Your Woman

    As Alexander was preparing the Steak Frites, he would take glances at the young lady who was also having fun making the desserts. Alexander is still worried about Jingfei since she was so drunk last night. The young man immediately went back to what he was doing when he saw that the young lady was also glancing in his direction.

    “Psh! I could feel your gaze on my back!” Jingfei thought when she caught Alexander avoiding her gaze. 

At exactly noon, the restaurant opened and in an instant, it was filled with people. Jingfei had just finished making the desserts with Anais's help. 

"Since we are done here, I should help the others in taking our customers' orders." Jingfei uttered while helping Anais tidied the space they had used. 

"Then I shall finish this all, Ms. Jingfei." The young lady uttered while taking the mixing bowl from Jingfei's hand. Jingfei said her thanks as she took her apron and went out from the kitchen. 

The young lady saw that the tables both inside and outside were already occupied. Jingfei hurriedly went to the cashier to ask for a paper and pen, “Hey Bette, can I ask for a pen and paper?” Jingfei called out the woman who was staring at her with a wondering expression.

“A chef should be in charge in the kitchen not taking the customers orders.” The young lady mumbled but Jingfei just smiled, “Paper and Pen, Bette!” 

The woman named Bette handed Jingfei the things she asked, “He isn’t here yet! It’s still twelve, you know his schedule when coming here.” She whispered and went back to her place. 

Jingfei just rolled her eyes, “I am just helping!” She mumbled and Bette just sarcastically smiled at her. The woman knew the reason why Jingfei started helping in taking the customers orders, she would often catch Jingfei looking at a table near the glass window where a man in his early thirties would sit, it was his usual spot.

Jingfei approached a table and greeted the two couples who were looking at the menu, “Good Noon, may I take your orders please!” She politely asked. 

“I’d like to have Steak Frites and French Onion Soup please, what would like honey?” The woman asked the young man who was sitting in front of her. “Uhmm! I’ll also have Steak Frites and Hazelnut Dacquoise for dessert. And a bottle of wine please!” 

Jingfei reread their order, after their confirmation, Jingfei excused herself as she went to the kitchen to hang the paper, she was about to go out again when a hand caught a grip of her wrist, “If you are done with the desserts, you should take a rest at your room.” Alexander uttered, he immediately approached Jingfei when he saw her hanging the paper. 

“I’m really fine and I want to help. We are packed with hungry customers right now. We may have enough staff today but I think they could not take their orders immediately.” Jingfei uttered while smiling to assure that she was really fine and that she could help outside.

Alexander let go of Jingfei’s wrist, “You better go cook, we still have orders to come.” Jingfei briefly said before going out of the kitchen to resume her work. 

While enjoying her work, Jingfei didn’t know that a pair of eyes were staring at her. A man who was seated at the corner of the restaurant and was wearing a cap and a striped sweat-shirt picked his camera and started taking a picture of the young lady. 

“Should I just approach her?” The man mumbled while staring at the shots of the young lady. “She could be a runway model if she is a little bit taller!” He thought while staring at the young lady who was walking at his table. 

Jingfei’s eyes widened for a while as she caught sight of the man, “Feifei, don’t panic, you idiot!” Jingfei thought while wearing her bright smile, “Good Morning Monsieur, may I please take your order!” Jingfei asked with a polite and graceful voice. 

“Ah yes please, uhmmm- the man took the menu card and started reading the dishes- Hmm please, I’d like to order two Salade Niçoise, one Chicken Confit, a Salmon en Papillote, and a bottle of wine also. Thank you!” The man placed the menu card down and smiled at Jingfei who was reading his order again. 

After the customer’s confirmation, Jingfei was about to leave when the man spoke to her, “Are you willing to be a model?” His question made Jingfei look at him again with a questioning look on her face.

The young lady pointed to herself, “Me? A model? Are you referring to me?” Jingfei asked again, wondering if she heard him right. 

The man nodded his head, "You are the only one who is standing in front of me. So, I am referring to you" the man uttered and took out a card from his wallet, “I’m a fashion photographer and a soon to be fashion designer. I accidentally saw you standing outside the restaurant and I have been watching you for a while now that is why I frequently come here. I didn’t know you are a pastry chef here.” The man uttered as he handed the card to the young lady, who was in shock. 

All this time she had thought that this man frequents their restaurant cause he likes it. And she also had a slight crush on the man when she saw him enter the door. Jingfei was about to decline the business card when the man spoke again, “You don’t have to give me an answer right now. Take your time.” Jingfei just smiled as she took the business card. 

She then excused herself when the man’s phone suddenly rang and didn’t mean to accidentally see his phone’s wallpaper. “Hah! And he has a boyfriend!” Jingfei thought as she walked at a fast pace towards the kitchen.

As soon as the customer got less and less, Jingfei took a break and sat down on a corner in the kitchen, she took out the card from her pocket and read it. “What’s that?” Jingfei raised her head and saw Alexander staring at the car she’s holding. The young man quickly took the card and frowned, “You were scouted?” He asked while looking back and forth at Jingfei and the card. 

“De’Isle Model Management?” Alexander even frowned at the familiar name of the company printed on the card, “I think I’ve heard this name before!” He mumbled.

Jingfei took the card from his hand, “I don’t have a plan on becoming a model.” The young lady mumbled as she hid the card back in her pocket, “are you done helping them cook?” Jingfei asked while glancing at the three chefs who were also Alexander’s friends from his university. 

The young man nodded, “I’m done for today. I have instructed them on what to do for this afternoon’s event and tonight’s event.” Alexander uttered as he took his apron off and handed it to one of his staff to get washed. 

“We are not staying for today's events? We should stay, we were late for work this morning.” Jingfei asked as she followed the young man out of the kitchen. “No! We are not! You need to rest and I on the other hand had to take care of something.” 

Jingfei was about to say something when a hand suddenly grabbed her hair and pulled it strongly, “You! Are you Alexander’s new woman? How dare you make him cut ties with me. You whore!” The unknown woman screamed as she continued pulling Jingfei’s hair. 

“Fuck! Alexander, stop your woman from pulling my hair. Dammit! My head is starting to ache.” Jingfei shouted at the man who wasn’t able to react immediately. Jingfei tried to free her hair but the crazy woman’s grasp was too tight.

Alexander pulled the woman’s hand away from Jingfei’s hair, “How dare you attack her? I don’t even know you! Guards, Please drag this crazy woman out.” He shouted while tightly hugging Jingfei, protecting her from the woman’s reach. 

“You can’t do this to me, Alexander. You promised that I will be the only woman that you will love. I even agreed for you to have as many women as you want in exchange for you to marry me.” The woman screamed as she got dragged by the guards out of the restaurant. “That woman had seduced you!” Was the only word that the woman said as she finally got out of the restaurant.

Alexander acted like he didn’t hear what the woman said, he apologizes to his customers who have witnessed the scene and declared that their meal will be free as compensation for distracting their mealtime.

He then asked one of the staff to get Jingfei’s things from her room, while waiting for the staff, Alexander let Jingfei sat on the chair that Bette gave, “Are you hurt?” He asked worriedly.

Jingfei shook her head, “I’m not hurt anywhere. It’s just that my head started aching again when she pulled it.” 

“I really had the feeling that I will be attacked by one of your women. I just didn’t expect that I would be attacked today.” Jingfei mumbled as she held her throbbing head. “What did you do to them?” She asked and before Alexander could answer, the staff had already arrived and handed the bag to the young man.

“Let’s go home first. I will answer your question later once we arrive at your unit.” Alexander stated as he stood up and handed his hand for Jingfei to hold as support.

“Thank you!” Jingfei uttered to the young lady who took her bag and stood up. The two then went out from the door in the kitchen that is connected to the parking lot.

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Author's Note: 

Hi! Hello! How are you all? Thank you for ready The Queen's Search for Love.

Stay safe everyone.

Love, Jinli