Eat or Be Eaten (MewGulf AU)

🌞Chapter 1🌻

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When it came to winning people over, Gulf Kanawut was a battle-hardened veteran.

That makes him sound like a playboy, but he in the business of wooing women. It wasn't relationships that he was trying to talk people into.

Gulf worked for a management consulting agency and used his charms on people in business negotiations. His specialty was franchise projects for restaurants. There wasn't a single restaurant in his care that didn't prosper, his record was almost perfect for rehabilitating restaurants after a downturn in business.

When his clients had no idea what they needed to do, that made Gulf's job that much easier: the client accepted his every suggestion without ever needing to be convinced.

Of course, he never neglected the background arch. Market data was indispensable, but Gulf also extensively investigated his clients' attitudes and compiled data to understand their strengths and weaknesses. He used exactly the same methodology businesses as he did for individuals. Between his thorough analysis of the data and his readiness to adapt, he often understood his clients better than they did themselves.

There were some who said he valued the data above all else; but since that was what had made him a success, Gulf never let the critics bother him.

Some said that his medium build and slender outline in a suit, combined with his willowy face, made him look like a character from teen romances. With his long eyelashes, pale white skin, and softly blushing lips, he was a refreshing breeze among all the stem businessmen.

Gulf was perfectly aware of the impression be made. But he insisted it was only an appearance. He was a respected businessman and possessed a flinty. straightforward personality. His world offered only two choices for anything: love or hate, win or lose, yes or no He hated when things were left unclear.

He had a serene speaking style which, combined with his feminine looks, made it easy to overlook the fact that he was at heart a brutal realist with a sharp tongue That was another thing that made him famous among consultants.

For some time now, Gulf had been mulling over a problem. Once he decided to do something, he threw himself into it headlong. He would spare no effort in order to succeed, so he ought to have wrapped this one up in a snap, but it just wasn't happening.

But at this moment, Gulf was instead intently focused on the mouth-watering roast beef sitting on his plate, just the sight of which made life seem worth living. It came with a ris de vein herb-grilled sweetbread and scallion sauce, with steamed carrots and bright green spinach on the side. The vegetables had been lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, giving them a delightful taste

Gulf cut the tender meat with the barest pass of his knife. He smeared it with some sauce, speared a clump of spinach and brought the sample to his mouth. It had a mellow aroma; the meat and sauce had the most exquisite taste he'd ever experienced.

"This is incredible."

He couldn't keep his feelings to himself, letting slip these simple words.

It wasn't just the meat that was so masterfully prepared, either. The worine de foie gras he'd had as an appetizer, the freshly baked bread, and the dessert were all uniformly excellent. And Gulf wasn't the only one to derive such pleasure from his meal. The customers at the tables around him all use contented miles on their faces.

Gulf had first came to this restaurant, Individu, one month ago. The restaurant's name meant "individual" in French.

He had come back often after his first visit, sometimes as often as three times in one week, other times only once for lunch or dinner. He had sampled just about everything on the menu and it was all, without exception, delicious.