Addicted (The Addicted Series, #1)(121)

Their reaction was priceless.





Chapter 29


Krystal




The snow frosted the ground outside the resort as I watched the final installation of the kitchen equipment. I had it now, the kitchen of my dreams, and was going through a list of resumes for my staff. It felt weird, honestly. Most of the applications were from cooks who'd been working in kitchens far longer than I had, but I was supposed to be the boss. I rubbed my belly, which was just starting to swell, and looked down. "You've got remarkable timing," I said to my unborn son. "You're going to be born just about a month after we open. I hope my crew is ready for me to take the rest of the summer on light duty."

"They will be," Mr. Williamson said as he came into the kitchen. "How are you doing, Chef Aksoy?"

"I'm okay," I replied, although I still was getting used to being called Chef. "Just looking over the resumes for sous. I feel like that will be the most important hire, and the one I want first. If my sous chef is in sync with me, then the rest of the crew comes along well. Every good kitchen I've seen had a good sous chef."

"Hmmm, seems like our roles are not as different as I first believed," Williamson said. "I've been lucky enough to never have to worry about the food department in the places I've worked in. I must admit, you gave me some worries as you know, especially because of your age. But you've done well. Tell me, do you think you'll be able to make a hire soon?"

"I think so," I replied. "I want to get a name to you before the wedding."

"That's in two days," Williamson reminded me. "Tell me, are you sure that having it here is the best idea? Not that I'm not flattered, but this hotel isn't ready for such a society event."

I smiled. "Mr. Williamson, you've worked with me and with Julian for nearly four months now. Do you really think the two of us give a damn about the society pages? Julian certainly had his time in them, but he doesn't care. The wedding is less than two dozen people, including the minister and the hotel staff we've invited. By the way, you are coming, correct?"

"Of course. I may be a bit rushed, I want to make sure Mr. and Mrs. Forrester's suite is ready. Have you had the chance to meet Mrs. Forrester and their daughter yet?"

"Not yet," I admitted. "I did meet with Erica's assistant though, she's quite the spitfire."

"I agree. I've met both Mrs. Forrester and little Elizabeth. I'm looking forward to another opportunity. Well, I'll let you get on with your work. If you need assistance Chef, I'll be in my office. Oh, by the way, if you see your fiancée, please tell him that I have a letter in my office for him. I had to sign for it, so it must be important, but he's not answering his phone."

I went over to the air conditioning duct and put my ear against the metal. Faintly, I could hear the pulsing beat of music from below. "He's downstairs, Mr. Williamson. A very iron clad rule of Julian's is, never interrupt his workouts unless someone is seriously injured or dying."

"Hmph," Williamson replied. "I should make him pay for a new uniform, the way he's been adding size recently. He's put on ten pounds since you two arrived. Is he planning on trying to become Mr. America or something?"

I shook my head and chuckled. "No, it's just his way of meditating. He takes all the pressure, all the stress of everything, the mentor program, his studies, his work, our family life, and he lets it loose down there. With the total amount of stress, you can understand why he's gaining muscle."

"Well, in any case, I look forward to the next few days." Williamson left, and I turned back to my pile of resumes. I kept at it for a bit, and set the ones aside that I wanted to review more closely for later. Finally, I had it down to my last three, but could get no further until I actually talked with the candidates. I glanced up at the clock, and decided to take a break.

I headed downstairs to the gym, where I could hear Julian's music long before I entered the room. It was still raw, looking more like a dungeon or someone's basement than a high quality gym, but it was beautiful to me. Of course, seeing Julian lifting weights, his muscles rippling under the lights made it look even more beautiful. "How much longer do you have?" I asked after he set down the thirty pound dumbbells he was using for lateral raises. "You look mostly finished."

"One more set, then stretching," he said, taking a drink. "How's it going upstairs?"

"Good. I've got my final three, and I'll make calls after I take a break. By the way, Williamson came by, saying he had a letter for you. Said he had to sign for it. Any ideas?"

"Most likely from my lawyers," Julian replied. "But who knows?"

I watched while he finished his workout and pulled his t-shirt back on, then his warm-up jacket. Thankfully, Erica, Dwayne's wife and fashion consultant for Forrester Hotels, had designed a uniform for Julian to wear that was exercise oriented. I kind of regretted him covering up, he was great eye candy. "Might as well see what Williamson signed for," Julian said. "Although I don't expect much. They'd have called me if it was anything important."

Williamson was in his office, reading his computer screen when Julian knocked. "Hey boss," Julian said, "Krystal said you had something for me?"