Lorenzo POV
Jordan Parker was... interesting. I couldn't quite put it into words.
She wasn't the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen, but there was something about her. An attractive figure, an almost-innocent air from those glasses, the way she blushed so easily... there was just something that pulled you in. I smiled, remembering how easily I could make her blush — how little it took to throw her off balance. She was irresistibly tempting.
And the little gravitational chaos that followed her everywhere seemed to drive Chef Adam to the edge. That, to me, was just a bonus.
Adam and I aren't friends. Never have been. We work well together, that's it. He's the chef, I'm the sous-chef — boss and subordinate who know their place. He's as arrogant as they come, but there's no denying he's brilliant. I've thought about leaving more than once, but I'm still here. Waiting for the offer that'll change my life. And because this is the best place to learn... and maybe because I enjoy watching him try to control everything. Especially now, with Jordan throwing his world into disarray.
She doesn't do it on purpose. But she has that effect on him. One slip, one startled jump from her, and there goes a utensil flying. It's almost a game now, guessing when it'll happen. And hearing Adam's growl right after? A classic.
And the most curious thing? She's lasted two weeks without getting fired. That says a lot. Very few make it that long. Very few survive Chef Adam.
But he gives her almost no room — just has her chopping vegetables and plating. A shame. Because damn... she's got talent. Maybe even more than me. I gave her a sauce to taste and, on the second spoonful, she nailed the missing ingredient. That sparked a very uncomfortable curiosity.
Part of me wants to see what else she can do. Another part... not so much. Maybe I should ask her out. I know Chef Adam doesn't allow relationships in his kitchen, but forbidden things are always the most tempting. I smiled. What would she be like outside the kitchen? I heard Melissa tell Clara that Jordan was cooking for her. I should've invited myself. I wanted to see her cook. To confirm my suspicions.
.
I got to the restaurant early today. I'm sure Chef Adam's already locked in his office. Today's meeting day — time to plan next week's menu. We've got fixed dishes, but we also have a daily special — kind of a one-off opportunity. Of course, there are 365 days in a year. Even accounting for our closed days, you can't invent something new every single day. Some dishes make a comeback — they're why customers return.
"Hey. You're early today." I smiled at the little tornado walking in.
"Hi, Jordan. I had a few things to check, and I've got a meeting with Adam soon to plan next week's menu."
"Oh." I saw the smile fall from her lips. Adam hadn't invited her to join. Idiot. "Need help?" she asked quickly, almost like she was itching to be doing something in the kitchen. She always seemed to go zen mode when she focused.
"I've got a few sauces to prep. You can help with that."
"I don't know if Chef Adam will like the idea."
"We'll be stuck in the office for at least two hours. Our little secret."
She gave me the brightest smile — clearly thrilled by the idea. So easy. I handed her the sauce recipe and headed to meet Adam.
Jordan POV
I was so happy when Lorenzo asked if I wanted to help with the sauces, I'm pretty sure I grinned like a total idiot. He definitely noticed — he always noticed. But I didn't care.
Didn't care that Chef Ogre hadn't invited me to join the menu meeting either. This was the first time since I arrived that I got to do something else. Something that wasn't just slicing veggies or drizzling sauce on a finished plate.
As soon as Lorenzo gave me the recipe, I wanted to jump up and down. Our secret. I felt like a giddy little co-conspirator — but a very happy one. I was sure that once Chef Adam tasted what I'd made, he'd give me more chances. I grabbed the ingredients and got to work, laser-focused. My heart was racing, but in the best way.
It was like flipping a switch in my brain. Alone at the counter, with the scent of broth and herbs, the sound of the knife on the board... it was therapy. I wanted to tweak the recipe a little, to fix a missing seasoning that would've made it divine, but I didn't. I followed it to the letter. Not the time to improvise. Not yet.
Every now and then, panic jabbed my gut at the thought of Chef Adam walking in and finding me "off-script." But Lorenzo said he'd be busy for hours. And once I finished, Chef Adam would have to admit I could do more. Right?
I had to believe that. Lorenzo trusted me — this was a chance to prove myself. What could go wrong?
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a second just to inhale the scent. And smiled. This was my happy place.
When I finished the sauce, I tasted it with a spoon and closed my eyes. Almost perfect. And exactly according to Chef Adam's recipe. So balanced, so rich... I nearly danced right there. But I controlled myself — last thing I needed was flinging sauce across the kitchen.
I poured it into one of the large thermal containers — the kind that keeps food hot for hours — and sealed it carefully. Ready for service, still perfect.
I looked at it with a disproportionate sense of pride. Ridiculous. But still — it was mine. Mine. For the first time since I arrived.
That's when I heard the door swing and their footsteps.
Lorenzo was back, followed by Chef Adam.
My heart skipped. I kept busy, pretending to clean the counter like it was the most important task in the world. Lorenzo shot me a quick, knowing glance — our secret — and went to his station. Adam didn't even look my way, too focused on inspecting the counters.
A few minutes later, service started.
Dishes flying, orders shouted, the clanging of metal.
I was in my zone, helping plate, when I heard Adam's voice — drier than usual, but... different.
"Good sauce, Lorenzo."
I glanced over. He had just tasted a spoonful straight from the thermal container, then nodded for me to start plating. My heart leapt — it was my sauce.
"Thanks, Chef," Lorenzo replied, smooth as ever. For a second, I almost believed everything was fine. But it wasn't. I waited for him to say I made it — but he didn't. Was he really keeping the secret that seriously? Not going to tell Adam it was me?
Lorenzo just smiled across the counter at me, like nothing unusual had happened. Maybe for him, it hadn't.
I caught Chef Adam glancing at me briefly. Then:
"You gonna stand there staring or start plating?"
I said nothing. I turned away from Lorenzo and Adam and got to work. I thought this was going to be my moment. Lorenzo trusted me to make the sauce — but was he afraid to admit it to Adam? Could I blame him? I wasn't sure. But it hurt more than I wanted to admit.
Whatever, Jordan. Look at the bright side. Chef Adam liked it.
He doesn't know I made it, but... he liked it. If he had known, maybe he would've hated it just out of principle. At least now, I know he enjoyed it.
And if I had messed up, Lorenzo would've taken the fall.
I need to talk to the Chef. I can't leave it like this. I won't throw Lorenzo under the bus — he gave me a shot. But I can't keep doing this either. I'm going to ask for more responsibility.
I have to prove myself. It's been two weeks. Chopping and plating. Is that going to be my entire internship?
Crap. I just hope he doesn't fire me.