“Um good morning sir… sorry Alfredo.” Claire greeted as she entered that morning.
It was weird seeing Alfredo dropping off things in the kitchen that would be used for cooking. She wondered where on earth the cook was as she walked over slowly.
“Ah Miss Willows. Thank God you are here.” the man said
“Are we back to formalities sir?” Claire asked feeling weird like she had done something wrong
“No my dear Claire. It’s nothing like that but no excuse. I’m sorry.” the old man said.
Claire smiled and took away her sling bag which she hung at the side. She went over to the sink and washed her hands as the man looked at her. When she was done washing and then drying her hand, she asked him if he needed help with the cooking. The man stared at her with mouth agape for a bit before realizing himself and chuckled almost nervously before saying he was not sure. She did not understand what he meant and asked him. In his explanation he said Tristan was one narcissist when it comes to his kitchen and although that morning he had been acting really weird, he would not want his breakfast to be another opportunity to fire someone else. Claire now understood and looked at him.
“He fired the cook?” she asked him
“Seems so.” the man replied
“But I might have learnt a thing or two from him,” she said
“I’m sorry Miss… sorry… Claire. I have to get used to it. You have interest in cooking?” he asked her now.
She smiled and walked over to where he was standing by the work island. She told him what she liked doing was not the point but the fact that they had to tame the wild tiger inside. Wild tiger, Alfredo had never seen a more befitting name for Tristan. It was like each time he met with the girl, she always managed to come up with another awesome description for Tristan. Not like he was sabotaging his boss but you have to agree with him that Tristan is an ass. He asked Claire what the plan was because it sounded like fun and he wanted to know what Tristan would do to her knowing she had already caught his fancy. Speaking of which, he asked her if she had seen Tristan the previous night and Claire said no although he called her to ask how she was to which he was looking forward to her coming to work that morning. Alfredo was relieved, that means technically that his irregular outburst had nothing to do with her; or so he thought.
She asked if he had other things to attend to and he said he needed to take the car out for a check. Claire told him to go for it then while she handles the kitchen. No way was he going to leave her there knowing the ferocious beast that resides in the place. Tristan would probably tear her into a thousand pieces before he gets back and then he would have to live with the guilt. She seemed like a good girl and he would not want anything bad happening to her as a result of his irresponsibility or want for a little fun. He told her he would have to stay with her and do that later but Claire would not hear of it. She asked him to get going while she handles the kitchen stuff. After her constantly reassuring him that she was going to be alright, he had to succumb to her will. He however dropped her his card that she should call him immediately she senses she would be getting into trouble and he would rush over to her rescue. Claire smiled obviously enjoying the fact that someone was watching out for her. She waited until Alfredo had gone before turning to look at the bags he dropped there. There were different ingredients and Claire wanted to start making something. The ingredients were familiar to her and it was actually one of Tristan’s favourite recipe which she had managed to cram and make an even better version. It was going to be a breakfast like none other as it was the one she would be making for her favourite chef back then. Back then because she could not tell whether or not she liked him now with all his attitude and bossiness.
She really needed music at this point but there was none which meant she would stick with humming. Claire had not even the time to upgrade her phone or rather she had not thought about it really. It was like she was avoiding certain very familiar situations that always managed to end up with her in a really bad position. She had come to understand her weakness and learn to live with it.
“You, what do you think you’re doing?” that voice did well enough at startling her. Well it did get her to wheel around on her heels and glare.
Yes glare. It was one of the staff members whom she had come to dislike. You cannot blame Claire. That girl had been on her nerves since she arrived at the place. She was the only other youngster in the building just like Claire and was in charge of his laundry. It also meant she got access to his bedroom and you all can guess what might happen in the bedroom. It made Claire jealous but she tried her hardest not to show but the girl was pure evil. She would not let Claire be and had always been making sure she was in her way. It was barely a whole day since they met and she was really gritting her nerves.
Claire asked what she wanted and she demanded that she leaves the kitchen area unless it was her assigned duty. Claire thought a little, a simply lie would not hurt. She told her that was her duty and the girl said that was not what she heard Tristan say was her work. She added also that since the cook had been fired, should that not mean that Claire had to disappear as well. Now that was pure bullying, one Claire would not let slide past her. She was going to make it explicitly clear that she was not one to be tossed around. Everyone used to do it to her from birth, maybe she would stop it.
But instead of an outburst, he defense mechanism was a lie obviously. She told her she had been asked to make the boss’s breakfast, when the girl would not buy it, she asked that she calls Alfredo who had assigned it to her. Well, there was no way she would begin calling and so the girl just gritted her teeth and walked away. Claire told herself that she would never be friends with that girl in life as it was obvious they did not click. She returned her attention to what she was doing, humming away as she got so engrossed with cooking. It had to be perfect, really perfect and just about the right amount of everything. She already had him on her neck breathing down and not giving her mind’s peace. She just wanted to show she could do something as well.
It had been a really long time since he woke up that morning and wondering how he would go out there and face her lying face. Not like he cared, he kept telling himself but she had been with some other guy and lied about it to him. Something in his gut was telling him to either ask her about it or call up his psychologist. But nay, he was not going to do any of that. Instead perhaps, he would go out there after a good run with his piano and ask her to return to the restaurant as he would no longer be requiring her services. That did seem like the right thing to do. His piano was only played these days when he was severely angry or having that stupid feeling of guilt. He was evil and that was what he kept on telling himself. Well, that’s the point of building up the kind of reputation he did. People had to fear him unless they would trample on him which would not be cool as it may.
He opened his door and was about going over to the room when it hit him. The aroma of something probably delicious causing his stomach to get cranky. He had not the slightest idea that Alfredo could cook unless it was not Alfredo. He began following the aroma like Jerry would do to cheese. As he drew closer, he heard the humming. That was no way going to be Alfredo. It was a woman and it sure hell sounded like Claire. What in heaven’s name was she doing in his kitchen after the stunt she pulled the other day. He walked over obviously wanting to yell at her and would have had he not seen how calm she was making the food.
She had not noticed him and sure as hell, he did not want to startle her which was why he folded his arms across his chest and watched her. Whatever she was humming might be her favourite as she sort of moved to the beat. He had never had a woman make a meal in his kitchen. His own mother never did which was why this felt strange and appealing.
There he was watching her when she suddenly turned to replace the ladle. She saw him and was so startled that she dropped the ladle by accident. He smiled and began clapping his hands sarcastically.
“Well good morning Miss Willows. Care to tell me what you’re doing in my kitchen?” he asked her like a vengeful angel.