This Is An Insult To The Culinary World!!!

Tristan D'Leon POV

I was dressed in a crisp white shirt, a black office suit, and matching black pants. I chose not to wear a tie, finding it uncomfortable, and left the top buttons of my shirt undone, revealing a hint of my broad chest. It was early in the morning when I left my room, not that it mattered, as I hadn't gotten any sleep during the night anyway. I was ready long before anyone else.

By the time I made my way to the dining room, Alexander, Albert, and Kira were already seated. Varieties of dishes spread out before them on the table ranging from roasted meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables. The enticing aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, but none of it interested me. Instead, I poured myself a cup of coffee, savoring its rich, elegant taste after which I took a seat. This was my morning routine...coffee before anything else.

A heavy silence had settled over the room, only broken by the occasional synchronized sighs escaping Alexander, Albert, and Kira. Their eyes were all trained on Jade's door, their worry palpable.

Alexander was the first to speak. "Are you sure Jade is okay? She never sleeps in this late. She cares about her job more than anything. Do you think it's okay not to check up on her?" His voice was laced with concern as he turned his attention to Kira, breaking the awkward stillness in the room.

Kira sighed, her gaze still locked on the door. "Mrs. Sinclair is definitely fine. And who am I to wake her up? She seems… different lately. I'm still trying to understand her. Maybe this new version of her doesn't wake up early for work anymore." She shifted in her seat. "I wouldn't want to do something that might upset her. It's safer to just observe."

Just then, the door to Jade's room swung open, and all heads turned in unison.

Jade stepped out, dressed impeccably in a white office gown that hugged her figure, paired with black heels and a matching handbag. Her red hair, curled to perfection, cascaded down her shoulders in waves.

At once, Alexander, Albert, and Kira shot up from their seats, their expressions tinged with a mixture of apprehension and respect. They stood rigid as Jade strode toward us, her heels clicking against the polished floor. Without sparing any of us a glance, she pulled out a chair and sat down, right across from me.

The mere act of her sitting down without a single complaint spoke volumes. It meant she approved of Albert's cleaning. A warm smile spread across his face at the unspoken acknowledgment.

We had all heard from Kira how much Jade despised uncleanliness. She had warned us that if we failed to meet her standards, she wouldn't hesitate to discard us, and none of us wanted to be cast out of the competition for fortune on our very first day.

Albert had woken up at the crack of dawn, diligently dusting every inch of the mansion, with Kira assisting him since she was already familiar with the layout. They had started at exactly 5:00 AM, sweeping and mopping until 7:09 AM before finally allowing themselves to rest. Meanwhile, Alexander had been in the kitchen since 6:00 AM, preparing an array of dishes in an effort to impress Jade. And as for me? I had remained in my room, watching it all unfold.

Kira hesitated before speaking. "I thought you might need more sleep, which is why I didn't wake you," she said carefully. "I made sure the guys did their assigned tasks immediately, knowing how much you hate messes. And I also made sure you wouldn't have to leave the house without breakfast."

Jade didn't acknowledge Kira's words. Instead, she lifted her chin slightly, inhaled the scent of the food, and stated simply, "Smells nice."

Then, without further delay, she ordered, "Serve me."

Her sharp gaze landed on Alexander, who scrambled to obey, quickly plating the food and setting it in front of her. Albert and Kira took their seats again, their shoulders still tense.

Once done serving, Alexander sat beside Jade, his eyes trained on her, anxiously waiting for her reaction. He had been meticulous in ensuring neither Albert nor Kira touched the food before she did. He wanted her to taste it first.

Jade picked up her fork, slicing into the dish with precise, calculated movements. She lifted a bite to her lips, her expression unreadable.

A thick tension filled the room.

Alexander, Albert, and Kira held their breath as they watched her chew. At first, her face remained neutral, but then, a flicker of something...displeasure?...passed through her eyes. She chewed slowly, her jaw working overtime as if processing an unpleasant texture.

Then, it happened.

Jade's face twisted in disgust. Without warning, she spat the food out onto her plate, her features contorting in fury.

"What is this?" she snapped, her voice sharp and unyielding.

Alexander's eyes widened in panic. "I… I cooked it, Jade," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jade's nostrils flared, and her hand slammed onto the table with a resounding thud. "You call this cooking?" she thundered. "This is an insult to the culinary world!"

And then before anyone could react, her hand shot out, and a resounding slap echoed through the dining hall as she struck Alexander across the face.

The force of it sent shockwaves through the room.

Albert and Kira gasped audibly, their faces frozen in stunned disbelief. The air seemed to thicken, suffocating with tension.

But I?

I remained seated, unfazed, simply watching.

Alexander's eyes watered as he rubbed his reddening cheek, his face burning with a mix of humiliation and barely restrained anger. His jaw clenched, but he forced himself to stay calm, suppressing whatever emotions were threatening to surface.

"I'm sorry," he finally muttered, his voice tight.

Jade's fury didn't wane. Instead, it intensified.

"Sorry?" she echoed, her tone dripping with venom. "Sorry isn't enough. You'll have to do better than this if you want to stay in my house."

Silence fell over the dining room. No one dared to move or speak.

I, on the other hand, took another slow sip of my coffee, savoring the rich bitterness as I watched the unfolding drama with mild amusement. It seemed there was going to be plenty of entertainment in this house.

Jade's seething gaze soon landed on me.

"And what are you still sitting there for?" she snapped, her voice sharp like a blade.

Before I could respond, she grabbed her handbag and flung it in my direction. I caught it effortlessly.

"Let's go!" she barked, spinning on her heel and storming out of the living room.

I set my cup down with deliberate ease before rising to my feet. Without hesitation, I followed her. Being left behind wasn't an option, not for me. If Jade leaves this premisses without me, it would mean my demise. As much as I relished watching the chaos unfold, I had no choice but to stick by her side.

Kira, who had been standing frozen in shock, her mouth agape as if she had just witnessed an unspeakable act, finally snapped out of her daze. Without a word, she hurried after Jade, leaving Alexander and Albert alone in the suffocating tension of the dining room.

_______

Outside, a sleek Rolls-Royce was parked before Jade's mansion, the chauffeur already standing by the open door, waiting for her to enter.

Jade stepped forward, but just as she was about to slide inside, she halted abruptly.

Engines rumbled.

One after another, a line of exotic cars came sweeping into the compound, their polished exteriors gleaming under the morning sun.

Jade's expression hardened, her sharp gaze snapping to Kira.

"What's going on?" she demanded. "Did you purchase all these cars?"

Kira, who looked just as baffled, shook her head quickly, her eyes darting between the approaching vehicles and the security guards who had inexplicably allowed them inside.

"I have no idea," she admitted. "I'll go check what's happening. You should proceed to work."

"No."

Jade's voice was firm, her arms crossing over her chest as she stood her ground.

"I want to see for myself."

I, however, already knew exactly who was behind this.

There was no doubt. Valen was inside one of those cars.

But why?

Had he lost all sense of caution?

I had specifically told him to be discreet over the phone yesterday. So why was he arriving in such an ostentatious manner? Was he under some kind of spell?

My jaw tightened slightly as I watched the cars continue to pour in, anticipation settling heavily in my chest.

There was no question about it.

Another round of drama was about to unfold.