Page 88 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“It’s actually a little botched,” he said, poking at his own. “I can’t get the same cuts of meat here in Cullowhee as I can when I order wholesale for my restaurants in DC.”

“Oh, that’s right. You own restaurants. Do you own a steakhouse?”

A smile pulled at his lips and he didn’t answer right away, chewing on his asparagus.

“What?”

“I’m enjoying your ignorance. I don’t get it often.”

“Well fine,” I said, pulling out my phone. “I’ll just google the answer.”

He reached forward as if to take my phone, but I was super-fast and swiveled out of his reach.

“Alice... You’re supposed to be good tonight. Remember?” There was a hint of playfulness in his voice.

“Ugh... fine...” I tucked my phone into my boobs. He did not like that. Or maybe he did, and he didn’t like that he did.

Tearing his eyes away from my tits, he said, “To answer your question... I am a trained chef. And I own several restaurants in DC.”

“Oh. Anywhere popular?”

“Oak City Grille,” he said offhand. Like it was no big deal.

“Hold up. Say what?”

Oak City Grille was a world-renowned steakhouse that had a waiting list over two years to get a table. The rich and famous visited regularly, and the prices were absurd. One year during Christmas, my boss and his five closest coworkers and their significant others had dinner there, and I coordinated it. For the thirteen of us, it cost almost eight thousand dollars.

“The Diamond,” he continued.

“No!”

The Diamond was another steakhouse of almost equal popularity, and although the prices were less absurd, they were still higher than the average person was willing to fork over.

“Victory Cafe, The Mountain, The Shack,” he continued, ticking off on his fingers.

“Okay, now you’re just fucking with me.”

“Time Square Steakhouse, The Piedmont, Alexander Place–”

“Reuben. You do not own all of those.”

“I run a few hotels as well. Sapphire Suites, Saint Regis, Four Seasons, Fairview Hotel... and a few others.”

He was joking, right? Those were some of the biggest hotels in the area.

“Recently branched into the Casino business. So far I have Hotel Zena, The Harbor Spa and Hotel, and Charleston Resort.”

“I literally do not believe you.”

“I’ll give you the grand tour sometime.” He finished his steak and dabbed at his lips. “Hmm... needed more rosemary.”

“Needed nothing. It’s perfection. Where do you learn to cook?”

“France, Italy, Germany, Spain for a few months... wasn’t impressed with England. Bailed from there pretty fast...” he paused as if to think. “Spent a few months in Ireland as well, but that wasn’t on purpose. Visa issues. Got to explore Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in my downtime. And I helped save a local pub down in Killarney... never did master a good Scotch egg, though.”

“You’re bratting me. You’re bratting me because I can’t brat you back.”

He shook his head. “I’m deadly serious.”

---