ALICIA
Deep breath. You can do this, I tell myself, as my hand hovers on the handle of the door to Ryan Braddock’s office. Why does being here make me feel like I’m being called up in front of the principal?
A mental image of Ryan Braddock working in a school pop into my mind, and I have visions of both the female staff and students going wild over him. Like his four brothers, Ryan is hotter than Hades, but that’s where his similarities to his brothers end.
I don’t know the younger three well, but Antony Braddock -- the second oldest of the brothers -- is my direct boss and working with him is a delight.
Yes, he’s strict in the kitchen, like any head chef must be, but as a single parent, he’s fully understanding of my own family responsibilities.
We’re willing to make allowance for each other and help the other when we can.
Unlike Ryan.
I feel like he’s been breathing down my neck since the moment I agreed to cater the celebrity wedding. I get it, this is a huge deal for the resort, but he must trust that I know what I’m doing. Why did he offer the position to me, and not his brother, if he doesn't?
I knock on the office door, wait for Ryan to tell me I can enter, and then step inside.
Even though I know he’s already in there with the bride and groom, nothing prepares me for coming face-to-face with two of Hollywood’s elite.
No matter how many elite guests I cook for at the restaurant, meeting Hollywood’s celebrities up close and personal leaves me awestruck.
Today, especially so, as the bride-to-be is the biggest rising star from the year’s most popular TV show, and her fiancé is a former boyband heartthrob turned solo artist, whose single is currently sitting at the top of the billboard charts.
Ryan stands from his desk and steps forward to greet me.
“Alicia, just on time,” he says, gesturing me forward. “And please, allow me to introduce you to John Jones, and his fiancée Sarah Taylor.”
Sarah turns to me with a dazzling smile, her blue eyes wide and her golden hair glossy. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“You too,” I say, crossing to stand directly in front of her and offering my hand. Then I turn to John. “You too, Mr. Jones.”
John flashes me an easy smile. “John, please.”
I shake his hand, and then take the seat Ryan has reserved for me next to him, opposite the happy couple.
“Alicia here is our sous chef, and I’m confident in her abilities to create the perfect menu for your wedding, using locally sourced ingredients and the finest produce.”
I take out the leather-bound folder from my work satchel and slide it across the table to Sarah and John. “Here is the first draft of the menu, and once you’ve finished checking it over, I’d like to invite you down to the kitchen for some tasting samples.”
Sarah’s eyes sparkle with excitement and she reaches for the folder, pouring over it with undisguised interest. “Look John, the suggested first course is salad of asparagus, fiddleheads, arugula and chard.”
John’s gaze drifts towards the menu and then he frowns. “I don’t like arugula and chard, and where is the meat?”
“I purposely kept the first course light, because as you’ll see if you read on, I suggest a main course of roasted lamb, from a local farm in Rhinebeck,” I say, keeping my tone polite and civil.
I know what men are like when they become fixated on meat.
I get it, fresh meat is amazing, but they don’t have to go all caveman about it.
“Why don’t we head down to the kitchen and Alicia can cook some samples for you both,” Ryan suggests smoothly.
“That sounds amazing, I’ve always wanted to see inside a proper kitchen,” Sarah says, sliding out of her seat gracefully. Her excitement is infectious, and I can’t help but get swept away by her when she turns to me and says, “So, I wanted to discuss the wine list with you.”
Sarah and I chat about which wines will pair well with which course as the four of us walk down to the kitchen together.
Once we get there, I pop my head through the door to check how busy we are first. Thankfully -- as lunch service is almost over, and its midweek -- Antony is cleaning down and I know he won’t mind me bringing Sarah and John inside the kitchen.
Though I do wish Ryan would have at least let me check with his brother first.
I can sense Ryan’s impatience as he stands behind me, and I'm just about to turn to Sarah and John, and invite them in, when Ryan brushes past me, and beckons John forward.
“John, allow me to introduce you to the restaurant’s head chef, and my brother, Antony,” he says, gesturing to the man behind the workstation, who could almost be his twin. “Antony, this is John Jones, and his fiancée Sarah Taylor -- the special guests I told you about.”
Antony’s eyes widen in recognition, and then he grins. “A pleasure to meet you both,” he says, stepping around the workstation to greet them.
John steps forward eagerly and shakes Antony’s hand vigorously. “Congratulations on your recent Michelin Star.”
“Thank you,” Antony says, a brief flush covering his cheeks. “And congratulations to you both, on the upcoming nuptials.”
Eager not to be left out of the conversation, Sarah steps around me and Ryan to introduce herself to Antony.
“Miss Taylor, you’re even more beautiful than you appear on TV,” Antony says with the same smoothness all the Braddock brothers possess. I refrain from rolling my eyes; I know he and Ryan are simply doing their part to ensure Sarah and John are kept happy, and the wedding is a success.
“Would you like a quick tour of the kitchen before you head out to the main restaurant?” I suggest, eager to get things moving. I still have to cook a three-course meal for the couple, before heading home for a couple of hours, and then returning for the evening dinner service.
Sarah turns to me with the same excited expression she wore earlier and it’s obvious to everyone how much she’s looking forward to her wedding. “Yes please.”
As I show Sarah around, John lingers behind, talking to Antony and Ryan, and I try not to feel betrayed. I know the Braddock brothers have business in mind, but I’d have liked a little more support -- I’m already feeling inferior as though the wedding would be in better hands with Antony.
“It’s good to see a woman being successful in such a male dominated field,” Sarah says as we move towards the massive walk-in freezer.
“I’ve worked very hard to get where I am today. Which I’m sure you can relate to; I’ve followed your career for years. I remember when you were only a little girl and starred in that sitcom.”
Sarah blushes and giggles. “It was so cheesy, but I’ll always be grateful because it gave me my start in Hollywood. I wouldn’t be where I am without that show.”
Raised voices put a pause to mine and Sarah’s conversation, and we both turn to look at John, Ryan and Antony, who are speaking heatedly.
“I just don’t understand why he can’t do it, if he’s the head chef?” John demands.
Antony winces.
I glance at Sarah, who looks horrified and embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.
“No, it’s fine, I’m used to it,” I tell her, before walking back to the Braddock brothers and her fiancé.
I gaze up at John, not intimidated by his height advantage.
“Ryan is trusting me to cater your wedding and believes I’m up to the task.
Antony has other responsibilities that need his attention. ”
John narrows his eyes, glaring between me and Ryan. “Well, you’re the boss, what do you have to say about this? I told you I wanted the best for my wedding.”
“Our wedding,” Sarah interjects, coming to stand by my side. “You haven’t even given Alicia a chance. Let her cook for us, and I’m sure she’ll prove she’s the right person for this job.”
“Fine. But if everything isn’t to my liking, I’ll be considering our booking here,” John says, and I almost want to punch the pompous idiot.
I glance at Ryan, hoping for some support.
“Please, let me assure you, we only want to provide you with the best service possible,” Ryan says, steering John and Sarah out of the kitchen. Sarah casts one last, fleeing look in my direction and then disappears with her fiancé.
Once we’re alone in the kitchen, Antony approaches me. “Sorry about that. I tried to tell him you were up to the job, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“I know you did your best, Ant. You can’t help what these Hollywood types are like,” I say, taking up my place at the workstation to begin preparing the meal for Sarah and John.
“I’m sure Ryan will smooth everything over,” Antony adds, getting the ingredients for the starter out of the fridge.
I bite my tongue. I’m not convinced Antony is right.
His brother said nothing to defend me to John, and well, I know Ryan Braddock is motivated by one thing only -- money.
If John Jones threatens to cancel the wedding booking unless Antony is the chef, I have no doubt Ryan will drop me at a moment’s notice.
And then, there goes my bonus, and any chance I might have of someday getting my own restaurant.
Well, I won’t let that happen. I’ll just have to cook my ass off and prove to John Jones that I’m the best person for the job.
It’s almost two hours later when I load the empty dessert dishes into the dishwasher and collapse against the counter, heaving out a breath of relief.
Ryan enters the kitchen grinning from ear-to-ear. “Alicia, you did amazingly. You won John over, and he’s confirmed the booking, as well as the menu, with only a few small tweaks.”
I want to say ‘I told you so,’ but before my mouth can form the words, I blurt out, “Why didn’t you back me up earlier?”
Ryan blinks. “What do you mean?”
“When John was demanding Antony cater the wedding, why didn’t you defend me and tell him you chose me for the job because you trust in my abilities?”
“Because I knew you’d prove that to him yourself,” Ryan says hurriedly. A little too quickly, like he anticipated my question and had rehearsed an answer.
My eyes narrow. “Bull shit. Admit it, if John hadn’t been happy with the meal, you would have had Antony replace me just to secure the booking, wouldn’t you?”
Ryan opens his mouth, then closes it. After a deep swallow, he says, “Yes. I have to do what’s best for business.”
My blood boils in my veins. “So, all this bull shit about me being Antony’s second in command meaning I’m almost as good as he is, was just a line you fed me to get me to agree to the job?”
“No, of course not. But you know business comes first.”
“And I agree, but if you’d have stood up to Jones back there, he would have listened to you.
He would have respected your opinion of me, instead of me having to prove myself that I’m good enough.
If I’m going to cater this wedding -- if we’re going to work together -- you have to trust I’m as good as Antony. ”
“I do, I just--”
“I don’t want to hear it, Ryan. You think running a restaurant is so easy? You do it!”
Before Ryan can protest, I storm out of the kitchen, ignoring his voice when he calls, “Alicia, wait!”
I’m so done with Ryan Braddock and his arrogant attitude.
I’m probably making a huge mistake -- by ugh, Ryan just gets under my skin -- but I’m in my car, and pulling out of the parking lot before I can think through the implications. I’ve had enough of arrogant men for one day. I need a break.