Page 29 of Brutal King

“What style of kitchen are we going to be working with?” I said. “Are we talking about an assembly line, an island? What about a galley... or open kitchen?”

“I honestly know little about this new restaurant. I know a manager has already been hired as well as the head chef.” She clasped her hands together in anticipation. “That just might leave us with the task of hiring the entire team.”

“I can’t wait,” I muttered.

“Come on,” she said as she opened the door. “I remember the floorplan... I’ll show you around.”

Hmm... that’s not the way I’d planned it. I wanted to take the lead and show her around.

“Hello,” Kat called out on entering the place. “Hello.” She turned to me and said, “I also called the manager to let him know we would be coming this week.”

“Katrina,” a male voice called from the back. “Katrina is that you?”

“Yes,” she said as she peered toward the back. “I’m here about my project from the culinary institute.”

As we passed through the dining room, I looked at the small tables, most with two chairs and a few with four. Tasteful Chinese lanterns hung over each table. The ceiling was painted black, camouflaging the pipework above and several calligraphies adorned the wall.

Kat slowly led the way to the kitchen.

I was immediately impressed. While in keeping with the relatively small size of the eatery, the tight space was equipped with everything a chef could want.

Gas range, grill, steamers and even a sous vide station. High-end pots and pans were stored on an open shelf at one end while smaller equipment like mixers and peelers sat on a shelf at the back wall. At the far end there were empty shelves waiting for the food stuff not yet purchased.

“Katrina Long?” a handsome blond dude said.

Katrina Long? I was about to correct him when Kat shot me a silencing glare. Okay... I get it. You don’t want him to know who you are.

“Trent?” she said to the blond. Her smile was a little too bright and eager. “Trent Howard? You’re the manager, right?”

“That’s right,” he said as he grasped her hand in his. His gaze appreciated her a little too much. “I was expecting you tomorrow.”

Kat shrugged and smiled innocently at him. “We decided to get an early start. I hope that’s okay with you.”

“Sure thing. The sooner we get started the better. The owner, Mr. Lee is eager to get this place up and running.”

With introductions yet to be made, I cleared my throat rather loudly.

“Oh, yes,” Kat said as if suddenly remembering my presence. “Trent Howard, this is my project partner Kobe King.” She turned to me. “Kobe, this is the manager of Ginger, Mr. Trent Howard.”

I couldn’t believe this blondie surfer dude was the manager of a fine Asian restaurant. Dressed in a casual linen suit the color of sand, the guy looked like a beach bum... no more than twenty-five years old... maybe thirty at the most. Besides being so young the guy was just too... too... Damn, he just looked too good. His blue eyes could compete with a clear blue sky any day. And judging by the way Kat looked at him, she noticed it, too. She was practically drooling over him.

I looked at their clasped hands, her hand cupped between both his hands. Why isn’t he letting go of her? This isn’t very professional. If only he knew she was the owner’s daughter... then maybe he’d let her go and treat her with more respect. But apparently Kat didn’t want Trent to know she was Mr. Lee’s daughter. She didn’t want to get favorable treatment because of it perhaps. If so, I had to admire her for that.

“Well,” Kat said. “If you don’t mind, we’ll get started.”

Trent smiled at her in a way that left me feeling uncomfortable. I felt like a third wheel... as if I shouldn’t be there... as if they didn’t want me there.

If I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be surprised if Trent would be making the moves to bend her over a table, pulling down her thin cotton panties, slapping her perfectly round ass before plunging deep into her.

The thought and the image of Kat in ecstasy being fucked like that made my dick start getting hard. Fuck no! Not now. This was Kat, my Kat, but then again... I was male, wasn’t I? And so was Trent.

Trent’s eyes ate up Kat from head to toe, stopping at her breasts and her slim neck before resting on her pouty lips. “It’ll be my pleasure to get you started. Nothing like prepping a pretty girl up so she’s roaring to go.”

I felt like gagging. Did he just say that?

Kat blushed before she giggled.

Damn, Kat. Seriously? You go for a guy like that? The guy is clearly a flake. How the hell did he even get this job?

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