"Uncle Tom, this is Mel, my friend." Andrew turned his gaze to Mel then introduced her to Uncle Tom.
"Hello Uncle Tom, it's nice to meet you," she said.
"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you too, Mel." Uncle Tom is surprised to see Andrew brings a girl to his restaurant.
'Is she his girlfriend? But earlier, he introduced her as a friend. Hmm... maybe they are still in the stage of getting to know each other.' He silently smiles when thought about this couple in front of him 'I should help Andrew to get this beautiful girl.'
"Uncle, what's on the menu tonight?" Asked Andrew, which brought him back from his own thought.
Uncle Tom cleared his throat, his gaze turned to Mel... "What do you want to eat?"
Andrew raised his eyebrows, dumbfounded. Because this is the first time he heard Uncle Tom asking others what food they want to eat.
Have the rules at this restaurant changed? So now, customers can choose?
Uncle Tom chuckled when he saw Andrew looking confused. "My dear Andrew... I didn't ask you. I asked Mel. It is her first time here, I want to know what kind of food she likes." He smiles at Mel.
"She likes to eat meat," Andrew answered without giving Mel a chance to speak.
Mel could only nod slightly, agree with Andrew.
Uncle Tom left them after knowing Mel's favorite food. He already has an idea of a dish he wanted to make for her. He will entice her with his signature meat dish, hoping that Mel will return to his restaurant. He liked her as soon as he saw her, she was pretty and looks very polite to older people like him.
Unlike many young women, he met lately. These days most of them were arrogant and didn't care about older people, especially an old chef like him. They only wanted to blend with people who had the same social status and age as them.
Uncle Tom considers Andrew like his own son. For most of his life, Andrew never really has close female friends and companions. He wishes Andrew and Mel more than just friends.
Old Man William, Andrew's Grandpa, always complains to him. That old man once said, if Andrew has no plans to get married soon, he will choose a wife for him.
Uncle Tom could only shake his head remember that old man's complaints. If Old Man William knew Andrew has brought a young, kind, and beautiful girl here, he would be happy. He couldn't wait to tell him.
In just a short time, Mel felt very comfortable around Andrew. Their conversation flows naturally and smoothly. Although they just met this afternoon, she thought that she had known him for a long time.
Have they met before? She would ask him later.
"So, what's the story behind this restaurant? You seem very close to Uncle Tom?" she asked.
"Uncle Tom is one of my grandfather's junior, and we treat him like family. He opens this restaurant as a hobby, and he only serves a few families. It seems that with his restaurant, he wanted his old friends to visit him any time." Andrew explained while arranging the cutlery for her. Suddenly Mel feels warm inside her heart. This man is so sweet.
While listening to Andrew's story about Uncle Tom, she remembers her Grandpa's best friends, Old Hill, Old William, and Old Adams. When she was a little, her Grandpa brought her to Grandpa Hill's mansion or came to her Grandpa's home.
Wait!
Old Adams?
Suddenly she remembered something, an invitation, from president Adams.
Old Adams? Does he have a tie with President Adams?
She is puzzled. When she was little, she only heard that one of her Grandpa's best friends' named is Adams. When she left the country, she was too young to know about their family background.
She made a note to herself in her mind, when she met Mr. President, she will ask about it. Thinking about Mr. President, she remembers how kind he is. Also how he respects Mel by giving her an open invitation, so Mel can decide what dinner time suits her. It's really an honor for her to be treated that way by such a man like President Adams.
Mel delays too long to decide the time. She always says she's busy. But, yesterday Mr. Rexi, president assistant, called again. She couldn't avoid it anymore. She finally chooses the time. This weekend she will go to dinner with the Adams family. Somehow she feels troublesome.
After a while...
Uncle Tom comes with waiters. They brought them the dishes.
Mel's eyes lit up when she saw the dish. Uncle Tom is really a Michelin Star chef, just looking at the food on the plate makes her appetite rise up.
She imagined the meat melting in her mouth. She gulped just by imagining it. Not only was the tomahawk steak tempting her, but the other dish on the table made her feel even more starving.
"Mel..."
"Hmm...?" she responded without looking at him.
"Bon a petite!" He said with his deep and alluring voice.
Mel lifts her head and nods. She immersed herself in her tiny world in no time, enjoying a very tender and delicious tomahawk steak. To the extent, she doesn't care about others, including the man before her.
Andrew gulped a few times when he saw her small mouth chewing the steak. It felt like he wanted to kiss her slightly greasy pink lips. Instantly Andrew felt so jealous of the steak. He sighed silently and started eating.
Uncle Tom's steak is one of the best Mel's ever eaten. Not only did the steak, but other side dishes also taste fantastic. She wishes uncle Tom allowed her to come back here. This private restaurant will be the number one restaurant and the best in her heart.
She must be a regular customer here. "Uncle Tom, can I come here again? The food was amazingly delicious. I really love it." Mel shamelessly asked him.
"Surely you can, darling...!" without giving Uncle Tom a chance to answer, Andrew gave his approval. Mel glared at him in disbelief. This man, why does he always decide things? "Why? You don't believe I can say that?" he asked, looking into her eyes.
And in Mel's mind, she said, yes, of course, you can, because you are the boss. This man is really something!
Uncle Tom chuckled, seeing this couple glaring at each other. He was sure they liked each other. "Mel, of course, you can come here, any time. Uncle will cook delicious food for you."
"Really? Wow... thank you, Uncle Tom." Her eyes shining, she was delighted.
"Of course."
Uncle Tom overjoyed. Because his intention to tie this girl seems successful. He finally sees Andrew's ship sailing and can't wait to report to the Old William.