Chapter 2 The Billionaire #3
Skill evaluations.
Recruiter interviews.
Every stage produced the same result.
Strong candidate.
Excellent chef.
Recommended for final consideration.
Today had been the final test.
The tasting.
The interview.
The opportunity to determine whether memory matched reality.
Ethan arrived later than intended.
A board call delayed him.
By the time he entered the penthouse kitchen, Oliver had already finished cooking.
The sight stopped him briefly.
The chef looked different than he remembered.
Thinner.
More tired.
The months following bankruptcy had clearly left their mark.
Yet the essential qualities remained.
The same focused blue eyes.
The same quiet confidence.
The same presence.
For several seconds, Ethan simply watched.
Oliver hadn't noticed him yet.
Something uncomfortable settled in Ethan's chest.
Awareness.
Anticipation.
Interest.
Emotions he generally preferred avoiding.
Then Oliver turned.
Their eyes met.
Recognition didn't appear.
Of course not.
To Oliver, Ethan was simply another billionaire.
Another potential employer.
The memory belonged entirely to Ethan.
The realization should have provided relief.
Instead, it felt strangely disappointing.
The tasting menu exceeded expectations.
Every course demonstrated skill.
Precision.
Creativity.
More importantly, personality.
Many chefs could cook.
Far fewer communicated something meaningful through food.
Oliver could.
Ethan recognized it immediately.
Interesting.
That single word had been deliberate.
He couldn't reveal too much in front of executives.
Not when his interest already bordered on inappropriate.
Because that was the problem.
The one Ethan preferred not examining too closely.
His interest had stopped being professional months ago.
Long before today's interview.
Long before the tasting menu.
Long before Oliver walked through the penthouse doors.
The realization irritated him.
He disliked losing control.
Especially over something as unpredictable as attraction.
For years, Ethan had carefully guarded his private life.
The public knew almost nothing about his sexuality.
That was intentional.
The business world remained complicated.
Investors remained complicated.
Board members remained complicated.
Keeping certain parts of himself private made life easier.
Safer.
Cleaner.
Then Oliver Bennett arrived.
And suddenly Ethan found himself watching a chef across a kitchen instead of paying attention to financial projections.
Unacceptable.
Unfortunately, it was also true.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
Michael entered the office.
"The candidate has left."
Ethan nodded.
"And?"
Michael sat across from him.
"Technically, he's qualified."
Technically.
An interesting choice of words.
Ethan waited.
Michael continued.
"However, there are concerns."
Of course there were.
"There always are."
"He's coming off a bankruptcy."
"Economic circumstances."
"Perhaps."
Michael adjusted his glasses.
"The role requires stability."
Ethan already knew where this conversation was heading.
Predictable.
Safe candidates.
Low-risk hires.
Corporate thinking.
Normally, he agreed with it.
Today, he didn't.
Linda and Grant joined them several minutes later.
The discussion resumed.
Each executive voiced reservations.
Recent financial troubles.
Lack of private service experience.
Potential reputational concerns.
The arguments weren't unreasonable.
They simply didn't matter.
Because Ethan had already made his decision.
He waited until everyone finished speaking.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"Hire him."
Silence filled the room.
Michael blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"Hire Oliver Bennett."
Grant frowned.
"Immediately?"
"Yes."
Linda exchanged looks with the others.
"We haven't finalized evaluations."
"You have now."
The room fell silent again.
Ethan understood their confusion.
Normally he demanded extensive reviews before major decisions.
This wasn't normal.
Neither was Oliver.
Finally, Michael sighed.
"If that's your decision."
"It is."
The meeting ended shortly afterward.
Executives left.
The office emptied.
Ethan remained seated behind his desk.
Manhattan stretched beyond the windows.
Thousands of lights illuminated the city below.
For a long moment, he simply stared into the distance.
Then his gaze drifted toward the kitchen.
Toward the place where Oliver had stood only minutes earlier.
A strange satisfaction settled over him.
Dangerous.
Complicated.
Entirely unwanted.
Yet undeniable.
Oliver Bennett would be working in his home soon.
Eating meals across from him.
Walking those hallways.
Sharing parts of his daily life.
The thought should have felt purely professional.
It didn't.
Ethan knew that.
Acknowledged it.
Accepted it.
Then quietly made a promise to himself.
A promise nobody else would ever hear.
He would keep things under control.
He would remain professional.
He would maintain boundaries.
And he would absolutely not think about the fact that, after months of watching from a distance, Oliver Bennett was finally coming into his world.
Even if a small, selfish part of him already wanted the chef much closer than any employee should ever be.
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