Jordan POV
The counter was already spotless, but there I was, wiping it down for the millionth time.
Service was over, we'd all had lunch together and cleaned everything. One by one, the staff started heading out. Chef Adam had been the first to disappear into his office and me... I stayed behind. Pretending I still had something to finish.
Truth was, I was stalling. Trying to build up the courage to talk to him. To actually go to the Ogre Chef's office.
I must have sighed a hundred times. I'd get close to the kitchen door, then lose my nerve at the last second and turn around.
Pathetic. I couldn't believe myself.
I opened one of the upper cupboards — no idea why. Looking for courage? Ridiculous. Come on, Jordan. Just go.
"Hey."
The male voice came way too close. Deep, casual. I jumped — literally — and banged my head on the cupboard door.
"Ow!"
I groaned, followed by a loud, very clear curse word.
Brilliant, Jordan. So classy. Let's just hope it wasn't someone important.
"Oh! Are you okay?"
I turned, one hand on my head and the other awkwardly halfway raised in greeting. In front of me stood a man in a relaxed blazer and designer shoes, smiling like he'd just walked into a sitcom.
Light brown hair, bright green eyes that practically laughed on their own. Easy smile. The kind of charm you're either born with or buy in bulk.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he said, raising both hands in surrender.
"It's fine," I mumbled, still rubbing the sore spot, caught between pain and embarrassment.
"I'm Mateus Grayson. And you are...?"
Oh! Of course I knew who he was — Chef Adam's business partner. He was the mastermind behind the contest I'd entered, but for some reason hadn't been at the final. We hadn't met in person until now, though I'd seen plenty of pictures of him with Adam.
"Jordan Parker. The intern, Mr. Grayson."
"Oh! You're the one who won the contest? You're Jordan Parker?" he repeated, looking so shocked I half expected him to ask if I was a unicorn.
"You're a woman!"
Seriously? This again? What is it about me that screams 'man' to everyone? I have boobs, for crying out loud! And they're not exactly subtle. Did no one see my photo on the application? I swear I attached one.
"Do I look like a man?" I asked, more annoyed than I intended.
He gave me a once-over with a grin — not creepy, but not rushed either. Was he evaluating me? Just enjoying my exasperation?
"Take off your glasses."
Excuse me? What now?
I blinked at him, stunned. And he — took two steps forward and removed them himself.
"Fantastic. Oh, this is going to work perfectly!" Uh, what?
"You can wear contacts, right?" I nodded. I didn't love them, they were pricey, but yes — I could.
"Do you and Black get along?" he asked out of nowhere.
"Umm..." What was the right answer here?
"That well, huh?" he laughed, like he already knew. And I... well, I ended up smiling too. This man was odd. Or maybe I had hit my head harder than I thought. Mild concussion? Or just another episode in the Jordan & the Alternate Universe saga?
"Mateus, you're here. You're late." Adam's voice rang out from the kitchen entrance. I swear these men train in stealth — I never hear them coming.
"Meeting ran late. But I got to meet the intern," Mateus replied, looking... proud? Pleased? What the hell did he see in me that had him so excited?
Adam grumbled something I didn't catch and turned to me, sharp:
"And you're still here?" I jumped at his tone. Seriously, why did he always sound like I was committing a felony?
"Umm..." How was I supposed to start the conversation I'd been meaning to have... with Mateus standing right there? Impossible.
"Actually, it's a good thing she stayed," Mateus said before I could mumble something. "This way I got to meet her. And if you're up for it, we can start the shoot we planned."
"She's on break. You should've been on time," Adam snapped. His tone was cold enough to freeze tap water.
"Got plans now, Jordan?" Mateus asked, hopeful, his grin wide. "Wanted to get some shots of you and Adam cooking together."
"Cooking?" I tried to sound chill… and failed. The excitement probably showed on every inch of me.
"Yeah. Are you in?" I smiled. Was this really happening? Was I actually going to cook — with the Chef?
Hell. Yes.
I glanced at Adam. He looked as stone-faced as ever, but his eyes… his eyes were far from happy. Oops.
Did I care? Not really. I wanted to dance, but I kept it together. "Yes, of course."
Adam POV
So Mateus finally met Jordan. And of course, he was delighted by the fact she was a woman. Why? No idea. I couldn't even begin to imagine what ridiculous marketing plan he was plotting.
I saw her without glasses for the first time. Her eyes looked bigger — warm honey, expressive. A dangerously disarming contrast to someone so chaotic. I stared for a moment. A moment too long.
Why the hell was Mateus so close to her, holding her glasses? This woman was pulling every man in her orbit — first Lorenzo, now Mateus? It was infuriating.
I cut in, clearly irritated — Mateus was late, after all. He was supposed to be shooting during lunch. He had a team for this, but photography was his hobby, and he was actually good at it. Thankfully. I preferred it when he worked alone, and he knew that.
Now we had to cook together. I didn't like it. But better now than during service. If she screwed up, it wouldn't ruin anything. We could do something simple. Maybe a dessert. I never made desserts — we outsourced them from a local bakery — so if it didn't work out, we'd just skip it. If it turned out well… maybe we'd serve it tonight.
She looked visibly excited. Why? Because of the photos? Because of the idea of cooking with me? My jaw clenched. I sighed. Just don't destroy my kitchen.
"We'll make a dessert," I said.
I wasn't sure how to read the look she gave me, but she nodded. Mateus had already handed her glasses back, which she promptly put on.
"Apple tart. Think you can handle it?" I asked, not giving her time to answer. "Just follow my instructions."
Ah, I knew that look. I'd annoyed her. She was probably calling me all sorts of names in her head.
"Let's get started," I heard Mateus say. "I'll grab my camera while you prep the ingredients."