His Kitten

Chapter Twenty-Two - Worth

"You are Jane I presume?" A woman's voice said to me as I waited where Jennifer had told me to.

"Yes ma'am. I'm Jane." I replied and she signaled for me to follow her.

We passed by a few large rooms where people sat and ate. It wasn't until we went on an elevator that I began to feel a bit nervous. We stopped at the tenth floor where the lady led me to a large door. She knocked on it, which was soon opened by a man.

This man seemed to be older, around his early twenties. He couldn't be more than twenty-five. His dark brown hair made his freckles pop as well as his dark blue eyes. An interesting combination as he seemed to be a bit intimidating, his features made it a bit hard to find him as such.

"Nice to meet you, Jane. I am Austin Nurthing, a head chef, and owner of my own pastry business." Austin extended his hand out towards me with a smile and I returned both the handshake and smile. "Jennifer told me a lot about you and unfortunately she couldn't make it here today due to some things from work."

Of course Jennifer couldn't make it. Not that I'm complaining about being here with Austin alone, because personally, I think I would learn better off this way anyway. Jennifer would've distracted me too much if she were here and now I don't feel as much pressure as before.

"Oh. Well, I brought a dessert I made yesterday as a thank you for allowing me this opportunity. Perhaps you could give me your own opinion on it?" I placed the small box I had brought the chocolate mousse cake on the counter.

Austin opened the box and soon cut the both of us a piece of cake. He was busy taking it all in, how I decorated it, what was inside, and all the good stuff while I simply ate mine as I watched.

"The filling is made from strawberries. I was going to make it from peaches instead but my weakness for strawberries got to me." I laughed as strawberries were my favorite fruit.

Maybe it's cause my parents use to make me strawberry shortcakes for my birthday or just anytime I did something that made them really proud. Oh, how I miss them. And those cakes.

"You said you made this by hand?" Austin questioned and I nodded as he took another bite from my cake. "Your skills are on par with some second and third-year students within the culinary arts."

I smiled.

"With more practice and schooling I'm sure you'll surpass even some of the more well-known chefs and bakers. This is just a thought. Nothing more. Nothing less." Austin's voice held a bit of edge to it.

"You're challenging me." I stated and soon enough a smirk appeared on Austin's lips.

"Not necessarily." He spoke. "Unless you would like to think otherwise. I just do not want you to raise your hopes only to have them crushed by reality. Because the reality is that it will be very hard for you to do all that I said you could Jane."

"You're right Austin. It will be hard. Possibly harder than anything else I've done in life for myself." I fired back at him. "But it does not mean I will not give it my best. After all, nothing is really impossible if you set your mind to it."

Austin smiled down at me as I stared back at him. There was no way I was backing out of this now. Not after I just began to take this culinary career as a realistic choice for me.

"Good. That's what I wanted to hear from you Jane." Austin patted my head. "After today I will teach you and show you all the things I know about the kitchen and all the beautiful things you can create from it."

"Sounds great. I'm ready to begin when you're ready to teach me." I couldn't contain the happiness I felt and I'm sure Austin could feel it as well.