I inhaled sharply under his cold, scrutinizing gaze.

“You’re definitely not who I was expecting,” he said finally, his voice was cold.

I straightened my shoulders. “No, I’m not. You were supposed to meet my mom, Mrs. Davis. I’m her daughter, Emily. I’m filling in for her. She’s unwell.”

I saw the flicker of disbelief behind his blank expression.

“This,” he gestured vaguely at me with his left hand, “is the best replacement she could find?”

His tone was a mixture of rudeness and disapproval.

He added in a condescending manner “Can you even hold a knife properly?”

That last question did it. My blood was boiling. First, he insulted my mom, indirectly calling her judgment poor. And then he had the temerity to question my skills after barely meeting me? This bastard. How dare he?

I stepped forward, eyes narrowing.

“With all due respect, Mr. Black, I’d appreciate it if you spoke to me with basic decency,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady.

“If you don’t want me to work here, that’s okay. But I won’t stand here and be insulted or have my abilities belittled. I won’t tolerate it.”

For a brief moment, something flickered across his face. Surprise, maybe? But it vanished quickly, replaced by a dark gloomy look.

“Oh, feisty,” Jason murmured from behind, clearly amused.

He shot him a glare but said nothing. The air grew thick with tension. You don't know tension if you're not in this room.

“What’s your name?” He asked, his tone curt.

“Emily,” I replied simply.

He pulled out his phone, tapped a response to a message, then paused again.

“Why should I let you cook in my kitchen?” His tone was cool, almost haughty.

I bit the inside of my cheek and stopped myself from saying something rude. What is this, an interview ?

“Because I’m capable,” I replied, matching his calm with my own.

He raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. Clenching his jaw, “That’s it?”

I gave a small shrug. “You’ve already made up your mind about me. I’m not here to win you over with fancy words. I know my abilities. If you’re not willing to take my word for it,it's up to you .”

There was a long silence. Then he asked, “I assume you’ve read the instructions? The rules? There are no second chances here. Any mistake and you’re gone.”

“Crystal clear,” I replied without hesitation.

He held my gaze for a moment longer, then turned and left the kitchen without another word.

The second he disappeared from view, Jason exhaled loudly.

“That was intense,” he said.

“Intense?” I scoffed. “I am sorry he's your brother. He's a jerk.”

He laughed, “You’re not wrong. Don’t worry about it. I have heard worse trust me. Liam can be uncouth sometimes”

Uncouth is putting it mildly. “Seriously, who insults someone within five minutes of meeting them?”

He chuckled again. “You’ll get used to him. Or not. Either way, you hold your ground, and that’s more than most people manage on their first day.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, I’m not most people.”

“That’s becoming pretty obvious,” he grinned.

I turned my attention back to the kitchen, opening cabinets and checking the pantry. “I needed to take inventory. Make a list of things I’ll need while I’m here.”

“Want some company?” he asked.

“You’re still here?”

“Yep. I don’t have much going on today. I actually came to annoy Liam. But I ended up meeting you instead.”

I gave him a sideways glance. “Lucky me.”

He smiled, unabashed. “So, how often are you going to be working here?”

“Mondays and Fridays. Why?”

He tapped his fingers on the island counter. “I’m shooting a music video soon. I think I just found my vixen.”

I paused, eyebrows raised. “You gotta be kidding.”

“Nope. As serious as a heart attack?”

“Jason, I cook. I don’t do vixens.”

“Ouch” he clutched his chest.

“The first favor I asked from my new friend and she refused me”

He gave me a fake wounded look, bottom lip poked out.

I laughed. “Wow, you’re not playing fair”

“Never have.”

I sighed. “Fine. I’ll think about it. Here I was thinking I’ll be the one using you.”

He leaned forward, eyes twinkling. “You’re still free to take advantage of me.”

“You’re insufferable,” I said, shaking my head.

“You have no idea.”

He stood up, pulling out his phone. “I need to call my manager. I’ll be right back.”

I watched him leave the kitchen and exhaled. What did I just agree to?

Once I was done checking the inventory, he returned, a grin plastered on his face.

He handed me his phone. “Type in your number.”

I hesitated, then took the phone and entered it. I called myself so I’d have his number too, then handed it back.

“Done.”

“Perfect,” he said, slipping it into his pocket.

I turned my focus back to the stove, chopping onions and prepping ingredients for dinner. Jason remained, sitting and watching me with mild fascination.

“You don’t have anything better to do today?” I asked, glancing at him.

“Nope. Today is for bothering Liam and watching you cook.”

I smirked. “Well, mission accomplished.”

He leaned back in his chair. “How old are you, by the way?”

“Twenty-two. You?”

“Twenty-six.”

“So, Em…wait, can I call you that?” he asked

“Yeah, sure”

“Call me Jay,” I nodded

“Tell me, when you are not helping your mom. What do you do?”

“I am still in college. Culinary arts”

“Hmm, nice. You know, I studied engineering, believe it or not.”

That got my attention. I paused. “Seriously? You did?”

“I know, I know. Everyone expects me to be some airhead singer. But yeah. Graduated with honors.”

“That’s actually impressive. Famous and smart huh.”

He shrugged. “You’d be surprised how many layers people have.”

“You’re not wrong,” I admitted.

He kept me company until I was done for the day. I packed up my things and glanced at the time.

“Well, Jay, this was unexpected.”

“In a good way, I hope?”

I smiled. “Yeah. Surprisingly, yes.”

His brown eyes followed me to the door.

“Goodnight, Em,” he said, a playful glint in his gaze. “Get ready your summer is about to get lit.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “We’ll see about that.”

As I stepped out of the Black mansion, the warm evening breeze brushed against my skin. A strange flutter danced in my stomach. Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was excitement.

Whatever it was, I had a feeling this summer was about to change everything.

The moment I walked through the door, I didn’t bother taking off my shoes. I went straight to my room, threw my bag in a corner, and collapsed on my bed. I was knackered.

Out of all the people in Los Angeles. Millions, by the way, it just had to be him who ended up as my new boss.

Liam freaking Black.

Of course, it couldn’t be Jay. Jay is kind, humble, and charming. There’s no arrogant celebrity air around him, no “I’m better than you” vibe. He’s easy to talk to, If only his arrogant brother could emulate him.

I let out a sigh and shut my eyes.

Sleep took me almost instantly.

My phone’s ringtone dragged me out of my dreams. I groaned, blindly reaching for it on my nightstand.

Lisa.

I answered, voice raspy. “Hey, girly.”

“How was your first day?” Her voice was bright, chirpy and far too energetic for how I was feeling.

I rolled to the side. “It was okay. My new boss is a jerk. It is a pity that he is so handsome. Honestly, I wish he was old, bald, lonely and ugly.”

She burst out laughing. I could picture her holding her tummy, in amusement. She always did that when something cracked her up.

“How cute is he though?” she asked with curiosity.

I groaned. “Painfully. You should see the man. He looks like he was sculpted by the gods. It’s unfair for one person to look that good.”

She screamed loud enough to rupture my eardrum. I winced and removed the phone from my ear.

“Jesus, Lisa!”

“I can’t help it! I badly wanna be you right now. At least you are having a swell summer holiday. Meanwhile, I’m stuck here with these tiny demons, climbing all over me like I’m a seesaw.”

That’s one of the things I love about her. Like me, she’s a family girl through and through. She flew to Florida to help her sister with the kids. The third baby was on the way, and she didn’t hesitate for a second before offering to help.

“I remember how excited you were before leaving,” I teased, mimicking her voice.

“I miss my babies so much. I can’t wait to see them!”

She giggled. “I did miss them! They’re adorable on FaceTime. But now that I’m here, all I want is to lock myself in a room and pretend I don’t exist. They’re like cute mini-terrorists.”

I laughed softly. “You’re so dramatic.”

Her tone shifted to something more curious. “So, besides Mr. Greek God Boss, did anything else happen?”

I paused for effect.

“Spill it already Em!”

I grinned. She is always impatient when it comes to gist. “I might have possibly agreed to be a video vixen for Jason Black, the singer.”

She screams on the other end of the line.Damn it! Have mercy on my ears girl. I braced myself, already regretting this.

“You did what?! That’s so freaking cool! You’re going to be in a music video with Jason Black! Girl, you are lucky! Do you know how many people would kill for that opportunity?”

I remained silent.

She picked up on it instantly. Her voice softened. “Wait, you’re not excited? What is the problem Em?”

“I just don’t know if it is a good idea. It felt like a decision I made on impulse.”

“Crap!” she snapped. “You’re stunning, Em. You’ll be amazing on camera. Plus, it’s Jason we’re talking about. It’ll be an adventure! Who knows this could be good for you?”

I smiled faintly. “You are more excited than I am.”

“Someone has to be! Okay, fine. I’ll let you go since you’re all moody and tired. But we’re talking more about this tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

I ended the call before she could launch into another one of her rants. Don’t get me wrong. I love her. She’s my best friend. But when she starts talking sometimes, she does not stop. And tonight? I don't have the energy to keep up.

I forced myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I fixed dinner. Chicken pasta. The nose blinding aroma filled the kitchen.

Mom and I used to sit down for meals together, talking about everything and nothing. Gossip, work, what shows we were watching. There was always laughter. Now, the silence felt louder than ever.

After eating, I cleaned up, and just as I was about to head back to my room, my phone buzzed.

Jay: Hey, Vixen! Any plans for tomorrow?

Me: Nope. Why?

Jay: Wanna come to the studio with me?

Me: Hmm. Depends. What’s in it for me?

Jay: You get to see where the magic happens. And, you get to hang out with me. What could be better?

Me: Not good enough. I’ll pass.

Jay: Ouch. Harsh. Okay, name your price.

I stared at the screen, amused. Then typed:

Me: Offer me something I can’t say no to.

His typing bubble appeared… then disappeared. Then reappeared. Then stopped again.

I'm curious now. What the heck is he typing?

Finally, his message came through:

Jay: There’s this famous Italian chef in LA. You might’ve heard of him. His name starts with M and ends in O.

My heart skipped.

Me: Marco Russo?

Jay: Bingo. I told him I might stop by tomorrow with a friend.

Me: You're evil!.

Jay: Haha I’m surrounded by business people. I learned from the best. So, Em… you in or out?

Me: Ugh. Fine. You win. You got yourself a deal.

Jay: Excellent choice. Now send me your address. I’ll pick you up at 9 a.m.

I sent him my location, a grin stretching across my face.

Marco Russo.

In the culinary world, he’s what Beyoncé is to music. He only cooks for VIPs, A-listers, royalty, billionaires. And tomorrow, I get to meet him.

Jay: Goodnight, Em. See you tomorrow.

Me: Goodnight, Jay. Sleep tight.

I dashed to my closet and started rummaging through it. I need to arrange my outfit for tomorrow.

I know I’m acting like a kid promised a trip to Disneyland, but excuse me this is my Disneyland.

I don’t know how I’ll sleep tonight. But one thing’s for sure…

I can’t wait for tomorrow.

At exactly 9:00a.m., my phone buzzed.

Jay: Outside. Come out, Vixen.

I’d been up since six, way thrilled to sleep. I raced to the door, nerves and excitement tangling in my chest. Outside, a sleek black Range Rover parked on the street. Jay lowered the window and gave a small wave.

“Hop in,” he said with a grin.

He seems like a morning person. His face was bright and cheerful. I slipped into the passenger seat. “Morning,” I greeted both Jay and the driver, who looked more like a bodyguard than a chauffeur. Black suit, dark shades,a black ink tattoo ran down his shoulder.

He gave a stiff nod and started the engine.

The car goes into motion. I was bouncing my legs in excitement. Today is like Christmas coming early for me.

He chuckled “You’re awfully giddy for someone who needed heavy bribery to be here.”

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up before I change my mind .”

“Please. We both know you wouldn’t dare,” he said, smirking.

And damn it, he was right. If he bailed on me now, I’d genuinely cry. Not that he needed to know that. He’d never let me hear the end of it.

The studio wasn’t far. We arrived within twenty minutes, and Jay guided us inside like he owned the place. Which, honestly, he probably did in some way. The air smelled like leather and polished wood.

There are a bunch of recording equipment here. A microphone, audio interface, headphones, studio monitors and the rest I can't identify.

“This is where magic happens,” he said dramatically.

I smiled as he introduced me as his friend to the crew. That word warmed something in my chest.

Jay vanished into the vocal booth, headphones on, fully in his element. I took a seat in the cozy waiting area, scrolling through my phone to kill time.

Then, someone sat beside me.

I glanced up and froze

Mason Jacob.

The Grammy-winning, chart-topping, sinfully good looking Mason Jacob. I once had a massive crush on him.

This had to be a dream. I discreetly pinched my arm.

“Ow!”

He let out a hearty laugh, “Careful now. You’re not hallucinating.”

I blinked. “Wait.. was that an accent?”

He smiled, amused. “Yup. Grew up in London. Moved back here when I was nineteen. It slips out now and then.”

God. His voice is smooth.

I palmed my eyes. “Did I just say that out loud?”

“You did. And it was adorable.” He leaned back. “I’m Mason, by the way.”

“As if I didn’t know,” I muttered, embarrassed. “Emily.”

“Emily” he tasted my name in his lips ”Pretty name for a beautiful lady”

I blushed

“So, what brings you here?” he asked, eyes scanning the studio.

“I am here with Jay. More like he bribed me into coming with him” I snorted

He raised a brow.

“Jason Black” I clarified.

He chuckled, “That makes sense. He always strikes a hard deal.”

“You’re telling me.”

Mason tilted his head. “Are you his girlfriend?”

My eyes widened. “God, no. He’s just a friend.”

Introducing myself as a friend is better than admitting to working for the egotistical brother.”

“Hmm,” his hazel eyes lingering. “I see.”

I was dying to ask what brought him here, but I didn't want to cross boundaries. I guess my face gave it away anyway.

“I am here to see Jay. Finalizing details for my upcoming tour.”

I tried not to squeal. “That’s so cool.”

He paused, then looked me dead in the eye. “Wanna come?”

Was that a trick question?

“Hell yes!” I said, too fast.

He laughed. “Noted. I’ll talk to Jay and get your number before I leave.”

I watched him disappear down the hallway. Did that just happen?

I quickly texted Lisa: Guess who I just met?

I bet she will blow up my phone once she receives the text. She dislikes me when I do this.

By 12:45, Jay emerged, all smiles, with Mason trailing behind him. My brain had been slowly melting in boredom.

“Emily,” Mason said, stopping in front of me. “Almost forgot.”

He handed me his phone, and I punched in my number.

“Bye, beautiful,” he said with a wink.

My cheeks flushed. I was still recovering when Jay leaned in with a mischievous smile .

“Em Em.. Emily?” he said, tapping my cheek lightly. “I was right about you.”

I blinked. “What are you even talking about?”

He didn’t answer, rather he just wrapped a hand around my arm. “Come on, Vixen.You’re in for a long ride.”

Outside, the serious driver was already waiting. He gave him the next destination. He typed on his phone, glanced my way and continued. There's mischief written all over his face. I shot him a suspicious look.

“You’ve got a sparkle in your eye. What did you do?”

He just smiled.

After a 35-minute drive, the car pulled up in front of Marco Russo’s restaurant. The ambience is breathtaking, elegant and sophisticated. Soft lighting. Tables are well spaced to provide privacy. Crips linens, exquisite tableware and cutlery. Luxurious designs.

The architecture screamed money. The reviews were honest, this place was jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Jay walked in like he owned the place, clearly a regular. Perks of being rich and famous.

I followed, eyes wide.

And then, I saw him.

At a reserved table, cool and composed, eyes on his phone, was Mr. Liam Black.

My boss.

The walking embodiment of bad moods and brooding stares.

I froze.

Jay? He was smiling.

“You didn’t” I whispered.

“Oh, but I did,” he whispered back, nudging me forward.

Someone please give me a tangible reason why I shouldn't strangle him.

And yet,I walked forward.

Argh!!!

Let the drama begin….