Page 52 of Nanny for the Bossy Billionaire

“For our appetizer I have made a porcini mushroom soup with black truffle.” I place two gray bowls of my soup in front of each man, and it looks delicious, if I do say so myself. It’s garnished with some cream, flaky salt, toasted herbs, and a crouton on the side.

I stand there and watch as they dig in.

“Mmmmm,” Reid says after he takes his first bite, but that’s all he offers.

Chef Aranda, on the other hand, gives nothing away. He takes a couple bites of the soup and then pushes it away from himself and says, “Next.”

Reid is about to say something to his friend. I guess he wants to scold him about his brisk manner, but I clear my throat to stop him.

I then take the bowls away and replace them with plates of herb encrusted pork chops over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, with a green apple slaw and a lemon pepper sauce.

I honestly think it’s the best plate I’ve ever put together. Visually and taste-wise.

Reid rubs his hands together before he digs in. Like in the previous course, he makes sounds of approval with every bite he consumes.

Chef Aranda first tastes every component of the dish individually, then eats them how they were intended. Yet again, he gives no reaction.

“Well? Has she adequately jumped through all of your hoops?” Reid asks.

“Actually, I made dessert,” I say before our guest can respond.

Chef Aranda raises an eyebrow.

I go to the fridge and pull out the strawberry mousses I left in there to set. I place them in front of Chef Aranda and Reid and say, “I know you only asked for an appetizer and entrée, but I also wanted to show that I can do desserts.”

Without breaking eye contact, chef Aranda picks up his desert spoon and dips it in the moose and takes a bite. He swirls it around his mouth, swallows, then climbs to his feet.

“Thank you for all your efforts here today. Give me some time to consider. I’ll let you know what I decide soon.”

“Come on, that was amazing. You don’t need time to think about anything,” Reid says.

“I do not tell you how to build microchips. Please, don’t tell me how to pick an apprentice.” Chef Aranda turns to me. “It has been a pleasure meeting you. I will be in touch.”

He walks out of the kitchen, and just before he disappears around the corner, he tosses over his shoulder with a smile, “Bye Reid.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Reid waves him off.

Once we are alone, I say, “I don’t think that went well.”

“What the hell are you talking about? That was amazing. Every bite of everything you cooked blew my mind.”

“Chef Aranda didn’t seem all that impressed.”

“Gabriel is an asshole. Your food was amazing. He would be an idiot to turn you down.”

“I don’t know…”

“I’m telling you your food was great. Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I do…with other things. Chef Aranda is the expert here. I’m sorry, but I’m more interested in what he has to say.”

He laughs. “One doesn’t have to be a culinary genius to be able to tell good food. All you need are taste buds, which I have.”

I throw my hands up. “Ugh! Okay. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

I begin clearing the mess I’ve made. Reid accepts my stance and helps me clean up.

I hope Reid is right. However, in the event he isn’t, I’m going to prepare myself for bad news.

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