I’d already started improvising, and he was eating it anyway.
“Someone’s happy.” Oliver’s soothing voice snaps me out of my thoughts. He is leaning on the doorframe with arms crossed over his chest, looking regal in his bespoke three-piece gray suit. I don’t usually see him in very formal business attire.
“Hi,” I greet him. “I’m making a savory pie.”
His eyes gleam. “Oh, wow. Would you give me some?”
“Sure. Let this cool for a second.” I briefly stop mincing the garlic and move over the crockery to grab a plate. I put two slices on the plate and carefully set it in front of him.
“Thank you.” He picks up a slice and takes a bite. “So, how’s your day?”
“It’s getting better.” I grin. “How are you?”
“The crucial days in the office are over,” he says. “I can work here again, but as I can see, you’re getting used to it.” Oliver flashes a smile and looks at me meaningfully.
“We’re talking now,” I say proudly and smile back.
“Yes, I heard about the notes.” He takes another slice of pie. “But how did you manage to pull that one, hmm?”
“I guess he’s telling you about it. I don’t know.” I shrug. “I just tried to write to him, but I didn’t expect that he would respond.”
“That’s progress, and since Lennie is already up to her neck with house chores, I really needed someone I could count on whenever I’m absent. Like you.”
“Right, but Ms. Lennie is still someone you can count on. She’s just a bit busier than everyone,” I comment. “I’m glad to work with you.”
“Are you?” he teases, and he’s got a playful smile on his lips again.
“You’ve been a good friend too.”
His smile widens. “I wish to be friends with you too, Alayna.” He puts down the fork on the side of the empty plate. “Thank you for this. I enjoyed the food.”
“You’re most welcome.”
“I’ll cook Brandon’s dinner tonight,” he offers and glances at the fish fillets on the prep area, then back at me. “You’ve been busy for the past few weeks. Why don’t you go to my shelf now and grab my booklet?”
“Is it all right?”
“Yes, so we can start your next lesson. I have dishes I want to share with you.”
I grin. “Thank you.”
“I’ll be right here.”
I wash my hands thoroughly and take off my apron. Eager to see another one of Oliver’s recipe collections, I hurry out of the kitchen and head to the library.
I only want to take the booklet, but the library is so tempting to explore, I decide to stroll around. I go to the library’s second floor to check for more books, but the section is all about computers, systems, information technology—which isn’t my thing. However, it makes sense since Grethe and Elga Enterprises is a leading technology company in New York.
I wander some more and find another door. I open it, thinking it could be the library’s extension. But to my surprise, I stumble into another room with a king-sized bed. It isn’t the library’s extension at all! I’m in someone’s room.
However, there’s no sign of life inside, so I calm down, step back and find another door. Wanting to get out, I open the door, only to find out it isn’t the exit I’m expecting.
A sound of running water coming from a shower catches my attention. My eyes widen in shock to find the broad, ripped back of a tall man. He has a slim waist, and his back has defined muscle cuts. I stagger back, but my eyes trail down to the most perfect, round butt I’ve ever seen in my life.
Every hair on the back of my neck stands at the sight of him. It isn’t my first time seeing a man’s butt—I’ve seen plenty, actually—but this man’s ass is undeniably different from any I have seen before. He’s incredibly sexy.
Oh my! Is that him?
I turn quickly, realizing I’m trespassing on someone else’s privacy.
“Who’s there?”
This is asked in an angry shout. I swiftly run out of the room until I miraculously find the door where I came from and escape through it. The stairway toward the mansion’s left wing catches my view, and Ms. Lennie is waiting at the bottom. I’m even more nervous now. She is glaring at me, her arms crossed over her chest. When did she get there?
“Miss Hart.” Her voice is tight. “Are you clueless, or can you simply not follow directions?” This is the first time in weeks that I’m getting the stern tone from her.
“I was in the library, and then—” I try to explain. “I got lost. I’m sorry.” I stop and catch my breath.
“It’s been a little more than a month, and you’re already making trouble. I understand that this house is huge, bigger than you can imagine. What’s unacceptable is your disobedience of my number one rule.”
“What did I do?”
“The Master called me. He said someone was in his room.”
Oh, gosh. Of course, it’s him. Who else could it have been?
“You are the newbie here, so I believe it was you,” she continues. “Mr. Katrakis had high hopes of you and he’s never wrong, but I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
“I understand...” I answer humbly.
God, I don’t want to disappoint Oliver now. Our working relationship is doing so well. What would he think about me now? He even entrusted me access to the library; surely, none of the employees could go there freely.
“I admit it, but like I said, I got lost! I will never deny my mistake, but I was hoping you would understand.”
“I don’t like the way you answered me. Follow me,” she says with caution. She doesn’t seem to like anything I do. Maybe she doesn’t even like the fact that I’m breathing.
“Um, where are we going?”
“He wants to talk to the person who invaded his room. It’s also the first time an employee gets fired on her first month.”
“What? What do you mean, fired? This is crazy! I didn’t mean to go into his room,” I insist guiltily while walking fast behind her. My thoughts hover to millions of ways to convince her not to take me to our boss. I have a bad feeling about this. I’m not actually ready to see him yet.
But being ready wouldn’t matter to him. And, well, I’ve already seen him. Not all of him, just his back. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to see his face.
However, the scene keeps playing in my mind. He is tall, with broad shoulders. His arms were spread wide, which made his triceps flex. He has ample legs that make me wonder how it would feel to be wrapped around them—
I shut my eyes. I have completely lost my mind.
“Miss Hart, it’s time that you finally meet him.” She spins around and finally faces me. “And just so you know, you don’t need to see him to be able to talk to him.”
Uh, what?
I quietly follow Ms. Lennie as we stroll through a corridor I haven’t seen before. I can’t help but overthink my situation. I suddenly want to speak with Oliver to apologize and probably ask him to help me with his cousin. I don’t want to lose the job.But how do I get away with this? How is it possible that I don’t have to see him to be able to talk to him? What’s the point of talking to me if he will fire me, anyway? Though I remember that he has every reason to. In the past weeks, I tried improvising dishes and sending him notes. Maybe he’s already fed up with me.We stop by another sculptured wooden door.“The Master shall speak with you inside. You don’t need to knock. You’ll find a white door upon getting in. Open the door and sit in the chair provided.” Her face is stone-cold. She is looking at the space behind me, avoiding my eyes. The way she explains it makes me feel like I’m visiting a prisoner.I do what I’m told. There might be a chance I won’t get fired if I obey quietly
Is he going to fire me over some information? I couldn’t lose this job. I have debts, and I have no place to stay in this foreign city. I can’t just go back home, bringing nothing but failure to my family. Well, of course, I still need money, but this job was way more ethical than receiving unlabored cash.“Wait...” I give up. He’s firing me anyway, so why not talk back? “First of all, you signed me up to a one-year contract. You can’t just fire people just because you want to. That’s against the law. My job description is an assistant chef, and what you are asking now isn’t written in the contract. Second, what you are asking for is very private. I can’t just give such information away to strangers, especially to a stranger like you. Why do you want it anyway? I at least want an explanation. Lastly, in all honesty, I can’t trust someone who would speak with me this way. I can’t even see you.”“I hired you, Miss Hart. What makes you think I don’t have the right to fire you? And in all
BRANDONI’ve never been closer to finding one of the persons who could be the reason for my family’s demise before. Finding those murderers has become my life’s purpose. They ruined my life enough.Annette Teller, my father’s fucking mistress. Oliver and I have been looking for her for a long time, and this very intriguing chef is bearing the information in her hands.For some reason, this Alayna Hart has triggered something in me—something inexplicable. I’m very meticulous with the food I consume, as it is one of the few things that can bring me joy in this very boring life. Oliver knows I won’t eat something my tongue would despise. But Alayna makes every meal special, despite not following the rules about improvising. Her little handwritten notes, I admit, are entertaining.Strangely, the person who can bring delight to my meals is also the person who could end my agony. I craved and longed for justice in this life, and I’m finally close to that reality. That way, I may finally get
I can see half of his face through a shaft of light that slips from somewhere in the room. I want to step back, but I’m pinned to the wall with his hands on my wrist, pushing me a little harder. His breathing rapid, his chiseled mouth almost touching mine. A familiar smell of aftershave tickles my nose.“Alayna Hart!”“Oh God—” I look around me as the sharp sound of bells ring.Ms. Lennie glares at me. She is holding a small bell, enough to wake a girl who had an intimidating dream. Next to her are two maids who look precisely alike, and they are staring at me. Obviously, they are trying their hardest not to laugh. Their small, marble eyes betray their fake expressionless look. I feel my face burning with shame.What are they doing here?“The Master will see you in ten minutes. He expects you to be early,” Ms. Lennie says.“What? He’s—he’s what? Why?” I ask in a panic. “What did I do wrong now?”“For your information, young lady, you forced the Master hand with your conditions. I want
Silence fills the room for a couple of seconds. I’m thinking of a reason to divert his attention.“The painting!” I cry. “Uh... the girl in the painting, she’s beautiful. Who is she?” I ask, then swallow hard, praying he won’t remember what I’ve just said.How can I be so stupid? One doesn’t make comments expressing admiration for such a dangerous person. How could I even say those words so quickly? All I wanted was to know why he was hiding from the world when he had nothing to be ashamed of.His expression is annoyed. He stares at me with a questioning look, then takes a deep breath.“I could fire you right away for being too nosy. You’d better be thankful that the information you have won’t make you a jobless newbie.”Wow! I exclaim mentally. Am I supposed to thank him then? It was he who made such fuss about it after telling me he was still going to fire me. I only protected my rights.“Yes, and unfortunately, I still have that information,” I retaliate. His sex appeal shouldn’t o
My jaw drops. What the hell was that?I watch him swiftly wipe his lips with the napkin provided. Is it something I said? Something I did? Is it the food? I take a bite of the brioche, then pop it in my mouth. No, of course, it’s not the food. It’s delicious.He stands up and takes several steps away from me, but my feet seem to have a mind of their own. I follow him in a flash, just in time to stop him from opening the door.“Wait!” I yell as I grab his arm.“Don’t touch me!” he shouts, pulling his arm back. His voice is like the Beast’s—Belle’s Beast. My heart skips a beat.His masked face looks down on me; he is glaring and breathing heavily. I stagger back.“Rule number two. I hate being touched.”I shudder at the sound of his voice. I feel ashamed for only grabbing his arm. Is this another reason he hates going out of his room other than his hiding-from-the-whole-world game? He hates being touched?I back away, feeling embarrassed. “I’m so sorry, I was wrong. It won’t happen agai
The awkwardness is undeniable. The world takes its time spinning, and everything seems to be in slow motion.I clear my throat. I want to ask him why he wanted me to have dinner with him. He doesn’t socialize with other people, but he can actually eat with someone comfortably. This might be the first time he shares tables with somebody.“Stop staring,” he says softly.“Oh, I’m sorry.” I look away quickly. “But if you don’t mind me asking—”“I was wondering when your next barrage of questions was coming.” He continues to eat, apparently with pleasure. I can’t help but notice how gorgeous he is, even if it’s only half of his face. It’s just too bad he’s wearing a mask.I search for any mark or scar that might have slipped out a little, but I see nothing. Maybe he has hidden it well. Or perhaps not. I’m not even sure if he really has a scar there.“I told you to stop staring.” He meets my gaze this time, jolting me back to reality.“I was wondering why you asked me to eat with you,” I s
At precisely nine o’clock in the morning on Saturday, Oliver pulls up in his black Aston Martin. The window of his car glides down and reveals his smiling face.“Hey, Alayna. Did you wait long?”“Hey, you’re just in time.”“Come on in,” he invites, cocking his head. I open the passenger door and step inside.Ollie said he’s going to briefly meet someone today, but I did not bother asking him where he’s going. He promised he’ll fetch me after the spa so we can go home together.The receptionist at the G&E Spa acknowledges Oliver right away and assists us. I watch how he makes the receptionist blush with his captivating smile, which makes me realize Oliver is naturally kind to everyone. He introduces me to her. She tells me her name’s Sarah and calls over another young woman. I follow her to the back of the spa. Oliver waves at us and leaves the building.Moving through the entrance is like entering another world. Every arched doorway is framed by pearl-colored silk, while ornamented pi