The CHEF from Burhan & Sons

Chapter 19 - Liam

"There's no need for you to be worried", Tate kept telling me and it wasn't calming me down at all. This is the first time Amy is meeting my family and it's freaking me out.

I'm okay with them making comments about me when we're alone but doing that in front of my girlfriend will make me look lame. I can't have that. "This was a bad idea, we could have at least told them so they know to behave", I told Tate when we saw the cars approaching the front of the mansion. "Relax little bro", he said being his usual laid-back person who thought everyone was nice.

"Hey guys, welcome to the best family dinner of your lives", Tate said as they walked in. We went to the living room and the maid brought cocktails for everyone.

"Hi guys, sorry we were putting some finishing touches in the dining room. It's nice to see you all and welcome", Sandy said making Mum stand and hug her.

"Hello, I'm Marianna Reviello and you are?", Mum said to Amy. "Uh... Amaryllis Dwyer, it's a pleasure meeting you", she said nervously making me want to go and stand next to her but Tate pulled me back. "So you're the one he named the restaurant after? Huh... interesting", she said then went back to the couch. I saw Amy relax. She was holding Sandy's hand the whole time.

We ate dinner in peace... thankfully. No one made a mean comment. After dessert, we went back to the living room. I made sure to sit next to my Amy. "This wasn't so bad", she whispered making me kiss her temple.

"You know, I have to be honest. I thought you weren't real", Mark said making Rose laugh. "You and me both", she said then sipped some champagne. "Well, she is", I said making Rose raise a brow. Here we go.

"So what do you do Amy?", Dad asked. "I'm a trainer for corporates, specialising in building team efficiency and helping corporates create strategies that suit their area of expertise", she said with confidence which startled my Dad. "Oh really? Which company?", Rose asked. "Eternal Creation Consulting", she answered. "Oh ECC? I know the owner of that company. A very ambitious young woman", Dad said and he looked impressed which made me relax a little.

"So what is your position at ECC?", Mum asked with a raised brow. I felt uncomfortable like they were interrogating her. I didn't like it. She squeezed my hand lightly without looking at me. "I'm in operations", she said toning it down. "You mean you're the COO", Mark said holding out his phone. It had the list of the executives with my Amy looking sexy in a corporate portrait. "Yes I am", she said and finally a smile appeared on my Mum's face.

"How's the restaurant going kid?", Mark asked. "It's going great Mark. Thanks for asking", I said feeling uncomfortable. "It's weird because I don't see anyone talking about you. How are you supposed to stay on the map that way? Get one of those Michelin things?", Mum asked and I honestly don't get why that had to be a measure of my success.

"Mum, people get picked by them you don't just go and tell them you want the star and get it. It's a process", I said feeling a light squeeze on my hand. "Ok, then why don't you try harder? You've been at it for a year and if you say it's doing good then shouldn't we be seeing you in some TV shows? I mean, I see chefs do such stuff. Make a documentary or something. You have a powerful woman for a girlfriend. She has her title to show off what do you have?", Mum said and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I stood up and went to Tate's home office. I wanted to be alone.

I heard the door open and when I looked up, it was Amy. She walked up to me and put my face in her hands. "You're perfect Liam. You don't have to please anyone. Do what you love and I'm sure your work will do the rest ok?", she said and I nodded. I wanted to cry but there was no way in hell I would do it in front of my girlfriend.

She pulled me in a kiss and I just melted like a puppet until someone cleared their throat. We turned and saw Mum standing by the door. "May I speak to you, in private?", she asked calmly making Amy nod and leave the room.

"She's a wonderful woman", she said while avoiding my eyes. "Yeah, I know", I said feeling my eyes water. "I'm sorry Liam. I didn't mean to say it like that, I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of your girlfriend. "But you did it anyways. Mum, I know you and Dad don't appreciate the career path I chose but that doesn't mean that you should talk me down every chance you get", I said while wiping my tears away.

"I know and I apologise", she said then sat down. I finally looked at her in the eyes. "It's ok Mum, just appreciate the little that I do. I know I don't have any trophies to show like Mark or Rose or Tate but I'm happy. When I cook and someone's willing to pay for my food, that's the award I'm looking for.

The way they smile when they eat the food that I prepared. That's my moment of triumph. I thrive in such feeling and I need you and the rest of the family to understand that", I said and I felt better.

"I understand son. I'm sorry", she said standing up and finally pulling me in a hug. We returned to the living room where we found Amy and Rose talking about training sessions that Amy did in the past. Rose looked genuinely interested. At least something was going right.

"She's got brains. I like her. Make sure you don't lose her again because I will personally take care of your assassination", Dad said making me chuckle. "I spoke to your mother. I'm sorry son", he said patting my shoulder. "It's ok Dad, just be there for me. Please", I said making him hug me. "I am son, I am". "Honey, we should get going", Mum said making him pull back.

"Thanks for dinner man", i told Tate while Amy said goodbye to Sandy. We were the last ones to leave. "You're welcome, man. I told you it would all be ok. Trust me next time", he said and I nodded. "Thank you Tate", Amy said and hugged him. "You're welcome gorgeous", he said hugging her back. We went to my truck and drove away.

"Can we go look at the house tomorrow?", she asked and I remembered that I wasn't going to work so I agreed. "They were finishing the sink installations today so I think they will be done by the end of the week but we'll know for sure tomorrow", I said with my eyes on the road.