The Billionaire's Recipe For Love

Chapter One: The scent of seared duck and rosemary infused butter clung to the air, mingling with the crisp tang of wine being poured into crystal glasses. The clatter of cutlery and the occasional pop of champagne bottles provided a backdrop to the low murmur of conversation. Andrea George moved swiftly through the kitchen, her hands expertly plating a dish with the precision of an artist. The heat of the stove, the weight of the evening rush, the sharp orders being barked by the head chef _ none of it was new. None of it fazed her. This was her battlefield, her proving ground. And yet, despite the mastery in her every movement, Andrea wasn’t where she wanted to be. Not yet. Andrea George, a 25 years old beautiful lady with just the perfect curves and height is so enthusiastic about the culinary world. Her curvy, hourglass figure is a perfect complement to her height, which is about 168cm. She had a dark brown, curly shoulder length hair that suited perfectly well with her smooth, caramel toned skin. Her warm, hazel eyes were just the icing to her beauty. Andrea comes from a close knit family that values food, love and laughter. Her mother and grandmother are excellent cooks who inspired her to pursue her career. She's passionate about cooking and experimenting with new recipes, which brings out the creative side of her . She is confident in her culinary skills and determined to succeed in her career, against all odds. Andrea had spent years working her way up in the culinary world, fighting for every promotion, every recognition. But here, in the Auberge du Luxe, one of the city’s most exclusive fine dining establishments, she was still just another chef under someone else’s name. The dream, the restaurant of her own, where she could craft dishes without the constraints of someone else’s menu _felt like a mirage in the distance. “Andrea! The lamb for table four!” The sharp voice of Chef Marc yanked her from her thoughts. “It’s ready, Chef,” Andrea replied, sliding the plated dish onto the pass. Chef Marc barely glanced at her as he checked the plate. Approval flickered across his face, but he said nothing before motioning for the server to take it away. Praise was a rare currency in this kitchen, and Andrea had long since stopped expecting it. She already knew Chef Marc to be a mean boss, who would never appreciate the efforts of his junior staff no matter how good they seemed. She was used to his harsh tones and took his harsh replies as a daily dose. It was just a matter of time _ a long time, and she will be free from the hawk eyes of Chef Marc. She exhaled, wiping sweat from her brow. The night was far from over. And she was exhausted from working tirelessly in the kitchen for hours. She knew she couldn't give up, not until she had achieved her dreams. “When will all these end?” Andrea thought to herself loudly. “Andrea! table four needs one more dish of lamb!! Hurry up!! Stop being slow!!!”. The harsh order from Chef Marc brought her back to reality again. “Alright Chef. I will be on it”, Andrea responded in a tired and exhausted tone. Andrea was fatigued already but she had no choice, at least not yet. She has to tend to the orders of Chef Marc _ That is what she was paid to do. She went across the kitchen to get another lamb from the oven. She turned the oven open, and the freshly cooked spicy aroma of the meat welcomed her. She immediately took it out and placed it on a tray she was holding. And with speed like that of lightning, she dressed up the lamb, not missing out any veggies and spices. She handled it like the expert she is. In a couple of minutes, she was done preparing the lamb. She placed it on a dish waiting for one of the servers to carry it into the restaurant and serve the waiting table. She quickly wiped the sweat that was trickling down her face with the back of her palms. She raised up her face, to see Chef Marc walking into the kitchen. Her heart skipped a beat when Chef Marc walked into the kitchen. Her heart was always fond of doing this. It has grown to dread Chef Marc. She couldn't predict him anymore because there was nothing she did that ever pleased him. “Andrea!!!” Chef Marc barked. “Yes, Chef Marc.” Andrea replied humbly. “Is the order for table four ready?!!!” “It's ready chef”, Andrea replied again in a humble tone”. “So, why haven't table four gotten their order yet?!!!!” Chef Marc barked angrily. “It's not my fault, Chef. I have been waiting for one of the restaurant servers to come and collect the dish to serve, but none has come into the kitchen yet”. “This is where you are supposed to apply common knowledge, and serve the dish yourself, since none of the restaurant servers is present in the kitchen. Isn't it obvious they are all busy???” Chef Marc yelled. “Chef, I thu Thu thought I I am am supposed to work in the kitchen only”, Andrea stuttered. “I am paid to work in the kitchen only, and not to do double work”, Andrea continued, in a more confident tone. “Just shut that trap you call a mouth and go serve table four!” Chef Marc harshly ordered. “Alright Chef”, Andrea replied with a sad and slightly upset tone. Her facial expression effortlessly showed her unhappiness towards the order Chef Marc just dished out on her. She quickly changed her moody countenance to a brighter one because she needed only positive energy around her at that moment. Andrea walked across the kitchen to get the order for table four. She set the well prepared meat on a stainless covered tray, carried it up from the kitchen desk and placed it on her hands elegantly while heading out of the kitchen into the restaurant. She raised her head high as though she was performing a fashion parade. She knew she was a confident woman, but Chef Marc was trying to turn her into the opposite of that. Her patience for Chef Marc animosity towards her was slowly running out of time. There was a thin line between her tolerance and her assertiveness. Chef Marc was about to cross that line, but she couldn't let him. The consequences of her actions would be too much for her to bear. So, she had to be patient with Chef Marc until she meets an investor or investors who will be willing to invest in her career.