Heir Vs. Chef: The recipe for Love

Partnerships

THIRD PERSON

"Safe travels, Zane! Ma'am Adriella!" the chef's colleagues called out as they watched the pair leave the restaurant. After exchanging farewells, Zane and Adriella headed out to meet Max, the heir, and his assistant for their project meeting.

"Ma'am, what do you think about this deal? Are you really sure about partnering with them? The boss feels like a newbie; it seems like everything's left to Uncle—I mean, Mr. Lu," Zane asked, glancing at Adriella.

"Hmm, I'm not sure yet," she said thoughtfully. "But let's hear them out first. If the terms aren't acceptable, I won't agree. Even if the young MacGregor is new to this, he's still the heir to the biggest real estate empire in the country. That means, sooner or later, he'll pick up the business mindset, just like his father," she smiled confidently.

Mindset of a businessman?

It's more scatterbrained. The guy's flighty and unreliable—he can't stick to one thing and just does whatever crosses his mind. The idea of him being serious about anything makes me cringe. He does not suit it. –Zane thought

Adriella seemed unfazed by Zane's skepticism. "He just needs experience. And, honestly, it's an honor to be one of his first partners on this project. That means he trusts us more than anyone else."

"Dexter, can we stop at the nearby mall? I need to pick something up," Adriella said suddenly, turning to their driver.

"Sure, ma'am," Dexter replied smoothly.

The rest of the ride was mostly silent, with Zane nodding along as Adriella spoke. At the mall, she went to buy a watch as a birthday gift for her husband, leaving Zane to quietly follow, observing as the sales associate expertly coordinated the purchase. He stayed in the background, thinking more about their upcoming meeting and what it would be like working with the unpredictable Maximus.

"Mr. Josh and Mrs. West?" asked the VIP coordinator.

"Yes," they answered in unison.

"This way, please."

The restaurant was the picture of luxury, its interior a blend of Renaissance elegance. The walls were decorated with intricate murals and tapestries depicting grand historical scenes. Chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, sparkling against polished marble floors and decorative rugs. The staircase spiraled upward with delicate iron railings, and the menus were presented in leather-bound books embossed with gold.

As they reached the table, Max and Zheng greeted the guests formally. Max just followed suit, though his usual playful demeanor was nowhere to be found, so Zane had no choice but to mirror their formalities—something he wasn't fond of.

When Maximus leaned in for a cheeky, affectionate gesture, pressing his cheek against Zane's, the chef had to resist the urge to shove him away. Instead, he discreetly pinched the heir's side, making Max wince in pain but keeping his expression neutral in front of the others. Zane couldn't help but smirk, knowing he got a bit of revenge.

"I'm glad you agreed to meet with us after what Maximus did," Zheng began, breaking the ice.

Zane just chuckled softly. "It's okay, Mr. Lu. I didn't take it too seriously. I'm used to dealing with clients who have audacious attitudes—acting like the main character even though they look more like frogs."

Mrs. West raised an eyebrow but chose to remain silent, her curiosity piqued, but her lips sealed. She had no idea what had transpired during that incident or how sharp Max's jabs about Zane's cooking could really be. If she were aware of the history between them, she might not have been so quick to dismiss it. What truly got to Zane were clients who showed blatant disrespect for the food. He recalled the times he watched in dismay as dishes were carelessly tossed onto the floor or hurled at the waitstaff, all because someone couldn't appreciate the unique flavors of his dishes.

One particular instance still gnawed at him. A customer, clearly unimpressed by the bitterness of ampalaya con carne, had been particularly vocal. Zane had wanted to shout, "Of course it's bitter—it's bitter melon!" but he bit his tongue, reminding himself of the importance of professionalism in the face of ignorance. The thought of defending his culinary creations against such disrespect made his blood boil. He believed that every dish told a story, and to have them dismissed so casually was a personal affront. Yet, he had learned the hard way that sometimes, the best response was to keep his composure, even when his heart was racing with frustration.

Max, on the other hand, was still feeling guilty about his recent behavior. He knew he shouldn't have acted like that toward Zane, but his emotions had gotten the best of him. Now, he was thinking of ways to apologize properly—something genuine and sincere, so Zane wouldn't just brush it off as he had the previous day.

That aside, there was no time to dwell on it as the discussion had already begun.

"We're really excited about this opportunity," Mrs. West said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. For her, having a MacGregor reach out for a deal was surreal, especially since her restaurant was smaller and less known compared to big establishments. "With Zane's culinary skills, I believe we can create something incredible together."

"Absolutely," Zheng added. "Zane will be a huge asset to this project."

Zheng then proceeded to break down the details of the project—what they needed for the hotel, what they wanted to avoid, and how they envisioned the final outcome. It was all very clear, and as Adriella and Zane chimed in with their own thoughts, there was palpable excitement in the room. Everyone seemed eager to bring this project to life. With no misunderstandings in sight, Zheng moved to finalize the deal.

"Alright, Adriella, Zane, let's go over the terms and agreements for the hotel project. I want to make sure everything's crystal clear before we proceed," Mr. Zheng said, distributing three copies of the documents.

As Zheng explained the finer points, Maximus, who was struggling to follow the conversation, started zoning out. Instead of paying attention, his focus shifted to Zane, who was sitting across from him. Max stared at him in a way that made the chef visibly uncomfortable. Catching Max's intense gaze, Zane rolled his eyes in frustration and shot him a look that screamed, dude, seriously?

Mrs. West, noticing the distraction, turned to Zheng and asked, "So, just to clarify, Zane will be with you at least two days a week depending on what day you need him, right? And then he'll still be working in my restaurant on the other days?" She wasn't willing to let Zane be taken away completely—he was her lucky charm, not just for business but also because she saw him as a younger brother of sorts.

"Yes."

"Perfect. You've got a deal, then," she said, extending her hand toward Zheng. He reached out to shake it, and, seeing this, Max quickly imitated the gesture.

.

.

"To a successful partnership!" Zheng exclaimed, raising his wine glass high above the table. His enthusiasm was infectious, and soon, the others joined in, lifting their glasses in unison. They echoed the toast, smiles spreading across their faces, each of them sharing the hope for a truly fruitful collaboration with Zane. This partnership represented more than just a business agreement; it was a bridge connecting their two parties, uniting their visions and aspirations. As the glasses clinked together, a sense of camaraderie filled the air, and they each felt the promise of new beginnings and shared success.

Then, after a moment of quiet, Zheng spoke up again. "Can we borrow Zane starting tomorrow? The sooner, the better. We have about 300 applicants vying for positions as cooks, and I'd like Zane to help judge their dishes. He's familiar with this process, and it'd be a great opportunity for him to see how everything works." It's a great move, but the old man has other reason, and it was to finally spend some time catching up with the young chef. Last time, they hadn't really had the chance.

"Yeah, no worries on my end, Mr. Lu," Mrs. West said with a smile. "My cooks are more than capable of handling things at the restaurant in Zane's absence. They've learned a lot from him already."

Zane couldn't refuse. With the contract already signed, he was locked in. As long as his uncle Zheng would be there, he figured things might not get too crazy. Then again, considering Maximus MacGregor was involved, he wasn't so sure.

Anything could happen.