Page 5 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Chef

For a moment, he said nothing, his piercing blue eyes studying me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve. Then, to my surprise, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Risks," he repeated, his tone quieter now, almost contemplative. He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving mine, and I felt the air between us grow heavy. "Risks can lead to failure, Ms. St. Clair. And I don't tolerate failure."

I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. I could feel the weight of his scrutiny, the way it seemed to strip away any pretense. But I refused to back down.

"Failure is possible," I admitted, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "But so is success. And sometimes, the only way to find out is to try."

He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he reached past me, his arm brushing against mine as he opened the oven door. The scent of the toasted bread filled the air, mingling with the delicious aromaof the soup simmering on the stove. He inhaled deeply, his eyes closing briefly.

"Two more minutes," he said, stepping back and letting the oven door close. "Any longer, and it'll burn."

I blinked, caught off guard by his sudden shift in demeanor. "You can cook?"

The ghost of a smile played on his lips. "I've been known to."

The admission surprised me, and I couldn't help but smile in return. "Well, I'll keep that in mind."

He nodded, his expression softening ever so slightly. "Do that. And Ms. St. Clair?"

"Yes?"

"I'm watching you," he said, his tone serious but lacking the earlier edge. "Don't disappoint me."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the kitchen with a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I didn't know whether to feel intimidated, inspired, or something else entirely.

As I pulled the toasted bread from the oven, the chunks perfectly browned, I couldn't help but think about Cameron's words. He was watching me. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like someone actually saw me.

"Ivy?" Brody's voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to see him standing in the doorway, his expression curious. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," I said, setting the pan on the counter to cool. "Everything's fine."

Brody glanced toward the doorway where Cameron had disappeared, then back at me with a knowing look. "You handled that well by standing up to him. Cameron's not exactly known for his warm and fuzzy side."

I let out a nervous laugh, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. "He's definitely intense. But I think I can handle it." The soup had reduced to a thickened stew, so I turned off the burner.

Brody's smile widened, and he nodded approvingly. "Good. Because if you can handle him, you'll fit in just fine here."

I smiled back, feeling a tiny flicker of confidence. Maybe this job wasn't going to be easy, but I wasn't about to back down from a challenge. Not when I had so much to prove.

"So, what's next?" I asked, gesturing to the meal kits on the table.

Brody picked up one of the kits, flipping it over to inspect the ingredients. "Cameron wants your feedback on all of these. He's been looking for something fresh, something that'll really make us stand out in the market. Think you can come up with some ideas?"

I felt a spark of excitement at the prospect. "Definitely. I've got a few ideas already."

Brody raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "That was fast."

I grinned. "What can I say, inspiration is easy with the right subject matter."

He chuckled, setting the kit back down. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything."

"Will do," I said, already turning back to the counter.

As Brody left, I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Cameron's expectations pressing down on me. I glanced at the pot of stew, now cooling on the stove, and felt a small sense of accomplishment. If I could impress Cameron, even just a little, maybe I could prove to myself that I still had what it took to succeed in this industry.

I grabbed a notepad and pen, jotting down a few ideas that had been bouncing around in my head. A Mediterranean-inspired kit with fresh herbs and citrus flavors. A spicy curry with a coconut milk base. A hearty vegetarian option with roasted vegetables and a tangy balsamic glaze.

As I worked, I couldn't help but think about Cameron's words. "Don't disappoint me." For some reason, he had decided to give me a chance, and I wasn't going to let him down.

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