Spice and Ice - A Billionaire's Amour

Chapter 6 - Spicy Trouble

"Who the hell does he think he is? Arrogant, overconfident-" swearing a few other words in Italian, Vera stirred the fries vigorously, "-Presumptuous i***t!, Thinks he owns me? Will show him."

"Show what to who?

"That i***t from yesterday."

"Hmm... Which one? many came"

"The one wearing flashy suits with an Overbearing attitude," she answered without thinking.

"Ah-ha!"

"What do you mean Ah-ha? Do you know what he did?" dropping the ladle she turned shouting at Aadiv.

He was leaning beside the counter arms crossed looking at her skeptically, "I would if you will tell me."

"That spurious i***t has ordered... " She stopped. Blinking. 'What the hell was she doing? She almost spilled everything. She was not ready to talk about anything right now.

"Well?"

Vera noticed an impatient finger tapping away on his elbow where he had his arms crossed, waiting for her to explain her outburst.

"Ah..." an insistent ringing sound was heard, both looked at it with impatience, but her expression read - Saved by the phone. The frown on Aadiv's face went even grimmer, "I need to take this," she excused herself and ran to the back door, out of the kitchen.

"Yes, who is this?" Her voice sounded out of breath, trying to calm her jittery nerves. First Dante, now Aadiv, can this day go any worse.

"So eager to take my call?" came an amused voice from the other end.

Vera stood still. Pulling back the phone to check the caller id- 'Il Mio Amore' - the words displayed made her eyes bulge, 'What the heck?' frowning she shrieked, "Who the hell is your love? "And when the hell did you have time to tap into my phone?"

"Ah! My kitten," drawled a deep voice lazily, "If there is one thing you have yet to learn, Once I declare anything or anyone as mine, they are mine in every sense."

"Go to Hell!" screamed Vera.

"Been there baby, Shall take you one day too." His amused voice made Vera wanted to slam the phone across the brick wall. "Anyway, the reason I called was to remind you of our meeting. I hope you won't disappoint me."

Vera's memory flashed back to the morning. After he had proclaimed her to be his, he declared her to wait for him in the afternoon luncheon. "Oh yes!" her lips curved in an insane smile. "Do come," - and get the most hospitable performance for the entire evening - She added to herself.

**

Dante turned off the call, frowning. For a person who swore every second he spoke, she moved to be quite welcoming at the end. Was it possible she was planning something? A corner of his lips twitched, his little kitten was spontaneous. She sure was planning something. Then let's surprise her. Pressing the intercom to his secretary, "Call in Mr.Hughes, for the afternoon Lunch, say I invited him for a surprise eat out."

Across the desk, Renato started at him, one eyebrow quirks in surprise, the Finance minister? I thought you are taking him to our top chain of restaurants."

Dante ignored him and continued, "Get the register for finance accounts." Once done with the call, he continued working, "I am still here you know," came a grumpy reply.

"Yeah! And I am wondering, Why?"

"You..." He stood up to rebuke him when his secretary knocked, letting herself in. "Sir, the files," she came forward placing them before him. Without another word let herself out.

Dante went through the file for a few minutes before he turned towards Renato, "Did you find out why our shares dropped by 5% yesterday?"

Renato forgot whatever he was about to say and got into a business-mode, "I did." He sat down with a grim look on his face, "You won't like the answer." Dante clasped his fingers together, resting his chin a curious look crossing his face, "Let me guess, it's her."

A slight nod was all Dante needed to ascertain his wrath. "I warned her, but she still does it."

"You do realize she has the freedom to do it. After all, She is a part of the Alviso group. This will be concluded as a business confrontation. It will only be seen as a squabble within the family," Renato tried to reason. Though he did not like the aspect of her poking into Dante's business, he knew no one had a say in it. After all, she was a shrewd business tactician, just like Dante's success, She had her success with her venture into cosmetic industries. She owns half of them, along with the fact that her husband was the CEO of the Lockhart group - A leading group in entertainment in the country.

"Hmm..." Dante scanned the records he was given, looking at oddities, his mind multitasking at more than one instance of accounts. He was also going through the last conversation he had with her. Remembering her to be too presumptuous, a move that didn't go unnoticed. But what baffled him was the same egoistic attitude displayed by her husband. Mr.Lockhart, Second generation of well-known Tycoons in the Entertainment Industry. Their lines of business were completely different. Hence there was never a need to lock heads with each other. Nevertheless, he had kept eyes on all the aspects of the country's highly-paid CEOs. And what he found was Mr.Lockhart was one of those genuine, businessmen - The one's that he truly respected.

''It looks like she somehow managed to snag him to head-butt with me," Dante observed. There was a gradual decrease in his company's stock rates over a while. Which to his discontent has been missed by him and all his highly paid team, who worked over-time just to ensure something like this never happened.

"Sir," interrupted his secretary, "The minister is waiting."

"Okay, see you in the lobby." He packed up, "Renato, I want a meeting with the S-team after Lunch. There is much work to be done."

"Got it," Renato confirmed, his eyes flashed with excitement. "It has been so long since someone challenged us. Let's hope your sister is up to the task. Dante grinned. He too felt the beginnings of something big about to happen, his nerves prickled with elation at the drama about to unfold.

**

Everything was ready, Vera prepared the best dishes she loved, Diced chicken in Black bean sauce, Laksa, spring rolls, followed with few other tantalizing appetizers. At first, Aadiv's eyebrow arched in question, for her elaborate menu. "Are we celebrating something?"

"Nah!" She surged her shoulders nonchalantly. "Just felt like cooking something special today." She was thankful, Aadiv does not ponder much on her decisions, he mostly likes to go with the flow. He decided to join in, just for fun pulling out his signature dishes, slow-cooked Lamb curry, Malai Kofta with Jeera rice, two different types of Naan( Indian flatbread).

Their dishes were a hit, that day, the menu seemed to attract more customers than usual, and just as she expected they walked in sharp at 1 o'clock. He was there, followed by his business lackey and the secretary she saw in the morning. But who was the fourth man? He looked really important. Vera bit her lower lip, she had carefully planned to teach him a lesson, but it was equally important not to destroy the reputation of the restaurant.

Someone exerted a sharp shocking breath right next to her, "Oh God!"

Vera noticed their host next to her, "Who is it Samuel, do you know him?"

Samuel turned surprised, but also a frowning face towards her, "Clearly shows you never watch the news. Do you even know which party rules our country?" Vera rolled her eyes at his sarcasm, "Just answer the question."

"Its the Finance Minister." He shivered, "I had to deal with two of them yesterday, now another one?" Taking up his notepad, adjusting his tie, he chuckled, "I wonder, was our food so good yesterday, that the Tycoon had to bring him here?"

'The Finance Minister?...' Vera stood agitated, resuming her work in the kitchen, she contemplated, Is he showing off? or was it a warning, informing her that she cannot touch him?

"So... Nothing special?" Aadiv joined in beside her, in an accusing voice. Vera glanced at him skeptically, "Why are you asking me?"

"Hmm... Why indeed?" Aadiv stalled stirring the soups next to her, "Let me guess, They came yesterday with an air of influence - I walked into a dump - kind of attitude, and left abruptly like they can't stand here not one minute. Today you came in late, absent-minded, talking to yourself. If that's not something to be noticed, you ask to cook exquisite dishes, and now," he paused arms folded looking at her questioningly, "The same guy comes back, with someone as powerful as the Finance Minister. Do you think its all a coincidence?"

Vera caught herself from blurting out her reasons instead, tried to turn the tables back at him, "And why are you asking me of this?"

"So you are saying none of this relates to you?" Aadiv pestered. She looked away, answering in a stable voice, "No."

"It doesn't relate to the CEO, you hooked on the head, two weeks ago?"

The remark startled Vera, making her drop her ladle turning towards him in surprise, "How did you...? I mean what makes you say... say that?" Aadiv shook his head disappointed, "I didn't, just cast the net out, and the fish got caught in it voluntarily."

Vera's eyes widened in shock, She had let him down. They both prided in their friendship. Their way of understanding each other, even if the other didn't say much had been a strong point through their relation. Right now the same positive attribute worked against her. He left silently. Vera felt a sense of betrayal crashing around her. Why was she hiding the details from him anyway? For some reason, she did not want to discuss Dante with him.

"Order up," a sudden voice pitched in. "It's from the distinguished guest of today." once done with the order, Samuel looked at her smiling, "The Ceo wants to have a word with you when you are done. Says you were quite remarkable last time."

Vera mentally wanted to hit her head. Leaning back she saw the scowling face of Aadiv, an expression of distaste crossing his face. Her mood soured, Why did they have to fight just coz of a third person? Anger swept through her, 'It's all because of that Idiot.' Her peaceful days were disturbed since she met him, 'Mr. Alviso, its time to teach you a painful lesson.'

"Hmm... you are right, Monsieur Alviso, this here is quite a different taste," The Finance Minister mumbled taking yet another bite of the Lamb along with the Naan bread. "I was surprised at first, now I understand." He continued trying to savor the dishes, as the chef Aadiv tried to personally explain the ingredients. Dante on the other hand sat restlessly. He savored the spring rolls and Laksa which he knew were cooked by her, but where is she?

"Is everything according to your taste Monsinuer?" Aadiv addressed him directly. Dante glanced at him half-heartedly. If she was avoiding him, she will have a hell to pay, doesn't she know that. "Dante? Dante... you here?" someone nagged beside him, "What is it?" he growled, not in a mood for chit-chat. Renato directed him with his eyes, Dante looked around to see everyone looking at him expectantly. 's**t!' he swore, was he supposed to comment. He did not even realize who asked what?

"Buon pomeriggio," a pleasant voice cut in, "Spero che il menu di oggi sia stato di gradim." Dante took it as a cue, 'She is here. At last.'

"Yes, Ms.Vera. I was just articulating your specialty. It's one of the best in Italy." Vera's eyes widened at his blatant display of admiration. Taking a peek at the food in front of him, she smiled secretly. He had ordered just as she predicted - only her dishes. While the others had opted mostly for Indian.

"Oh! you flatter me Monsieur," giving a fake laugh, she continued to make pleasant observations, intervening with knowledgable conversations, much to the delight of the minister. Not leaving out the others, overall a charming hostess. Dante watched her in silence, not once did she recognize him as something other than a prominent customer. But something was off. Her whole demeanor seemed to have changed. He was not able to place what the difference was? It was subtle, but nevertheless, it was there. Before he could finish analyzing, she bid them goodbye.

Dante ground his teeth, She never looked at him or showed any sign of wanting to. She did not understand the consequences of crossing him. When he mentioned his name in the morning, she did not know any sign of ever knowing him, or even wanting to know him. Was she one of those few, who did not bother with different aspects of the society other than the one they were involved in? His phone pinged with the schedule for the rest of the day, Dante promised himself, to teach her a lesson that evening.

**

"The hell I am going to kill her myself," cursed Dante in a painful voice. Bowed over the sink, retching repeatedly, his body convulsing with effort clutching his sides. "Accidenti! he cursed again, leaning by the side of the bathroom wall, catching his breath. A nurse waited patiently by his side perceiving his temper, not wanting to turn that awful wrath displayed upon herself.

"Are you done?" an amused voice of Renato, cut in from the room.

"A Fanabla!," came the terse reply, which only seemed to delight Renato. Dante was in the bathroom for over half an hour. His stomach finally seemed to have calmed down. Never in his life had he been this sick, What the hell did she add in his dish, that made him throw up continuously. And how he was the only one affected? He dragged his body with the help of the nurse, towards the bed. The nurse made the required arrangements for the drips and silently left the room. Dante glared at his so-called friend, who not once in his entire over deal move an inch from the sofa.

"Traitor!" Dante cussed weakly.

One perfectly shaped eyebrow arched sardonically in disbelief, "Who? Me?" questioned Renato.

Dante compressed his lips, not having the energy to throw back another insult at him. Renato moved from his seat, seating himself next to him, "I have to give it to her, she admitted you in the hospital, not once but twice, in less than 2 weeks. Of course, the first time was not entirely her fault." Renato continued, "What did you eat, other than us anyway?"

"Nothing."

"An adverse effect of chili?" Renato went through the report in his hand, after the explanation given by the doctor, who delicately framed it as chili poisoning - an effect caused by overuse of chili. He did not understand how he was the only one who was affected when others weren't. Also, he did not even feel, any of the dishes that he had to be spicy.

"How the hell did she pull it off? Not once did I feel anything off with any of the dishes, they were..." Dante searched for the appropriate word, unable to get one, he sulked, "Perfect." Renato grimaced, "That bad? Well, I guess you could get the answer only from her."

"Oh yes, I will," a calculating gleam entered his eyes. She issued a challenge. No one has ever come so close to hurt him, as she did. That was the first time, someone has tried anything, and has gotten away with it. "What is she doing now?"

"The last update, she was seen having a champagne celebration with that buddy of hers, after business. Clearly," Renato locked his phone with a grin, "She is enjoying the fruits of her labor." An icy smile spread across Dante's face, "Let her enjoy. She will learn to enjoy more once I am done."