Claire was really stratled and did not know whether or not to pick up the fallen ladle or talk to her overbearing boss who did not seem all the more pleased with her presence in his kitchen. He was staring at her like he wanted to eat her up which she interpreted to him wanting to punish her. Oh poor Alfredo, she thought as she wondered if it would be wrong if she brings him onto her mess. He had said specifically that at the outburst of a query from the boss, she was to call him but no way was Claire going to let him take the fall for her. She was the one in the kitchen and not him. Besides she had insisted when he said no to her that she would take over at the kitchen which means she cared less what the consequences. She had to live it out herself and take responsibility for all she does. She needed to give him an answer and that was what she was finding hard to do with the way he was looking at her. She decided to get the ladle later after she had untied her tongue at the moment.
She gave a nervous smile and told him she was making breakfast. Tristan nodded and asked when he made her cook in his own kitchen. Alright that was annoying and Claire quickly picked up the ladle that was beginning to irritate her eyes. She threw it into the sink quickly and faced him. He was still there, unmoving as he obviously had planned that he was going to frustrate her as was his hobby every morning. Claire cleared her throat shortly and told him that she was only making breakfast in the very kitchen where he had a cook once. He could see where she was getting around at and decided to push her a little further.
It was obvious Tristan was beginning to enjoy the familiar angry outbursts of the little woman. There was something about the way he frustrated her that made him hunger for more of her acting out. He asked her to tell him then what it was she thought had happened to the cook. She sighed and told him that he had fired the man. Tristan nodded, just the answer he was looking for and that would lead him to his next line of action.
“And why do you think he was fired?” he asked her.
Her mind was telling her to say that it was as a result of him being an arrogant person but there was absolutely no way in the world that she was going to say that to her boss. Not to mention a kind of boss who’s temperament was like that of an enraged rhinoceros. He was one never to be trampled with. Hence, she opted for a softer tone to reply him.
“Because he did something to provoke you.” she said almost inaudibly.
Tristan scoffed.
“Come on Miss Willows, you can do better than that.” he said to her trying to get her to speak.
Claire looked at him like she was confused over what to say to him. He told her that he wanted her to tell him just what he had done wrong to make him fire him. Truth be told, at this point, Tristan was beginning to doubt himself for his behaviour towards the man the previous day. The main culprit was right there before him and he wanted her to give him a reason why he had acted in that manner towards the man.
“Because he was in your kitchen?” Claire asked knowing already how dump her response sounded even to her very own ears.
Tristan had a good laugh out of it for the first time since he had made that call to her. However, he was not done with her yet. He was only warming up to treat her in the way that would be deserving for a cheap liar. He asked her to serve his food to him let him access whatever it was she had been fixing up. Claire looked relieved that he wanted to tell her not to get relieved yet until he was done with her but guess what, he was not known for his words and he was not ready to soil that record. He was going to calm down and act out all he had in store for her little self. Tristan walked away to go pull a seat into the kitchen where he sat down close to the work island. Claire seemed like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. He too cloud see her discomfort as she was already beginning to sweat as she washed up the ladle and fetched the dishes.
He was not making it easy on her as he had refused taking his eyes away from her. He made sure she was conscious of his steady eyes watching her closely. It would have been fun if she had broken that dish but then, what could he say. Claire seemed like she was trying her best not to break another as she knew he would definitely subtract again from her salary. She set the dishes before him and he reached out to taste them. After scooping a little onto his spoon and showing it to her, Tristan pushed it into his mouth.
Alright, not quite what he had been expecting from the naive lady. The food was like unlike he had ever tasted before. There were signs that she was an amateur with the arrangement but he had to swear, the young woman had great potentials. He stared at her for a while wondering if she probably had been putting up an act all along so as to get into his restaurant. Perhaps she was a spy from one of his numerous competitors to come peek into how his restaurants managed to stay at the top at all times. She was a really great liar after all and come to think about it, her records seemed empty. No certificates and all. He had been the one to even take her for a passport. That was rather unusual for a person at her age. Tristan decided in his head that after that moment, he would make certain to find out everything about her and he was certainly not going to fire her for the time being. Instead, he was going to keep watching her as he believed that everyone has a weak spot that they cannot hide away.
He still had not forgotten that he was going to frustrate her and quickly wiped off the delight in his face.
“There is an additional ingredient that is not found in the original recipe for this dish Miss Willows.” he said to her
“Um yes sir. I added a bit of rosemary.” was her response
“Hmmm.” was all he said to her and took another bite with that face he was intentionally making.
She stood there like a little child seeking the approval of his parents anxiously waiting for him to say something about the food she had put so much effort into that morning but to no avail. Was he always like this, too stingy to even say a little thank you or well-done Claire. She simply stood there watching him for all the time he was busy eating but saying nothing more to her. He did not finish the food but the quantity he ate was enough to keep him going. That was when the almighty Tristan Jenkins thought it fit to rise up and walk away. Claire could not believe her eyes at all. She had been seeing his awful behaviour to her but this was overboard totally.
She said nothing as she tidied up the dishes. Only then when she was done cleaning up that she decided she would have a taste of the meal. She scooped out hers and put it into her mouth, it felt really good but she needed the compliment of another person to know what it tasted like really. No way was she going to call out the maids and begin making her taste her food. She did not know anymore what might get anyone in trouble or cause them to loose their job and she very much did not want to be a reason for such action.
“Something really smells nice in the kitchen Claire.” Alfredo suddenly said as he came in.
He was done and happened to come in just when she was in that sore mood. She smiled not out of just excitement but was relieved someone had something to say at least. The man was done and stated that he was famished as he went over to wash his hands. Claire went to dish out some for him which he accepted. He took a little taste and turned to her asking if she had ever been to a chef school before.
“No.” Claire said waiting patiently for it to drop
“You really sure because this tastes exquisite.” he said to her smiling.
She could tell he was being honest and thanked him. He asked if Tristan had eaten to which she said yes. He wanted to know what he thought to which Claire said nothing. The man paused for a while and asked if he yelled at her, she said no. He asked about the quantity he had eaten as well, he replied her. The old man smiled and said that if all that had happened, then Tristan enjoyed the meal definitely.