Page 15 of Sold To My Ex's Dad

He leans against the counter with a confident ease.

"Hey, Caleb," I say as I step out of the kitchen. "What brings you here?"

He smiles familiarly. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd say hi. Plus, I wanted to see the queen at work," he adds, gesturing back toward the kitchen.

“Really? That’s it?” I ask with a smile. “You just wanted to pop by and say hello?”

"Well, not exactly. I’m interning with a lawyer who asked me where to find the best Italian food in the city, and obviously, I thought of this place—and you," he says.

I smile, remembering how sweet Caleb is. He's a great guy, and I’m not sure why I ended things, except that I just didn’t think the relationship was going anywhere.

"So, you still happy working here?" he asks as if he’s genuinely curious.

I hesitate before admitting, "Sure, but it's stressful, to say the least."

He leans in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "Is Chef Marco still being a complete dick?"

"Yes!” I say and burst out laughing.

“The reason I ask is that my dad is the owner and executive chef at Savor," he says, a note of pride in his voice.

Savor is the culinary Olympus of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It’s got a five-star rating and a mile-long waiting list. Although it’s only been open for a few months, it's already getting rave reviews.

"He is? That's incredible, Caleb. I've heard it's amazing," I manage to say, trying to sound nonchalant and failing.

"Yeah, it's a great place. And, well, here's the thing," he continues, his tone serious, "he’s looking for a new sous chef."

I feel my face get hot. "Seriously?"

He nods, smiling. "Seriously. I thought of you immediately. If you're interested, I could meet you there tomorrow morning, show you around, and introduce you to my dad."

"That would be fantastic!” I say immediately.

Caleb laughs, the sound rich and warm. "I figured you'd say that. So, you’ll meet me there?”

"Of course," I say, more firmly this time, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

We set a time to meet, say our goodbyes and I float back into the kitchen. Finally, I think the universe is smiling at me. It makes Marco's attitude and the stress of his kitchen seem to fade away.

Chapter 10

Patrick

I’m in the middle of dinner prep at the restaurant when Caleb pitches me on his ex's culinary skills.

"Mixing work and personal life, Caleb? You know how that can go." My voice is even but firm.

"Dad, she's phenomenal in the kitchen. Remember the handmade ravioli I brought over that one time? The one that had you staring off into space while you ate? That was hers.”

I pause, recalling the dish. "It was impressive," I admit, my curiosity piqued despite my reservations. "What about her experience?"

"She's sous chef at Verde Oliva right now. She does their specials."

I know and like Verde Oliva. It’s known for turning out high-quality dishes.

"Wait,” I say. “Verde Oliva. That's Marco DiCampi's place, isn't it? She works for him? He’s supposedly a grade-A asshole."

“Yup,” Caleb says, “one and the same.”

---