The Taste Test

 

POV: Brigail

Eli Michealson was dressed casually in a plain dark gray t-shirt, black slim jeans, and black boots. He was busy typing on his phone when Brigail arrived at his table.

"Thank you for waiting, sir." Brigail kept her voice clinical. If she'd lose her job because of him, she'd go down with what little dignity she had left.

She placed the plate of pasta carefully on his table while Eli watched her in barely disguised amusement.

"Aren't you going to tell me what I've waited half an hour for?" Eli asked acidly.

Brigail took a deep breath to calm her nerves before explaining the dish.

When she finished, Eli was studying her closely, a smirk on his thin lips.

Brigail refused to be unnerved by his intense stare. She'd managed to stand up to him last night. She could do it again. "Would you like another glass of wine?"

"Yes, please." His irritating grin was still plastered on his face.

Brigail turned and started walking toward the kitchen. But Eli's hand on her arm stopped her.

"On second thought, I'd like to have you instead."

Brigail yanked her arm out of his grasp and faced him with steely eyes. "I'm not on the menu."

Eli chuckled. "Don't flatter yourself, Miss Havens. I don't like you that way. I only wanted to resume our conversation last night. You see, you still haven't answered my questions."

Brigail could feel her cheeks burning with humiliation. She could feel eyes boring into her from her fellow workers, undoubtedly watching from the kitchen. She could also hear soft murmurs from the diners, polite enough to keep their gawking to a minimum.

"Look, Mr. Michealson, if I offended you last night, I'm truly sorry. I'm sure you can tell I'm new here and I don't know how things work in this town. But I can assure you, I won't be causing any more trouble in any of your establishments ever again. I only hope you can do the same."

Eli bit his lip, his gaze trained on Brigail. Paired with his blazing eyes, he was the image of a perfect predator sizing up his prey.

Brigail jutted her chin out to hide the buckling of her knees. She grabbed the backrest of the chair opposite him to steady herself.

"Enjoy your lunch, Mr. Michealson. May we never see each other again."

She made her way back to the kitchen with quick but calculated steps.

Eli watched her go, his grin turning into a frown. He took out his wallet and pulled a hundred dollar bill before grabbing his phone and car keys from the table.

Just as he was about to stand and leave, he noticed the pasta dish Brigail had prepared.

Despite his frustration, he couldn't help but take a bite. He wasn't sure if the food just looked too appetizing to ignore, or if the woman who made it was too interesting to pass up.

He decided it was the food.

After one bite, Eli decided he wanted more.

-----

POV: Eli

"I can't decide how to use my invisibility. For evil or for the good of mankind."

Pam sat on the leather couch in Eli's spacious office at the Obsidian Ace while Eli sat behind his desk, lost in his thoughts.

He only caught the last few words but they were enough to draw his attention. He looked up, eyebrows raised quizzically. "Huh?"

"Good. So you were listening. I was beginning to wonder if I suddenly turned invisible." Pam took the seat opposite Eli. "Something's distracting you. What is it? I haven't seen you this serious. Not even when we were planning the major takeover in Miami."

Eli pivoted his swivel chair, turning his back on Pam. His office had the most spectacular view of the Strip and he loved it. It reminded him of everything he'd accomplished in very little time. It made him feel all-powerful, invincible, and fucking untouchable. Just like the kings who ruled old Vegas.

But even the magnificent view couldn't distract him from thinking of that particular blonde who seemed immune to his innate charisma.

"Do you know that little Italian restaurant by the Flamingo road?" Eli asked without looking back.

"Fiordillatte?" Pam answered immediately. Of course she knew about that place. She was the one who told Eli it was the blonde's place of employment.

"Yes, that." Eli knew Pam was testing him to see if he'd divulge his irrational interest in that specific blonde.

"What about it?" She was baiting him, but she wouldn't be tactless enough to tease him when she wasn't certain what state of mind he was in.

Eli had always been congenial toward her, but she'd seen him get very unpredictable and, quite frankly, scary toward others. She wasn't about to test the limitations of their friendship because of a stupid girl.

"I want to buy it." Eli spoke casually, as though he was talking about getting himself a new pair of shoes or a set of golf clubs.

"Okay. Are you going to tell me why?"

"You know why."

"Eli, aren't you too young to have a mid-life crisis?" Pam asked teasingly. She just couldn't help it. "Or is this some kind of macho thing where you can't stand the fact that with three billion women in the world, there's one who can't stand you?"

Eli turned abruptly to face Pam, the vein on his forehead throbbing with irritation. But he caught himself before he could blurt out anything he was sure he'd regret.

He was acting absurdly because of her.

It was gnawing at him that she could stir up so many emotions. She wasn't even drop-dead gorgeous, for fuck's sake.

But her eyes were thoughtful and innocent at the same time, making you want to look at her more. It was captivating how her face would scrunch up when she scowled at him. Even the gap between her teeth complimented her sweet and hypnotic façade.

And he fucking hated all of it.

He'd dated supermodels, celebrities, and high-powered businesswomen and he'd never even had to go out in the middle of the day for any of them. He wouldn't get out of bed before noon for less than a million dollars. Sometimes even a million dollars didn't seem worth it.

But with her, hell, he even had the concierge wake him up at noon so he wouldn't miss her shift.

Now he was thinking of buying a shitty restaurant because he wanted to impress a redneck girl.

"It's not about her. It was never about her." Eli's voice was sharp. "She's working for Carrolton, and that fucker will stop at nothing to get back at me. She's just a preemptive measure. I need to be two steps ahead of that asshole. I almost lost the Macau deal because of him. Don't you think it's only wise to make sure he never gets any more chances to screw with me?"

He leaned forward. "My father used to tell me, the way to catch a cheater is to hire one."

Pam turned contemplative for a second before she finally looked satisfied. "Fine. I'll have our lawyer draw the contract first thing tomorrow. You'll have Fiordillatte within the next week."

Eli flashed her a satisfied smile as he leaned back in his chair, contentedly counting the days until he could see her again.

"Pam?" Eli called out as she marched toward the door.

It was time for the usual pit bosses' roundup in her office. She turned halfway to look at Eli.

"Keep it hush-hush, will you? I want the transaction completed as quietly as possible. We don't want to alarm our friend Carrolton, now do we?"

He paused, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"And make sure to include her in the contract. I don't want her taking off when she finds out I own her ass."

"Hmmm, and what a fine ass she has," Pam cooed before she exited the office.