Money Can't Buy Love

Chapter six

"I present to everyone here: buttermilk chicken with a crispy finish, with chips and salad on the side!" Kevin exemplifies the meal he has made with a huge smile. I nod at him, as does everyone else. After exchanging courtesy to Kevin from everyone for making the food, everyone starts eating. Kevin has also sat down to eat the meal with us.

The tender chicken is very delicate on the inside but crispy in its outer texture, which I like. The potato chips are perfectly flaky and with no hint of undercooked squidginess. The green salad also adds a great variety of textures to the meal. The presence of apple juice makes this meal another twenty times better.

"Mmm, this is really good, Kevin! Where did you learn how to make chicken taste like this?" Karen speaks after wiping her mouth with a tissue.

"My grandmother taught me!" Kevin smiles at Karen after also wiping his mouth. "She also taught me how to make chips this crunchy!" Kevin answers a question no one asked but one that, I'm sure, everyone in the room had on their minds. Kevin is very pleased with himself but is evidently awaiting my verdict.

"How did you do this, may I ask?" Maria asks while pointing at the chips with her fork, appearing satisfied.

As he tells everyone at the table how he made the chips this crunchy, explaining how he used the fryer provided in the kitchen and just the right amount of oil to cook them beforehand, I can't help but look at Hannah. The features of her face are beyond ideal. She is gorgeous.

Hannah, Kevin, and I are the first to finish eating. We respectfully wait for Karen and Maria to enjoy their meals fully. Once everyone is finished eating, I clear my throat and speak, looking at Kevin.

"This was a lunch I will probably not be able to forget for a while," I can see Kevin's smile growing with every word that comes out of my mouth, "it was brilliant! Thank you so much, Kevin, for making such a delicious meal!" I nod appreciatively at Kevin. After I say my words of appreciation, Maria and Karen say something similar to Kevin, but Karen goes into a bit of detail in her description of the food she just ate. She describes how the chips' crust was just crispy enough and perfectly cooked - the inside had a snowy white interior, and I couldn't agree more. Karen knows how to describe good food. I can't. I don't do this often - say words of appreciation for food; a, because it's typical that the chef eats beforehand, but I have no problem with Kevin eating with us; and b, because the food that gets prepared for me, Karen can back me up on this, is often not up to this standard. Karen is typically the shift leader most days of the week, plus she always eats the food that gets cooked with me.

"Thank you very much, I tried really hard to make this the best meal I ever made, and I will continue to do so for you," Kevin receives all of the compliments about his cooking very well and looks at us as a whole. I noticed that Hannah has been very quiet this entire time.

Hannah's PoV:

While the ladies and Michael discuss Kevin's outstanding cooking abilities, I cannot help but enter a daydreaming state, staring blankly into the window opposite me. My elbow is rudely on the table while my hand holds my chin.

What happens now? Will I be rich? I always dreamed of becoming rich, as has anyone really, right? But, like, I have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become Michael's girlfriend - that's crazy. A lot of thoughts circulate around in my head with this in mind. Will I need to get ready for the Ricketts show? What even is the Ricketts show? I really need to watch the first Ricketts show. I also need to ask my sisters about it too. They would know the most about it, above anyone else. But, also, do I want to be Michael's girlfriend? Do I want that much pressure on me? Pressure from everyone judging me, judging my every move, and then me being paranoid about it.