Page 15 of The Suite Life
‘Oh, Gigi, you would love that,’ Tom encourages me. He’s also making it impossible for me to say no.
‘I would,’ I say, injecting genuine enthusiasm into my tone.
Kane is good-looking, he’s in a band – this could work.
‘Sick,’ Kane says. ‘Give me your number before I leave, yeah?’
I smile as I head back over to Kelly. There are butterflies in my stomach and a million questions swirling around in my brain – the most important one being: how am I going to pull this off?
Tom quickly catches me up, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips.
‘Boom! I’ve sorted her a date, with a celebrity,’ he gloats to Kelly, his voice hushed yet brimming with smug satisfaction.
‘So have I,’ Kelly replies through a smirk, never one to be outdone. ‘One that could walk through a metal detector without setting it off.’
She proudly shows us her phone screen, revealing a photo that momentarily leaves me speechless.
‘Oh my God, that’s…’ I begin, struggling to find words.
‘Yep,’ Kelly proudly confirms. ‘Celebrity chef Roscoe Morrow. And you’re having dinner with him – today. He’s opening a restaurant at the end of the week, it’s not far from here, and he’s there today. He says he wants to prepare a tasting menu, for just the two of you.’
‘She can’t tonight,’ Tom says, sounding like my disapproving dad. ‘She’s going on a date with my guy.’
Kelly laughs, rolling her eyes at Tom as she taps away on her phone.
‘Why would Roscoe Morrow want to do that for me?’ I can’t help but ask.
‘I’ve been flirting up a storm with him, so make sure you’re super flirty with him in person too, he’s really into it,’ she tells me. ‘And… yep… he’s at the restaurant all day. He says you can go for lunch instead.’
I instinctively look to Tom for his approval – it really does feel like he’s my dad now.
‘Okay, because it’s an emergency,’ he reluctantly agrees, adopting a tone that adds a touch of paternal disapproval. ‘But hedge your bets, go on both dates – I’m confident mine will be better.’
‘I’m definitely going to win this one,’ Kelly declares with a smile.
So my love life really is a game now – cool.
Wow, I guess celebrity dates are like buses. You wait around forever and then two come along at once. One of them has to be decent, right?
9
I pinch myself as I stand outside Roscoe Morrow’s highly anticipated restaurant, Mare Segreto. I can’t believe I’m actually here.
The name of the restaurant hangs above the door in huge silver metal lettering, set against a vibrant blue background that gleams in the sunlight, almost like the ocean does.
I can tell, just by looking at the shiny new exterior, that this place is going to be pure luxury, and oh-so expensive, and here I am in my lightener-flecked work clothes, on what is supposed to be a date with a TV chef. The odds don’t feel like they’re in my favour, and I couldn’t feel less like a catch right now, but I need to back myself.
One of the pros about working in a salon is that I had a whole team of people with the skills to glam me up a bit, ahead of my lunch date, so my hair and make-up looks fabulous. There wasn’t much that could be done for my boring, plain black work clothes, but Kelly did insist I borrow her Balmain leather jacket, to ‘elevate’ my look a little. I’m nervous, sure, and out of my depth? Definitely. But it’s amazing how much more confident I feel, for having nice hair, flawless make-up, and a fancy jacket.It’s almost like I’m in disguise or armour – like I have some kind of inexplicable tactical advantage, by not being my usual self.
I check my reflection in the large floor-to-ceiling windows, which are blocked by signs teasing that the restaurant is ‘opening soon’. It’s a deliberate tease, preventing any curious onlookers from sneaking a peek inside, and here I am, getting to waltz straight in – assuming I’m not being catfished, of course, because this just doesn’t feel like the sort of thing that happens to me.
I let my imagination run away with me, wondering if this is somehow some kind of elaborate Doctor Mad-style prank, but then the double doors to Mare Segreto swing open, and out walks the man himself, Roscoe Morrow.
As he flashes me a warm, welcoming, made-for-TV smile, I instantly relax – but just a little. I need to be on the top of my game today, I can’t afford to relax too much.
Roscoe stands tall, with a posture that is almost exhausting to look at, radiating an air of sophistication that complements the sleek exterior of his restaurant. His neatly trimmed beard adds a touch of rugged charm, and his blue eyes, sparkling with genuine friendliness, instantly make me feel welcome. His salt-and-pepper hair exudes an air of distinction, complementing his perfectly tailored chef whites. He looks every bit the part, and I can now officially add chef to the list of professions I find sexy – come on, a person who cooks food, how am I only just realising that’s just my type on paper?
‘Gigi?’ he checks with a smile.
