Seducing The Chef (18+) (Billionaire Series #2)

29.Casatiello

I wake up to see the space on the bed beside me was empty. I slept in Vincent's bed last night. This was the first time I slept in his bed without having sex.

I got up and went to my room. I was about to give Marmalade some cat food for breakfast but I see that his bowl already filled with food. Vincent must have fed him already. Marmalade was purring happily as he was licking his paws. I know I am being biased but for me Marmalade is the cutest cat on earth. I just couldn't get enough of him. Sadly I can't give him much time since I am at work most of the time but he has been a good cat so far. Thank god he is already potty trained that made my life so much easier. He would occasionally scratch things like my bedsheet and my towel but other than that he was calm.

After freshening up I come outside to see Vincent having cereal for breakfast. Okay that is strange. He never had cereal for breakfast. Then I remembered he must be too hungover to prepare breakfast. I get inside the kitchen to make
a greasy breakfast for him.

I made some eggs and bacon with toast since that is the only thing I can make the best without screwing up. But I still ended up burning a slice of toast.

I handed the plate to him and took a seat beside him with my own plate of breakfast. "Thought greasy food might help you with your hangover."

"Thanks. Uhh about last night. I am sorry for all the convenience caused."

"No its alright. I hope you're okay now."

"Not really. But I will after this breakfast," he smiled at me. 

I smiled back and got back to eating my breakfast.

"Where did you go last night?"

"I bumped into an old friend of mine and we decided to catch up. So that's why it got pretty late."

"Uh try not to come so late at night. I don't really appreciate that."

I was quite offended by what he said but I tried to stay calm."Excuse me? But I can stay outside as long as I want. You have no say in that."

"Yes I do. My house my rules," he replied tersely.

"Not necessarily. First you tried to 'protect' me by not telling me about Elijah even though I had the right to know everything since I was being blamed for everything. Now you're telling me to come home at time. Hell if this is a house rule then you have to follow it too. But you often come home late so obviously it doesn't apply to you."

"Of course it doesn't. All I am saying is that it's not safe for you to stay outside this late and you didn't even inform me. What if you were-." He stopped mid sentence.

"What if I were what, Vincent? I don't get why you keep trying to make decisions for me. Also I don't need to report you about my whereabouts all the time." Right then I felt like I was back at the palace where my grandpa used to monitor every move of mine. I was never independent. I always had bodyguards to escort me everywhere. Perhaps that is the reason I never made friends in college. People used to think of me as a freak as I went around with two intimidating buff bodyguards all the time. After coming to New York for the first time I felt free. I felt independent. But now it seemed like I was getting back to that again. I know the situation isn't the same as before but it's quite similar to that and that was enough to get me anxious.

Before Vincent could say anything I stonped towards my room and closed the door behind me loudly. I just couldn't handle him being a jerk to me anymore.

...

I went to work earlier than Vincent. I came into to see the waiters cleaning up the place. I decided to help them since I needed to let out my frustration and cleaning was a good way. I fiercely mopped the floors as Lisa watched ke intently. "Girl, who got your panties in a twist this morning? I mean if your mop any harder the floorboard might just come off."

"Ugh I am very irritated." Then I went on to telling about the whole ordeal I had with Vincent in the morning.

"Okay I get he is being protective; it is cute and all. But this is too much. He has definitely lost his mind."

"Tell me about it." Right then Vincent arrived and informed us about an emergency meeting that we will have later.

The whole day I avoided Vincent like a plague.

It was lunch time. As usual Lisa and I were about to take some food and sit outside right then John stopped me. "Hey Nora do you mind if we have lunch together?" 

I hesitated since the last time I had an interaction with John he was blaming me for stealing money from the restaurant. "Uh sure. You can join us."

He looked at Lisa who was standing beside me and then he looked at me, "Maybe just the two of us. Outside. My treat."

"Uh okay." I guessed John and I both had a lot to say to each other.

"Yeah sure. I'll have lunch with someone else. As you can see I have a lot of friends here," Lisa said sardonically letting out an airy laugh.

I mouthed 'I'm sorry' to Lisa as John and I walked out of the restaurant.

John took me to the nearest expensive restaurant in the block since we had to return to the restaurant in less than an hour. I would have felt guilty about him treating me at such a fancy restaurant but I didn't care since the last time his behaviour towards me was horrible.

We ordered mini lobster rolls for appetizers and then for entrees I chose a honey garlic salmon for myself while John took a tenderloin steak.

The food came relatively fast and we digged in immediately since we got no time to spare.

"I'm sorry for behaving like that. I was stressed. I just couldn't see Vince losing anymore money. Last time it was his girlfriend who stole the money. I know it was wrong of me but this time I just presumed something like that happened again. We're already in so much debt. La Casa is on the verge of closing down and now I'm sort of panicking. I know I'm just a chef here but this restaurant means a lot to me. Vincent and I started this restaurant together and it's like my own kid. I can't let it close down."

"I am not Vincent's girlfriend so your presumption was wrong. Also as for the restaurant there is still way to save it. It's never too late."

"I know that you're not his girlfriend now that Vincent cleared everything out. I wasn't thinking straight. Again I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry but I can't forgive you that easily. You humiliated me in front of all my coworkers. I need some time to get over this."

After lunch we went back to the restaurant. Vincent was eyeing us as we walked into the restaurant five minutes after the break was over. I can tell by his expression that he really didn't like that but he refrained himself from saying anything.

...