Beauty and the beast

17

I know it's not Wednesday. The internet was down but here's the update.

Nadia's POV

It's been three weeks since I returned from France.

Things with Liam have been going great. He asked me to be his girlfriend two weeks ago. We went on a date to a Korean restaurant because I mentioned I wanted to try Korean barbeque. At the end of the night, he asked me before I left the house.

We still facetime whenever we have the chance. We're both busy but we're making it work.

I sadly haven't been seeing Cassandra as much. She's either with her friends or I'm working late.

Mateo has been way harsher on me now. More work, later hours, exploding whenever. I don't know what his problem is. It's not like I was the one who rejected him.

"Delivery for Ms Matthews,"

I looked up at the delivery man who had a bouquet of roses in his hand. I slowly stood and signed for the bouquet before he left.

I smelt the roses and grinned as I picked up the note.

Hope this makes your day a little bit better. I miss you <3
~ Liam

Liam is currently away on a business trip so him doing this for me from another country made my day a thousand times better.

I placed them down on my desk and made a mental note to get a vase for those on my way home.

I picked up my phone to thank Liam for the beautiful roses before I continued typing the report I was assigned. It was a report on a new investment the company recently made. I had to try to predict the outcome of this over the next few years based on data.

"Matthews, I need the Freiberg file," Mateo ordered through the intercom, snapping me out of my work trance.

I sighed and walked into his office. I used the step stool I put next to his cabinet to reach the F section. I could feel his eyes burning holes into my back but I paid him no mind.

I placed the file down on his table and turned my heels to leave his office. I was about to reach the door but Mateo's words stopped me in my tracks.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?"

I hummed and turned back to take a seat in front of him.

He rose from his seat and stood next to the chair I sat in. He rubbed the back of his neck as he evaded my gaze. Swallowing before he spoke.

"Look, about-"

"Mateo, c'è un problema con il baby shower di Luisa" an older lady frantically expressed interrupting Mateo.

(there is a problem with Luisa's baby shower)

She was gorgeous. Fair, clear skin. Long brunette hair, that she wore in a single braid. An angelic facial structure graced with tiny smile lines.

"Honey, I told you Mateo was busy," Mr Hernandez groaned as he entered shortly behind the woman.

I assume that is his wife and Mateo's mother.

Looking at the couple was like staring at a fairytale. They fit together perfectly. Both elegant and gracefully aged.

"Ah, Nadia. You're still here. I thought Mateo would've gotten on your nerves by now," Mr Hernandez joked shifting the attention to me.

"He can't get rid of me that easily," I joked back as I stood to greet the couple.

"Good afternoon Mr Hernandez, Mrs Hernandez. Is there anything I can get you?" I asked getting ready to take my leave.

"Oh my, you're the Nadia Marcello speaks about. lei è davvero una bellezza naturale," Ms Hernandez spoke and I looked at Mateo for some sort of help.

(she is truly a natural beauty)

"Excuse us, Matthews," he stated and I nodded, taking a beeline for my office.

I continued working, trying my best not to think about what Mateo was about to say. He almost looked like he was sorry for something. Could he have wanted to apologise? No, it cant be.

I shook my head and continued typing.

The conversation on the other side of my door continued, their tones giving away nothing on the nature of their discussion. I would occasionally feel eyes on me but I wouldn't look up.

"Matthews, come in here for a second" Mateo's voice came from the intercom and I moved into his office.

I wiped my sweaty hands down on my black trousers as I waited for his instructions.

"Mom, this is Nadia. She has a catering company and I'm sure you can trust her skills. I've tasted her work myself and I highly recommend it," 

My eyes shot out of my skull as I looked at Mateo. He was recommending my business to his mother to solve whatever problem she came in with.

"Really? You're very picky with food so if you approve I'll trust it," Mateo's mom spoke while looking at him.

"Nadia dear, my daughter-in-law, Luisa is having a baby shower this Saturday. Sadly, the caterer fell through at the last minute and no one can take on the order at such short notice. Do you think you can handle it?" 

Today is Wednesday. If I have to get it done by Saturday, I'll need to take off from work and get help of some sort.

This is going to be my biggest order yet.

"You can have off until then," Mateo stated, reading my mind.

"I'll do it," I stated

I might be biting off more than I can chew but catering to the Hernandez family will be good publicity for my company. I'm just going to trust my intuition with this one.

We immediately started discussing the menu. There will be 135 people attending so it should be a buffet-style setup. Thankfully, I just needed to do the cooking and baking. The servers will do the rest.

I needed to make a three-tier chocolate cake with blue frosting because fondant isn't everyone's favourite. A bunch of red velvet, vanilla and chocolate cupcakes and cake pops. I also needed to rent out a chocolate fountain for strawberries along with a cotton candy machine. 

For the savoury food, we were thinking of doing wraps, chicken tenders, quesadillas, tacos, arepas. Basically all the mom's cravings and some other options for everyone else.

By other options I mean rice and chicken or vegetarian options.

We returned to Mateo and Mr Hernandez after we discussed everything. They sat in his office talking quietly amongst themselves.

Mateo noticed us first, his eyes immediately meeting mine. I looked away unable to hold his gaze.

Mr Hernandez rose and embraced his wife. Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

I watched as she unconsciously rubbed his hand with her own. A small gesture of love.

"You're done?" He asked and she looked up at him as she nodded.

"We'll be leaving. Thank you again Nadia. I'll be in communication with the location and any changes. See you on Saturday," Mrs Hernandez stated and I watched Mateo walk them out.

They stood at the elevator talking before Mateo turned to me. Mrs Hernandez smiled at me so I returned it with a light one of my own.

I returned to my office and started digging through my contacts for a few helping hands. I haven't had an order this big so five hands would have to do.

I called my friend, Marianna for that. She owed me a favour so I had to cash in now.

Marianna agreed to get a group of her best students to help me so I had kitchen help sorted.

Now all I need to do is not fuck this up.

Easy, right.