Salivating After You

The Chef

After the shower, she decided to take a ride to the mountains. She needed fresh air combined with a beautiful view away from everyone so she could clear her mind. She expected to see the papers this morning but there was nothing for her downstairs. She parked her car by the cliff and turned off the engine. She sat watching down at the tiny houses and tiny cars. She wondered if this was what they had on the piece of paper before they started building what was now a city. She thought of what she would do next. Where she would live and what she would do to occupy herself at least until she was good with herself. On her way home, she made some phone calls and when she got home, there was five men waiting for her. She opened the door and let them in. She sat down in the kitchen by the counter with a huge smile, she spoke "Thank you so much for coming on a such short notice. Introduce yourself and the dish you have prepared." 

"Hi, my name is Josh and I made you pan-fried garlic butter steak served with potatoes and asparagus." He said as he stepped forward and placed the food on the counter. Zuri pulled the plate towards her and slant down before smelling the food. The five men were taken aback by her action but did not say anything. They all watched with anticipation as she sliced into the steak and took a bite. She closed her eyes as she chewed and frowned before she let out an appreciative  moan. Josh's shoulders relaxed as smile creeped through his face.

"Hi, my name is Blake and I made Italian baked fish." And the same was done by Zuri, from the smelling to the appreciative moan. She watched as the third guy step up but he had nothing on his hand. She frowned as she watched him discreetly wipe his hand on the side of his pants. "Hi!" He spoke in a rough voice before he cleared his throat, "my name is George and I did not bring anything with me because I believe that every household has a unique taste. So I will make whatever it is that your taste buds desire and I'll improve to make sure the foods I make are to your liking."

"How long have you been a chef for?" Zuri asked leaning forward. 

"I graduated culinary school last year however I have been cooking since I was 13. It's a passion of mine." He elaborated. She moved the two plate towards him and nod to their direction saying that he should take a bite. He hesitated for a second but then he tried the steak first. "Wow!" He spoke with a mouthful, "that is really good. The garlic flavor really embodies the steak."

"I know!" Zuri said excitedly. He proceeded to trying the fish and he pulled his head back right after he took the bite. "Is that.... is that Italian dressing?" He asked turning to Blake and Blake nodded. 

"Home made?" He asked and Blake nodded yet again. "That is probably the best Italian dressing flavor I have ever had," he said.

"Who would you hire?" Zuri asked. She watched as he wavered and she continued, "honest opinion, they are chefs; I don't think they will mind."

"Personally?! Neither. I would most definitely visit their restaurant on nights out but I would not hire them just for a simple reason which is; and I know it does not look it but I'm actually middle eastern and I grew up with my mom's home cooked meals and so that is my comfort." He spoke looking at the two men. She smiled because she had just understood why he did not bring food. She had never thought of it like that just because she had never had someone cook for her but it actually made sense. 

"Well gentlemen, you heard the man. Thank you for coming however that concludes our interview." Zuri spoke seating up.

"What?!" George spoke, astonished. He watched  as the four men that were standing behind him, turn around bamboozled and leave. He turned to look at her and she had the biggest smile on her face. "You are actually going to be cooking for a husband of mine. I do not need you to make me anything, I will be cooking for myself. When he gets here, you can ask him what food he likes but for today, just make anything that you think is eatable by anybody. Unless you can not start work today then I'll make other arrangements." She spoke in a business tone.

"No, I can start today," he replied promptly. 

"Good," she said as she started walking. "Come on, I'll show you your room." George was following behind her bewildered. He was never told that it was a live in type of situation. Walking out of the kitchen, they were met with a dining room and they went down a short hallway which had two doors on either side of the walls. They ended up out the back where they were met with a huge swimming pool and next to it was a well sized hot tub. He was so focused on the clear blue water that he didn't realize that there was a whole house across from the pool. They stopped by the door of the two story house and Zuri turned around to look at him. He looked down at his shoes and shrugged. She opened the door and they went straight upstairs. When she opened the door to the bedroom, George was shocked, he tried his best keep his mouth from opening. Compare to the inside the main house, this was definitely a no downgrade. The room was huge with a kingsize bed in the center of the room. The left of the room, there was dest equipped with all the electronics. Computer, keyboard, mouse, there was even a headset stand with headset on it. She walked towards the right of the room and she opened the door to the bathroom and it was no disappointment. She was explaining where everything was but he was too focused on the physicality of it all. Inside the bathroom, there was a sliding door that you could mistake as part of the wall design but it was actually the closet. In the middle of the closet, there was a bench and ahead there was a full size wall-mounted mirror. Walking back downstairs, she showed him the kitchen, dining room and the living room. "So this is you. This where you will be staying. You are more than welcome to change things up, maybe paint the walls a different color. All up to you. You are not required to stay here but I do understand that I live in the middle of no where so if you ever feel too tired to drive home. The choice is yours." She spoke looking at him.

"Will you charge rent off my checkif I stay here?" George asked almost sounding afraid. She frowned and shook her head no.

"Of course not! Everything is taken care for. This just comes with the job. Might not happen but you will have an advance notice if it does whenever I have guests over that need to be fed."She spoke.

"This is like a whole house!" He spoke again, bewildered. 

"I know right?! If you ever decide that you want to make this your new home, then you are more than welcome to invite people over. We are pretty far apart so I won't hear anything if you ever decide to have a gathering or a party. If you ever need help, you can press this," she handed him the keys and in the keychain, there was something that looked like an airtag. Walking into the dining room, she took off the khaki envelope off the table and handed it to him. "This is your contract. We will renew as we go but read it over. If you need to make some changes to it, you are more than welcome to do so and I will review them." They walked out of the house together and before she could go back to the main house she said, "I do need those papers by tomorrow morning by the way. And please do not feel bad for the other four. Their life will move on and this experience won't make any difference in their life." With that, she walked back in the main house and George walked back to the house slowly. Not believing that this is his new life.