Recipe For Love

The sound from the alarm forced maverick eyes open. He turn to the alarm with a disgusting look on his face.

"It's morning again!" he sighed, he sat on his bed, the blanket leaving his half body naked. He remove the blanket and stood up, and grabbing his phone.

Of course he knew his father would have mess his phone with missed calls.

"It is a habit, he can't live without me," he shrugged, as he headed to the bathroom to shower.

He dressed up after bathing, and proceed to downstairs, where his secretary Ethan, awaited.

"Good morning, sir," Ethan greeted.

"Are you trying to choke yourself?" Maverick asked, ignoring his greetings.

"No sir," Ethan replied and adjust his tie.

As Maverick walk towards the exit, Ethan grab his hand.

"You need breakfast, before going to work," Ethan smiled.

"Oh! You need a break right?" he asked, smiling.

"Break? No...sir..your father..."

"My schedule for today?"Maverick cut him off, walking out of the mansion.

•••

"Good evening ma'am "James smiled, at the customers.

"Do you have channel latest bag?" the lady asked, scanning the boutique.

"The one with a small ring at the right edge?" James clarified.

"Yeah," the lady replied.

"Okay ma'am, I'll get it for you, "James said, leaving to retrieve the bag, when Ava went to approach the lady.

"Oh wow! I love your earrings," Ava complimented.

"Thank you, you look good too," the lady said, with her gaze fixed on Ava's outfit.

"Earrings like this go well with this kind of bags. Channel is a popular brand so, I understand why you think it is the best for your outfit. But I guarantee you that, after checking out this bag, you will not buy Channel again." Ava explained, showing an alternative bag to the lady.

The lady collected the bag with a confused expression, she check it out...

"Your...."James couldn't complete his sentence, as he notice Ava with his customer.

"I am sorry for the intervention, she...."James was cut short by the lady.

"I will take this," the lady smiled.

"Okay ma'am, your card?"Ava smiled, processing her transaction and packaging her goods.

"You aren't buying channel anymore?"James questioned.

"No," she replied.

After some minutes, Ava returned and gave the lady her package and bid her farewell.

"She was supposed to buy from me!" James snapped.

"What are you talking about? I just help a customer in choosing bag that'd match her outfit, what's so wrong in doing that?" Ava asked, with an innocent look.

"Nothing is wrong with that, after all you are the best sales rep," James smirked.

Ava prepared to leave when her phone rang.

"Mom?"She picked the call.

"What! I am on my way now,"She exclaimed, hanging up.

"James, I know you hate me now but you have to do me a favor, cover up for me when Sharon comes back, bye! Love you!" Ava screamed, blowing kisses.

"What can I do to her?" James sighed frustratedly.

•••

Ava got to the hospital breathing heavily.

"Mr Jensen?" a nurse asked, and she nodded, trying to catch her breathe.

"Ward 005" the nurse replied, and she ran off to the ward.

"Dad!"Ava called, walking slowly to her unconscious father. She hold his hand, glancing at her mother and brother.

"What happened?" Ava asked her mother.

"He was okay when he woke up; he even went out to chat with his friends, it happened when he came home for his medications," Mrs. Jensen explained tearfully.

"Did he take his drugs in the morning before going to his friends?"Ava asked.

Mrs. Jensen nodded.

Ava sighed, worried about the hospital expenses.

"Don't worry, I paid them," Ryan, Ava's younger brother said.

"Why would you do that? You are still a university student! Where did you get the money from?" Ava snapped.

"I work in a convenience store," he replied, before walking out of the ward.

"Mum! You saw that right? You saw how rude he was, right!" Ava yelled.

"Just let him be; you can go back to work. I'll stay with him." Mrs Jensen guaranteed.

Ava stood up, and peck her mother's cheek and left the hospital, thinking about how to fund her father's surgery fee.

She walk to a bench, and sat down. Enjoying the cold breeze.

"Okay! Let not think about anything!" she sighed, and close her eyes.

"Ma'am! Are you alright?" Nott, a Chinese man who was passing by, asked Ava.

She opened her eyes.

"How can I be alright? When I just set my eyes on an angel," Ava smiled.

Nott laughed.

"You are so cheeky," he laughed.

"I am Nott" he introduced, stretching his hand for a shake.

"What a modernized name for a Chinese man, I am Ava," she smiled, shaking his hand.

"How did you know, I am from china?" he asked, surprise written all over his face.

"Your accent gives it away," she chuckled.

"You can stop by, our boutique next time,"Ava handing Nott a flyer.

"I have no plan of shopping in a boutique now, I have to provide for my family first," Nott explained, with a smile.

"Oh, you should hurry to work then, Good luck!" she encouraged.

"I am starting a new work today, but my friend isn't showing up," Nott complained, sitting beside Ava.

"You should call him!" Ava suggested.

"He is not picking his calls," he replied.

"Must you go with him?"

"Of course, the employer said I must come with an assistant, " he replied.

"Which work?" Ava asked, eagerly and Nott sighed.

"I think that is too much, I am sorry," she apologized.

"I am applying to be a cook for a business man," he replied.

Ava's eyes widened.

"Like seriously! You are rich, man!" she exclaimed.

"But the problem is the man," Nott smiled, at Ava's expression.

"Why?"

"I was told the man always reject all the chefs that apply, he is a workaholic and he doesn't like eating, he would say that the food did not meet his taste and the chef will not be given the work. So, there is no chance that I will be able to get the work." Nott narrated.

"Nott, let's go to the man together, let's go get the job together!" Ava screamed, her eyes sparkling.

Nott eyes grew wide.

"My friend..." Ava cut him off.

"If you go with me, there is 60 percent chance that you will get the work,"

"Ava...let's do this," Nott smiled, and they stood up from the bench smiling.

•••

Ava and Nott entered the mansion, stunned by the luxurious interior.

"Have a seat," a maid smiled, walking to them.

They sat down.

Another maid brought in, glass of juice.

"Thank you" Nott and Ava thanked, as they curiously wait for their employer.

After some minutes, Mr. Bryce walked into the living room, Nott hurriedly stood up and greet the man, Ava did the same.

"You are welcome to my son's abode," Mr Bryce smiled.

"As you already know, you will be given a test, if you pass it, you will be given the job," Mr. Bryce explained.

"I am fully aware sir," Nott replied.

Maverick entered with Ethan behind him.

"What are you doing, dad?" Maverick snapped.

"You need a cook!" Mr Bryce retorted.

"I have so many maids in this house," Maverick said, in a calm tone.

"Maids aren't cooks! anyways I will hire this man to be your cook and the lady as his assistant," Mr Bryce explained.

Ava quietly watch the scene, understanding why Nott said the job seems impossible to get.

'what do I do?' Ava thought, biting her nails, she glance at Nott, she could see he is very sad and nervous.

'he must really need the job for his family ' she thought.

"You know what my answer is already, his food will be dry and sour," Maverick snapped.

"What if it is not dry and sour?" Ava intervened.

Maverick faced her with a smirk.

"There is nothing you can do; the taste will never be different," Maverick snapped.

"I only need 40 minutes, where is your kitchen?" Ava asked.

"Please follow me," Ethan said, leading Ava to the kitchen.

"But you are the chef?" Mr.Bryce asked Nott, who was also surprised by Ava sudden intervention.

"Ye..s..sir" he replied.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Ava is already feeling dizzy, she open the cupboard and saw a lot of ingredients.

She sighed and tie her apron confidently.

After 40 minutes, she entered the living room with a tray, the food is covered.

Ethan behind her, he stayed with her throughout the cooking period.

"What are you doing? Open it!"Maverick commanded.

She smiled, revealing the food.

Everyone eyes widened when they saw what she made.

Maverick burst into laughter and she also started laughing.

He stop laughing, as he walk closer to her.

"Are you sure this garbage is made for me?" Maverick questioned, staring directly into Ava's eyes.

"Yeah, since you don't like delicious food so, I think you'd like this," she replied with a smile.

Maverick suddenly burst into another round of laughter.

"Wow!"

To be continued.