ALICIA
After the first meeting with John Jones and Sarah Taylor, things with the celebrity couple go much more smoothly -- even if Ryan does watch my every move.
For the first few days after he came over to my place and apologized, he chilled out somewhat.
But then, it was back to the usual Ryan Braddock arrogance.
Have you checked the supply list?
Are the costs as low as possible?
Is everything ordered on time?
And more questions like this, as though I haven’t been working in a kitchen for the past ten years.
It’s enough to drive anyone to drink, which is exactly why I’m enjoying a rare evening off, and a bottle of wine with my sister.
“Honestly Jackie, he’s totally a dick. He’s driving me up the wall,” I say after Ryan felt it necessary to come check on the wedding preparations -- again!
“Can Antony do anything?” my sister asks.
I shrug and swallow down a mouthful of wine. “Probably, but I don’t want to go running to Ant for help. What would Ryan say if I went telling tales to his brother?”
Jackie bites her bottom lip. “Hm … good point. At least once the wedding is over, he’ll get off your case though.”
I refill our glasses. “I can only hope. If I must deal with the ‘I just want to ensure everything goes smoothly’ speech from him one more time, I swear, we won’t make it to the wedding.”
Jackie snickers. “At least he’s cute though, right?”
I scowl at Jackie across the table. “All the Braddock men are cute, but that doesn’t mean it excuses Ryan being a dick.”
“Maybe he just needs to get laid. Perhaps that’s why he’s so uptight. Hey, Alicia why don’t you seduce him after the wedding? It might loosen him up a little!”
As my sister cackles into her wine, I imagine getting down and dirty with Ryan Braddock, and my heart skips a beat. There’s no denying, he is hot. In another lifetime, he’d be exactly the type of man I’d let do wicked things to my body but knowing what an ass he can be puts me right off.
Still, it won’t stop me imagining it in all it’s glorious details.
On the day of the wedding, Ryan understandably watches like a hawk.
I get it, this event needs to go off without a hitch, and with hundreds of guests in attendance, there’s a lot to keep track of.
When I was planning what would be served at the wedding, it was agreed with Antony that we’d split the kitchen crew evenly, so we both had a team that would help us through our respective services.
Thankfully, the kitchen is big enough to accommodate two crews, and the wedding is being held in the resort’s large banquet hall, so the other guests don’t infringe on the celebration.
My part in the wedding is relatively small compared to all the bells and whistles the couple want for their day -- including a horse drawn carriage ride on the beach -- and I begrudgingly have to admit I’m impressed with Ryan’s skills at managing every aspect of the wedding, while also continuing to oversee the running of the resort.
He may be an arrogant ass at times, but when it comes to business, he sure as hell knows what he’s doing.
I glance up at the clock on the kitchen wall and see that it’s one-forty-five, meaning the guests will be filling the banquet hall soon.
“Status on the first course please?” I call out to one of my crew, Dany, who is working at the appetizer station.
“All ready to go, chef.”
“Thank you.” I pause, take a breath and call out, “And how far off are we on the mains?”
“Forty-five minutes, chef,” the meat cook, Emmett, calls back.
“Thank you, Emmett.”
Dany and Emmett are two of the chefs I trust the most, hence why I have one on appetizers and the other on meat. The key to running a smooth kitchen is knowing what strengths your crew has, and being able to lead a team, with many different, interlocking cogs.
Satisfied that everything is on track, I take a moment to check on the banquet hall. Moving through the back corridors of the resort helps me not only get to my location faster, but also avoid any guests, so that it gives the illusion that staff appear out of thin air whenever they’re needed.
I walk into the banquet hall that’s been decorated in shades of white, cream and ivory, with accents in pastel pink and purple.
It looks like a fairy-tale dream in there, with fresh flowers, balloons, and twinkling fairy lights.
Large double doors open to let in a gentle sea breeze, making it the perfect venue for a wedding reception.
The resort staff have everything in place, with the tables laid and waiting for the bride, groom and wedding guests to arrive. The high table for the bride, groom and their parents sit by the open balcony doors, a massive vase of lilac lilies in the centre of the table.
As I glance around the room, I can’t help but imagine my own wedding, someday, far off in the future.
Though I know whoever agrees to marry me will be taking on the huge responsibilities of being a surrogate father to my siblings.
Still, I haven’t given up hope that one day I’ll meet a man up to the daunting task.
I’m about to step back into the hidden hallway and start walking to the kitchen when I sense a presence behind me and turn to see Ryan. He looks impeccable as always in his dark suit, with an ocean blue coloured tie that makes his usually stormy eyes seem lighter and more playful.
For a moment, I can’t help but imagine this is what he might look like on his own wedding day.
“Great minds think alike, huh?” he asks with an easy smile. I stare at him blankly, forgetting how to speak for a moment. “You know, coming to check to see if everything starts without a hitch,” he adds when I don’t respond.
I laugh nervously and fiddle with a lock of my long, red hair, feeling like an idiot.
“Yeah, something like that. Well, I better get back to it,” I say hurriedly and then scurry away before he can get another word out.
God, I must be really affected by the romantic atmosphere if I’m getting all tongue-tied around Ryan of all people!
Back in the kitchen I wait for the head server to tell us the wedding party is seated, and then I give Dany the go-ahead to start serving the appetizers.
Swiftly and smoothly Dany carries forward plates of griddled asparagus, fiddleheads, and prosciutto salad over to the servers, who’re all dressed in smart black pants, with bright white shirts, and simple black ties.
The addition of prosciutto was a compromise to appease John Jones, and since being a little more accommodating of the musician's wishes, he’s been less of a Groomzilla about the whole thing.
When the last of the servers’ leaves, I call out, “How long on the entrées, please?”
“Thirty minutes,” Emmett replies. Perfect. Just enough time for the guests to eat their appetizers and the plates to be cleared away.
I take a sip of water and glance over at Dany. “Good work. Start cleaning your station, and then assist Darcy on desserts.”
Dany nods and gets to the task I set her.
Half an hour later, entrées are flying out of the kitchen, and not long after that the dessert -- rhubarb crumble with handmade vanilla ice cream -- is served.
For the time being, the kitchen crew’s work is done.
We now have some downtime to clear and prepare for this evening, while the speeches are given, and the banquet hall is transformed into an informal ballroom.
Later, we will serve cocktails and finger foods for the guests while the wedding party enjoys the festivities well into the night.
It’s going to be a long and tiring day, but I’m sure it will be all worth it in the end.
I’m in the midst of making sure the buffet for this evening is being prepared correctly, when Ryan enters the kitchen, a rare smile gracing his face.
“John and Sarah would like you to join them in the banquet hall for their speeches, please.”
I frown, wondering why they want me there, but do as my boss ask anyway.
As I step into the banquet hall, it’s my first time seeing the wedding party up close -- I’ve only caught glimpses from a distance when they first arrived at the resort earlier today.
There’s a mixture of celebrities and non-celebrities in attendance, and even a small table of especially selected paparazzi, but everyone’s focus is on the happy couple and rightly so.
John Jones looks very handsome in his dark charcoal suit, complete tails, and a lilac cravat.
I’m sure pictures are already circulating online about the heartthrob, but it’s Sarah I can’t take my eyes off.
As a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, it’s been frequently rumored the actress would be wearing a dress custom made by the fashion house for her wedding.
The ivory tulle, V-neck dress features multiple panels that are embroidered with over 50,000 crystals and beads, all in shades of lilac and pastel pink.
The dress glitters wherever Sarah moves, shimmering iridescent under the lights of the banquet hall.
When John spots that Ryan and I have entered the room, he stands and calls for silence.
“First, I want to thank everyone for joining me and Sarah on this wonderful day…” he begins, and then for the next fifteen minutes gives a speech about his love for Sarah, his happiness seeing their two families come together for their wedding, and his hope for him and his new bride’s future.
After thanking the guests, he adds, “And of course, this day wouldn’t have been so perfect without the hard work of Ryan Braddock and Alicia Hughes, here at the Braddock resort.
Alicia, I want to thank you on behalf of myself, Sarah and all our guests for the most wonderfully prepared meal we’ve ever experienced.
You really are a remarkable chef. And Ryan, your organization skills and attention to detail have insured mine and Sarah’s wedding day was just as magical as we’d hoped.
Thank you both, and all the staff at the resort who made this happen. ”
The room bursts into applause and everyone turns to look at me and Ryan. I feel my cheeks heat, but I maintain eye contact with Sarah, and give a polite bow of my head in the bride and groom’s direction.
Once the guests finish applauding, Ryan links his arm through mine, and together we quietly slip out of the banquet hall.
“You did well today,” Ryan says as we walk back to the kitchen.
I hold my head up high. “Did you expect anything less?”
Ryan smirks. “Of course not.”
Suddenly an awkward silence envelope the corridor, and I start speaking without thinking simply to fill the void. “They looked very happy, didn’t they?”
“They did. I know many Hollywood romances end in divorce, but I hope this one work out. After working with them so closely these past few weeks, well, I’ve grown to like them.”
I can’t help but laugh and nod in agreement. “Yeah, me too. Once John eased up a bit he wasn’t nearly as much of a Groomzilla as I feared he was going to be.”
“He hasn’t put you off the idea of marriage then?” Ryan quips with a raised eyebrow.
I let out a nervous laugh, acutely aware that our arms are still linked. “Like I have the time for all that? How about you, can we expect Mrs. Braddock around here soon?”
Ryan shakes his head and steps away from me, so our arms are no longer linked. “Like you, I don’t have time for romance,” he says, then walks away leaving me alone standing outside the door to the kitchen.
Yeah, it’s probably best he doesn’t have time for romance, I think, checking out his ass as he leaves. If that man was on the prowl for a lover, the women of East Hampton wouldn’t stand a chance.
I shake my head to clear my thoughts as I step back into the kitchen.
Everything is clean, and no one is around for the time being, as we have a small period to relax while the banquet hall is transformed.
I know my kitchen crew will be in the staff room having something to eat, and I know I should probably join them, but something keeps me in the kitchen.
I idly pick at some leftover salad and think about what Ryan said to me.
When I was a little girl the two things I always dreamed of were owning my own restaurant and getting married.
I pictured me and my husband, surrounded by kids, one big, happy family -- just like I’d had growing up.
I’d always gotten along with my siblings, and even though there were six of us and money was sometimes tight, our parents did everything they could to provide us with the best in life.
That’s why it was so hard to recover from their deaths.
Losing both parents was heart-breaking for all of us, and on top of the grief, I had the burden of becoming head of the family and providing for my younger siblings.
Soon, my dreams of getting married faded, and my only focus became getting to the top of the culinary field so I could provide my siblings with the life my parents had wanted for them.
I was lucky, the job I had at the Braddock resort was a good one, and after today’s wedding, I knew my profile as a chef would be on the rise. But still, a small part of me wondered where I’d be if my parents hadn’t been killed in a hit and run.
Knowing Ryan Braddock’s own parents had died in similar, tragic circumstances, I wondered if he too felt the burden of being the oldest weighing down on him. No wonder he’s so uptight sometimes.