Ember
It had been four days since I had the interview. It was heading into the weekend now. I had heard nothing back from anyone. My eyes went back and forth to the slip of paper on the table. The one with Carter’s number on it. Should I call him? No. Better to leave it alone and let them call first. Calling too much could make me sound desperate, and with men such as themselves, desperate would sound weak. I had been researching other restaurants in the area that I could apply for, although I really wanted to work at Moonlight.
Something about it called to me. I was never one to believe in destiny, but if I did, I just knew that Moonlight was it. I would lead that high class restraint as a top chef, leading my own chefs into the battle of cooking. I was a natural leader. Something that came easy to me once I trained Ryder’s chefs. Leading people was also another skill I had possessed.
My thoughts ate at me. Had I really not made a great impression? I know my resume was fake, but a lot of it was my actual accomplishments. Just the name of the school was different. My eyes trained on the paper again. I guess curiosity really did kill the cat. I texted Carter.
Hey, I’m checking in. Any updates? I waited for a response and saw the chat bubbles instantly.
Strange. I was just about to text you. Can I come up? The response from him said, I cocked my head in curiosity. He wasn’t really here, was he?
I kind of look like a bum today. Are you really here? I sent it back.
You have your address on your resume, and I don’t mind how you look. He sent. Fine, I said out loud. He wanted the bum look; he was going to get it. Thankfully, I had on the cute black satin matching pjs with the pink lace.
Yea, I’ll buzz you in. I told him. I buzzed him in, and I swear like seconds later I heard a knocking on my door. I ran a brush quickly through my hair, letting it fall over my shoulders before opening the door. There he stood, in a white polo shirt and blue denim jeans. The change surprised me. I had only seen him in suits. He looked fantastic in a suit, but he looked even more delicious in regular clothes. I was so glad I had spent the previous morning cleaning up the studio.
” Um… Hi”, I said to him. His smile was enough to make my breath hitch.
” Hello yourself. I was wondering what you were doing today?”, he asked. He didn’t even seem bothered. I had not yet invited him in. He was hot, but I was not going to let him in without making sure his intentions were not good at first. People are crazy. Ryder, for example. My trust level was not great.
” No plans, other than watching the ninth season of Hell’s Kitchen” I told him. His face lit up.
” Are you kidding? I fucking love that show. I’m on season eleven, ” he said, and I laughed. It was nice to find that we had something in common.
” Anyways, I was wondering if you would accompany me today. I know you’re new around here, and I could show you the city and other things”, he said. That took me by surprise, and I narrowed my eyes. Was this a ploy to sleep with him?
” Do you do this with all of your applicants?”, I asked him.
” Only the pretty ones”, he said, before leaning on my entrance door. That confirmed what I was thinking. His eyes lusted after me, and though I loved it, I had to keep my dignity. I would not be known as a Miami slut. Powerful or not, he would know where I stand.
” Thank you for the invitation, Carter, but I am not one of those types of women who sleeps with the boss to secure a position, and if that is what this is, feel free to leave and remove my application. You can leave now”, I said before slamming the door in his face, but not before seeing the shock on his face. I heard his footsteps leave after a minute of probably standing there wondering what he would say. I was heated, and I didn’t really know why. Did he think I was easy? Some easy hookups? Just how many others had he done this with? I heard another knock on my door.
” GO AWAY”, I yelled.
” What did I do?”, I heard the voice reply. I went to open the door and found Jax, my neighbor, standing there.
” Oh shit, hey Jax” I said and let him in. Jax was one of the neighbors on my floor who helped me carry groceries and stuff when I had come back from my interview. We had been talking when passing each other in and out, and I had even cooked for him as a thanks. I found out Jax also worked at Moonlight as a server, so at least if I had been employed, I would have been familiar with his face. Jax was handsome enough, standing at six feet, with short brown hair and silver eyes. He definitely had this aura around him that was so likable, and I knew we would be friends the second I met him.
” Was that Mr. Moonstone?”, he asked me, taking a seat at my table. He raised an eyebrow at me, and I smirked.
” Yea, I think he wants to sleep with me”, I told him, and he laughed.
” You? Are you sure? He doesn’t usually go for your kind”, Jax said, and I cocked my head in confusion.
” What do you mean, my kind?”, I asked him, and he realized what he had said.
“Uh…. What I meant was…. Your type. I don’t think he likes redheads. Never seen him with one, is all. I could be wrong though”, he said, shrugging, and catching himself. I suspected he meant something else but said nothing else about it. He looked serious then.
” If he does, though, just be careful. You wouldn’t be the first woman to get hurt. Both of them have rejected many women. . They are looking for a real prize, and if the women are not the one they seek, they will be discarded. I’ve seen it happen”, Jax said, and I nodded.
” Well, I’m certain Seth hates me, and Carter seems to just be horny for me. Lucky for me, I am available to no one but my passion. Cooking. So that’s that”, I said to him and he nodded.
” Interesting”, he muttered, but I overheard it.
” So, what are your plans today? Hell’s Kitchen?”, he asked.
” You know me so well”, I said, hopping on the bed. He pulled the kitchen chair next to the bed, sitting down on it. He too enjoyed the anger that Gordon displayed to make his chefs the best they could be. I wonder what it would be like to work alongside Gordon one day. One thing I had loved about Jax was that he seemed to be respectful. He would make sure to avert his eyes if my tit popped out of my blouse and would make sure to tell me so I could cover up. He never tried to take advantage of me, and I respected him for it. Something deep down inside me sort of missed Carter, I thought to myself, as I watched one of the chefs struggle to prepare a meal. The way he drank in my appearance. The way he talked to me, with his deep yet hypnotic voice. In another life, I may have even gone with him. I had no idea why I even allowed myself to trust Jax. Probably because I know Jax wanted nothing from me but my company. He lived alone and didn’t sleep around. He said he was saving himself for someone special he was soon to be dating, and I believed him. Whoever she was, she was a lucky woman. I ended up falling asleep. I had a strange dream that Seth was standing over me, looking at me with so many emotions on his face. Like he wanted to touch me but was afraid to.
” Seth”, I murmured, with half sleepy eyes.
” Shh. Back to sleep you go”, he said, pulling the cover over me. I awoke with a start suddenly. The window was open, and the curtain was blowing softly. The TV was off and Jax was gone. He must have tucked me in, then turned the TV off. It wasn’t the first time he had done it and I was grateful. I was wondering though why he opened the window. My dream of Seth stirred me though, and I was feeling watched now. I closed the window and locked the door to the apartment before climbing back in bed and falling back to sleep.