Page 37 of Brutal King

A sudden warmth brushed against my neck, and up to my ear.

Trent was standing right behind me; close behind me.

“He seems like a very nervous fellow,” Trent murmured. “Not really the type to run a restaurant. He’ll have to find a way to calm down.”

“I guess you’re right,” I whispered. Part of me wanted to defend Kobe but, then again, he had been acting pretty nervous.

“Running a restaurant requires a level head, a calm demeanor and the capacity to think and do several things at the same time.” He brushed his lips along the curve of my neck. His chest brushed again my back while an unexpected hardness lightly touched my rear.

My breath caught in my throat and my knees suddenly felt like soft putty.

“You appear to have all those qualities, Katrina,” he went on. “A level head for someone so young. Your calm demeanor. You’ve already impressed me with your work on the budget. I can’t wait to see what you do with this place.”

I turned to face him. We were inches apart, his chest pressing against my breasts. “I’m glad you approve,” I said. “Some men are a little put off by a woman who... well, who has a mind of her own.”

“I’m not put off in the slightest,” he said. “In fact, it makes me all the more intrigued by the beautiful young woman in front of me.”

I smiled, curious to learn more about him. Knowing my father, he only hired the best, but surely there was more to Trent than just being a good manager.

I prided myself on knowing virtually every employee in every one of my family’s restaurants, and Trent was no different. Surely he would be disappointed if he learned that that was the real reason I’d insisted on staying behind.

“You know when I first learned that students would be taking on the opening of this restaurant, I was apprehensive. In fact, I was against the idea. I thought it a bit absurd to entrust such young and inexperienced students with such a serious and important task.”

“And now?” I said with a coy smile.

His smile broadened and he grasped my shoulders in his warm hands. “Now, I look forward to every moment. I have a feeling that I might even learn something from you. You’re exceptionally bright.”

“And you are far too kind. I’m just observant and...”

“Don’t play modest, Katrina. You’re a natural in the world of restaurants.”

“Thank you. But you are setting the bar quite high. I hope I won’t disappoint you.”

“Impossible,” he said.

I smiled as I thought of one of my favorite reality shows; Undercover Boss. I’d always wondered what it would be like to go undercover and see what my father’s employees really think about him... and the Lee family. Now was my chance.

“We’d better get to work if we’re going to find our staff,” I said,

He released his hold on me and led the way to his office.

“I’ll make a few calls to the Lee Head Office,” he said as he walked around to sit at his desk. “I happen to know that Lee Family Restaurants has an impressive Human Resources department. I’ll contact them and see if they have any junior chefs that could fill the Exec Chef here.”

“That’s a good idea, Trent,” I said. “Although the Lee Family Restaurant company is quite large, I’ve heard that Mr. Lee is surprisingly approachable. Apparently, he’s not at all like some company presidents who think they’re above everyone else.”

“You’re right,” Trent said. “I’ve only met with him a few times, but it has always been enjoyable. A kind and polite man; surprisingly soft spoken for someone with such power. I believe that soft-spoken way of his is what makes him so successful.”

“How do you figure?” I said. I’d never heard anyone speak of my father in such a manner.

“Your father seems to build a special rapport with all his employees, whether they’re the head chef or a busboy. I believe this tends to make for some very loyal employees. You see, the people that your father hires want to please him. They want to do a good job for him. They want his approval.”

I nodded. “That makes sense. I never thought of it that way. Maybe more heads of companies should take a page from Mr. Lee.”

“Well, he certainly has had plenty of experience from which to learn about boss/employee relations. I mean, this man is a pioneer in the restaurant industry. Did you know that he began working in a restaurant when he was just a boy?”

I shook my head.

“I think he was seven or eight when he started, and over the years he learned how to do everything. No job was too big or small for him. He washed pots and pans. He chopped lettuce. He hand stretched noodles. And for one of his restaurants in Taiwan, he even appeared in the television commercial.”

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