Chioma's POV
The first day in the kitchen at DC Restaurant had been everything I hoped for and more—intense, chaotic, and satisfying in a way I never thought work could be. My back ached from the long hours, my hands were sore from chopping, stirring, and plating, but it was the good kind of tired. The kind that made me feel like I'd truly earned something, like I was doing something that mattered. By the time the last dish was served and the kitchen began to quiet down, I was almost ready to drag myself home, crash into bed, and sleep for twelve hours straight.
I was just about to grab my bag when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"HR wants to see you," she said, her voice cool.
My heart skipped a beat. What had I done wrong? Had I made a mistake? My mind raced through every dish I'd plated, every move I'd made. Had I missed a step, forgotten an ingredient, or upset a colleague?
I wiped my hands on my apron, trying to steady my nerves, and walked towards the office. When I entered, the man behind the desk looked up with a warm, friendly smile that didn't quite match the anxiety rising in my chest.
"Ah, Chioma," he said, his voice smooth and calming. "We just need you to sign a few forms. And…" He opened a drawer and pulled out a key with a gold-trimmed tag. "This is for your house. Company quarters. A driver's waiting outside to take you to get your things."
My mind momentarily stopped functioning as I stared at the key, then at him. "Wait. A house? Like… a full house?"
He chuckled softly, his expression almost amused. "Yes. Didn't they mention? All our chefs are given accommodation."
"No, they didn't," I said, still holding the key like it might vanish if I let go.
He shrugged. "Myeah, they probably forgot. But honestly, I don't know why you're getting such a big one. And alone, at that matter…"
I laughed a little, nervously. "I'm not complaining."
Truthfully, I was on the verge of dancing with joy. I'd just landed the job of a lifetime, and now, they were offering me my own house? This was beyond anything I could've imagined.
"Thank you so much," I said, feeling the words barely contain my excitement.
I walked out of the office with a smile plastered on my face, wondering what kind of magic was happening behind the scenes. A house? Alone? There were so many questions, but right now, all I wanted to do was see it.
---
Kelvin's POV
I leaned back in my chair, watching the feed from the kitchen on my screen. The room was quiet, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the figure of Chioma moving gracefully through the kitchen. Her composure was something I admired. She wasn't trying to impress anyone—she simply knew what she was doing. Even when she made mistakes, she fixed them with a fluidity that spoke of raw talent, not learned experience. The way she handled herself reminded me of someone born for the pressure, the fire, and the precision that came with running a kitchen like DC.
I tapped the desk twice, lost in thought, before I picked up the phone.
"Give her House 5," I instructed HR. "Get the driver ready. I want her settled in tonight."
"Sir?" came the hesitant voice on the other end. "House 5 is a bigger unit. Three-bedroom."
"I know," I said firmly, not needing further explanation.
There was a long pause before the voice on the phone responded. "She's not—"
"Just do it," I cut him off, not wanting to hear any more.
It wasn't favoritism. It was strategy. Talent needed comfort to grow. And maybe, just maybe, I was curious. There was something about Chioma that stirred something in me—something deeper than just admiration for her skills. Something more personal. Watching her move through the kitchen, not even aware that I was keeping an eye on her, only made it clearer. She was different. She wasn't like the others.
I turned my attention back to the live feed. She was wiping down her station, her movements fluid and graceful. There was a calm about her, an ease that seemed to belong in this high-stakes world of culinary precision.
But I was still watching.
And I would continue to watch.
---
Chioma's POV
The car ride to my new home was surreal. I looked out the window at the cityscape, half-expecting it to all disappear, as if this was some kind of dream. But when the car finally stopped in front of the house, I realized it wasn't. This was real. The house was massive, far more than I ever could have imagined, with lush gardens that framed the entrance. The gate creaked open, and the driver escorted me inside.
I took in the sprawling space, every inch of it designed to impress. The marble floors gleamed, and the modern furniture was pristine, but it was the quiet luxury of it all that left me breathless. I had never imagined I'd be living in something like this, let alone within my first days at a new job.
It took me a moment to gather myself. I couldn't believe this was really happening. I thought back to the small apartment I had barely been able to afford and the cramped, mismatched furniture that had somehow made do. And now, here I was, standing in the middle of a company house, where I didn't even know how to begin to make it my own.
I wandered around, touching everything with a sense of wonder, like I was in someone else's life. A small part of me felt out of place, like I was pretending to be someone I wasn't. But the rest of me? The rest of me couldn't stop smiling. This was mine. This was my moment.
I sat down on the sofa and let out a deep breath, realizing just how much I'd longed for this kind of stability. A place I could call home. A place that could hold all my hopes and dreams, just like I'd always wanted.
---
Kelvin's POV
As I sat in my office, I couldn't shake the image of Chioma from my mind. The way she'd walked into that kitchen today, how she commanded the space without ever trying. There was a quiet intensity about her, something that made me want to know more.
It wasn't just her talent that intrigued me, though that alone was enough to make her stand out. No, it was something deeper. Something I couldn't quite name yet, but I knew it was there.
I'd arranged for her to have the biggest house available, but it wasn't out of some misplaced generosity. She needed a place to live, and the fact that she would be spending so much time at the restaurant meant she deserved comfort. And if I was being honest, I wanted her to have the best.I want to keep her close.