Chapter 6

 JEALOUS ROMEO

BROOKS GLOBAL LTD

Marie made her way to the top floor where she knew Romeo will be waiting for her.

She knew he had been furious seeing her as a new recruit in his company but she didn't care. After all she had made it into the company by her efforts and not by using her position as his wife.

When he had left for the business trip a month ago, she had began her plan of looking for a job.

Knowing that cooking was her forte, she submitted her applications to all kind of restaurant in the city but they all rejected her. 

And when she was giving up hope, she heard Blake, Romeo friend talking about it on one of his visit to the house.

Unknown to them, she had applied and had gotten chosen over ten other applicant. 

She deliberately used her real name to get into his company so no one would be able to link her to Romeo and it worked, except for Blake who knew her as Romeo wife, no one else knew and she liked it that way.

She clasped her hand nervously thinking of ways to confront Romeo if he proved difficult when she noticed her ringless finger.

In the kitchen they were expected not to put a thing on and since she had claim to be single on her application form, she didn't bother wearing the ring and besides Romeo who is her husband is not wearing the ring too and for the month that he has been gone, he was pictured weekly with a new girl in his arms.

She had read the newspaper to know more about his movement since he doesn't call her and she had read about his playboy antics knowing it to be true.

Though their marriage is a loveless marriage, she had expected him to be at least faithful but since he isn't, she will just have to keep on claiming to be single.

As soon as the lift doors open, The secretary stared at her approach and Marie could tell that Romeo asking to see her angered his secretary probably because she is his lover, Marie thought as the secretary grudgingly escourt her to Romeo office.

She stared at Romeo who was looking at her angrily.

"Just what kind of game are you playing?" He barked at her angrily.

"Am not playing any game. Am working" she replied angrily too

"And what did I tell you about that? What was my opinion about it?" He asked.

"I know what your opinion is about my work but I just couldn't seat back and do nothing. I told you already that I want to work and now that I have a job, am not throwing it away" she replied.

"And what if I force you to leave? What if I make it unbearable for you and make you quit" he threatened.

"That will be an unfair thing to do. I worked hard and got the job and if you should bully me into leaving then you are being unfair" she told him not caring if she made him angry.

"Seems like my one month trip has gotten your tongue more sharper, have you forgotten what I told you I will do if you defy me?" He asked softly.

"By claiming your right and sleeping with me? I know you wouldn't do such thing in your place of work" she replied and immediately she was pushed to the wall while he towered over her.

"Don't tempt me Marie" he warned softly and she could see the determination in his eyes.

She had to tread carefully if she want to get out of this without any problem.

"You are being unreasonable Romeo. There is nothing wrong with me working" she said softly.

"Really? You call working in the midst of men nothing ?" He asked and for a while she was lost until she realised what he meant.

"If you are talking about the other chef, its nothing, they are just a fellow worker" she told him.

"I don't care! I don't care what they are to you but I do care about my reputation. I wont let my wife love affair ruin what have worked hard for. So quit!" He told her smoothly.

"And did you consider your reputation when you were pictured with all those bimbos during your one month trip" she told him hotly even as she stared at him.

"Don't be stupid! If am around a lady, the press takes it up and have a field day about it, I thought you were wiser than that ?" 

"Yes! I am wise and that is why I also filled my status as single in the application form. To the company and everyone around me, I am single and that's why am not wearing my ring. What can you say for yourself?" She asked starring at his ringless finger.

He let go of her and moved towards the window.

"I forgot it at my apartment in Paris" he confessed.

"So typical of you right? Well I don't care what you do with your ring and you shouldn't care about what I do with mine and most importantly, am not quiting!" She said hotly and he turned to stare at her.

"Your reason for not quitting, is it because you are dating one of those chef?" He asked looking at her suspiciously.

"You really are impossible! I won't give an answer to that, think whatever you want, after all am nothing to you" she said before sauntering out of his office.

Feeling very furious, he picked up his phone wanting to call the human resources team just so they will fire Marie when he stopped.

She's right, he is being unreasonable. If she works in his company using her real name then there is nothing that connects him with her.

He should be happy by that thought but somehow he isn't.

***********

~OFFICE CAFETERIA~ KITCHEN 

"Make the sauce Marie and don't just stand there like a statue!" Charles, the head chef barked at her and immediately she got to work.

She was almost done with the sauce when he left the spaghetti he was making to taste the sauce.

"What the hell is this? It's bland!" Charles told her as he switched off the fire underneath it.

"But it isn't" Marie replied as she tasted the sauce again.

"Guys come try this out" Charles called the other three guys who were busy with one thing or another.

They tasted the sauce and also found it bland. 

"See!" Charles said throwing the whole sauce into the bin.

"This is why I hate working with females. If you know you aren't capable of this job , just quit cause I find it hard to understand why you keep on cooking bland food" Charles said to her harshly.

"I will improve" Marie told him knowing she was at fault.

"You keep on saying that but have had enough! Get out of my kitchen! " Charles yelled at her and immediately she took off her apron and got out through the back door.

Marie saw a chair and sat on it close to tears but she stopped herself. Something little like that can't get her down.

Her cooking was bland because she couldn't feel the taste, it all started a week ago and ever since then she's been cooking bland food and that's all due to her taste buds which she finds hard to function properly.

She has schedule a doctor appointment for it and will be seeing the doctor tonight.

Charles being the head of the other chef tends to be grumpy and inconsiderate. On her first day at the job, he had made it clear to her that he didn't like a woman in their midst but her cooking had prevented him from saying anything more and back then she didn't have any issue with her taste bud.

But now it's all gotten worse and Charles anger at her for failing to fulfil her task keeps mounting each day.

"Are you okay?" She looked up to see James starring at her and she nodded at his question.

James is also a chef and ever since she started working in the kitchen, he welcomed her warmly and also became a close friend of hers, well she's also close to the other two chef except for Charles who only looks at her with contempt.

" I brought you this to cheer you up" he said giving her one of the chocolate bar he loves eating.

"Thanks, James" she said as she opened the chocolate, she winced when she felt no taste in her mouth.

"Don't mind Charles, you know he's always grumpy. He was also like that to me when I first arrive and now he is showing me respect, with time he come around and treat you with respect" James told her.

"Is that suppose to make me feel good?" She asked still chewing the chocolate.

"Of course" James replied and she smiled.

"Thanks for trying to cheer me up but I know Charles will never come to like me and I can't force myself to be liked by anyone" she said softly.

"To tell you the truth, we all dislike Charles, none of us like him, so you've got our back" James said talking about the other two guys.

"James is right! We just need one opportunity to punch that face of his in" Jacob, another chef said as he walked towards them with Caleb.

"So stop feeling down, remember that no matter what Charles says, you are good at what you do" Caleb chipped in which got her feeling better.

"Thanks guys. You all are awesome" she said smiling at the three of them.

"Now that we've managed to make you smile, why not give us the number of the girls" Caleb told her which got her laughing.

Caleb and Jacob are known to be the playboy of the company. Due to their attractive looks and knowing the no office dating policy, they make Marie collect the numbers of the girls who shows interest in them and later collect it from her just so they can hook up with them out of the office.

"Well there is this girl from the account department and the marketing department who gave me their number to give to you" she said giving them both their number.

"Just one girl? "Caleb asked.

"Yes, just one girl each. The other three who gave me theirs are only interested in Charles" she said and they both grumble.

"What's it about Charles that makes all girls flock around him?" Jacob asked.

"Girls also flock around you, so stop complaining and let's get back to work, it's lunch time" James told them as he wrapped his arm around Marie who had grown accustomed to their touch.

They might be touchy and friendly but they've never gone far or try to mess with her and for that she's glad.

********

~ LUNCH– CAFETERIA~

As soon as Romeo walked into the cafeteria accompanied by Blake, his employee eating all stood up to acknowledge him.

With a raise of his hand,they all sat down back and he took up an empty seat with Blake.

"Why are they all being stiff?" Romeo asked starring at all his employees.

"It's because of the CEO sudden appearance, don't you know that one mistake they make, you can fire them?" Blake replied.

"They should eat calmly, am not about to fire anyone while eating" he replied as his gaze went to the serving area to see a man dishing out food.

"That's Charles, he's the head chef and a very strict one and also he's the most handsome amongst the four men" Blake said only to recieve a glare from Romeo.

"What? I thought you asked me to come here, so we can check on the men your wife is working with" Blake told him.

"Stop spewing rubbish,I only came here to eat. Can't I eat my company food?" Romeo asked.

"You can but you can't deny the fact that you also came to check up on your wife" Blake said nodding his head at the serving area.

Romeo turned just in time to see Marie and three other handsome guys walk in and one of them even had his arms around her.

"Turns out they are all good looking right?" Blake said to Romeo who clench his hands still staring at Marie.

"Now tell me if you aren't jealous?" Blake whispered the words into his ears.

He isn't jealous, he couldn't be jealous of the men around Marie. 

She means nothing to him and who ever she chose to flirt with means nothing to him too. He fiercely thought as he turned to tear his gaze away from Marie who still had that guy arms around her.