Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
F ish stood at his station in Chow Town. His hands moved with practiced precision, but his mind was elsewhere, focused on the bakery and the repairs happening over there. He wanted to rush through his prep for today's service, but he knew better. Jacqui had been especially meticulous since returning to the kitchen, and she would make him redo his work if it wasn’t perfect.
He could feel her eyes on him, watching his every move. Jacqui was still fuming over his decision to hand in his two weeks' notice. However, there wasn't much steam coming out of her ears since she knew that he planned to work full-time at the bakery. In fact, Fish thought he spied an upward tug at the corner of her lips.
It looked suspiciously like approval. There was a shadow of encouragement there, too. All that was missing were the pompoms to cheer him on.
Fish wondered if the eldest Chou was rooting him on? Or was Jacqui just relieved that Amari now had a formidable opponent? Fish thought it might be the latter, since there was a whole cheering section made up of Chou women.
Realizing that he had their support gave Fish a surge of confidence. If the Chou family was behind him, he had a fighting chance. This wasn't just about fixing the bakery or proving himself capable—this was about winning Jules' heart. He needed a strategy, a plan of attack, to break through the defenses she had built around herself after being with Amari for so long.
With the precision of a seasoned soldier preparing for battle, Fish began to formulate his plan. He would take it one step at a time, each gesture and action designed to show Jules that he was the one she could rely on, the one who truly understood and cherished her. This was a mission he couldn't afford to fail. Winning her love would be the ultimate victory, and Fish was ready to deploy every tactic he had to make it happen.
He adjusted his grip on the knife, making sure each slice was even and precise. The repetitive motion usually calmed him, but today it felt like an obstacle. Just as he was starting to find his rhythm, there was a clap on his back, startling him. The knife slipped, the cut going off course. Fish turned, glaring at his best friend, who was grinning like a fool.
Noah chuckled, unrepentant. "Sorry, buddy. Didn’t mean to mess you up. Just excited to hear about this upcoming marriage to Jules."
"It's supposed to be a secret."
Fish's gaze swept the kitchen. The room was filled with the sizzle of pans, the clatter of utensils, and the mouthwatering aromas of ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. Stainless steel surfaces gleamed under the bright overhead lights, reflecting the organized chaos. And all eyes were on him.
At the fry station, Nia flipped a wok of golden tempura, giving him a smirk. Beside her, the saucier Aarav whisked a fragrant soy glaze with one hand and gave him a thumbs up with the other. At the grill station, Elena held out her hands to the prep cook Liam. The two were always betting on something or other. This time, it looked like Liam had lost whatever bet was between them. The young man handed over a five-dollar bill and then glowered at Fish as though the loss was his fault.
So much for his stealth training. Apparently, not only was the secret of his impending nuptials out, but it looked like his feelings for Jules had been known by everyone for a while now. At least, everyone but Jules herself knew how he felt about her.
"I can't believe he's letting you marry his girl." Noah snuck a raw vegetable from the chopping board, but not before peering over Fish's shoulder to ensure his wife wasn't looking.
"She's not his girl. She's going to be my wife."
"And he's all the more fool to expect you'll let her go." Noah reached for another vegetable, but this time Fish smacked the man's hand away. Noah frowned like a toddler being denied a cookie.
"You'll stand up with me at the wedding?"
A grin broke out, replacing Noah's frown. "I'll stand with you then and the day the idiot tries to come for your wife." Noah clapped him on the back again, this time more gently. "You better fix those knife cuts before Jacqui sees. She’ll have your head."
Fish looked down at his perfect cuts. The first thing he saw was Noah's hand snagging another vegetable. By the time Fish looked up, Noah was already out of his reach, the vegetable disappearing inside of his chuckling mouth.
"Nice job, Fish," Jacqui said, coming up on his other side.
Jacqui's praise startled him more than Noah's stealthy theft. Fish still wasn't used to all the compliments that came out of her mouth. Married life agreed with the exacting chef. It wasn't that her standards had relaxed since marrying Noah. In fact, they'd increased. But she now cooked in the kitchen alongside her staff and gave out almost a quarter as many compliments as she barked orders.
"Thank you, Chef."
Jacqui reached out a hand expectantly. As a soldier, Fish had been trained never to let go of his weapon. A kitchen was a battlefield. But this was his commanding officer.
Turning the blade around, he passed over the handle. Jacqui took the knife from his hand. With a fluid motion, she turned the blade on him, the sharp pint glinting under the fluorescent lights.
His muscles tightened in response to the sudden threat. He knew that no one else in the kitchen would come to his defense if the head chef decided to gut him. Jacqui's smile remained sweet, but her eyes held a steely determination.
"If you hurt my sister, I will filet you with your own knife."
"I'd turn that blade on myself before I'd let anyone hurt Jules. Myself included."
Jacqui's scrutiny was intense, her gaze piercing as if she could see right through him. Fish held still, every muscle taut, hoping he passed muster. He hadn't been this tense since basic training under the most demanding drill sergeant.
"Good." Jacqui lowered the knife, flipping it in the air and catching the blade in her fingertips with practiced ease. She held out the handle to him.
Fish would deny his fingers trembled when he took his knife back.
"What I mean by hurting her is that you’d better keep her away from Amari. He’s not right for her. You are."
Fish felt a rush of emotions—surprise, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility. "Yes, Chef."
Jacqui nodded, her expression softening slightly. "She deserves someone who truly cares about her dreams, someone who’ll stand by her no matter what."
"Yes, Chef." Fish wholeheartedly agreed.
Jacqui’s smile returned, warmer this time. "I’m rooting for you, Fish."
Fish was humbled by her words, the gravity of her support sinking in. "Thank you, Chef."