Page 18 of Once Bitten, Twice Fried
God no. This was the last thing Julie wanted on this planet. “I think I’m good.” She paused, trying to make her smile more genuine. “But it was delicious! I’ll have to keep this place in mind.”
“I’m glad you like it! Do you know that you can hire them for events? I’m telling you, seeing you’re an event planner and all.”
Julie nodded politely. Maybe if she wanted to poison people at her events she would consider hiring these people.
Margot bit her lip. “Do you want to go somewhere else? Maybe another bar?”
Alarm bells rang in Julie’s head. She didn’t want anything with Margot, not that she wasn’t nice or cute. But she just wasn’t Julie’s type? Or more simply, she wasn’t Zoe. Julie regretted this entire evening.
“Uh no, sorry, I have to go home.”
Margot didn’t hide her disappointment. “Oh.”
“Yes, I um. I need to help my friend with her wedding.” Lying had never been Julie’s forte.
“At 9:30 pm on a Friday?”
“Indeed. You know, that’s the event-planning life.” Julie vaguely waved around, as if she got asked to do event planning on Friday nights every other day. “But I’ll see you next time?”
“Yeah, why don’t we do that?” Margot smiled awkwardly.
Julie stood up like she was on a spring. “It was nice meeting you!” She gave Margot an awkward hug and briskly headed for the door.
Hopefully, Margot would meet somebody who wasn’t still so hopelessly in love with her college best friend, Julie thought as she walked towards the metro station.
Chapter 9
As usual, the Heathrow arrival terminal was packed. Zoe and Nicki rushed out, luggage in hands, to avoid getting stuck behind a group of high school kids. The trip to Italy had been a success. The ambassador, who had hired Zoe for a gala he was giving at his house in Milan, was extremely happy with the subtle yet simple menu Zoe had planned for the evening. The brunch next day had also been a hit, with Zoe’s special eggs benedict stealing the spotlight. The event in Florence had been very relaxed: a private evening at a concert hall with a world-renowned cellist. Buffet events were easier to plan and execute. She had taken note of some of the most popular items on the menu she offered - salmon en croûte and eggplant lasagna - and decided that she would serve those for the event at the racetrack before Yasmine’s wedding.
Both Nicki and Zoe were exhausted. Travelling abroad meant a lot of planning and coordination, especially since Zoe always hired and worked with local staff and caterers, but it was worth it. Catering season was a huge chunk of her business and the fees people were ready to pay to have a celebrity chef sometimes felt unreal to Zoe. Though it made sense in a way - her role was not limited to catering, she was also there to entertain the guests and bring forward her vision of cuisine.
“I’ll go get a taxi.” Nicki stepped forward and waved at a car.
Once again, Nicki had been a trooper and taken care of everything in Italy. She’d even picked up some Italian, which had saved their lives a couple of times. Zoe was much too tired and looked at Nicki walking back with a man, pointing at their luggage. He picked them up as if they didn’t weigh anything and headed for his taxi. Nicki gently took Zoe by the sleeve of her jacket and led her in the passenger’s backseat. She gave Zoe’s address to the driver and the car rumbled before taking the road.
Zoe didn’t know if it was such a good idea to go Belgium without Nicki. But she’d already made her decision and gave her assistant three weeks off, starting tomorrow. Thankfully, Nicki had already contacted and shortlisted the best caterers in the area and they settled on a company based in Antwerp that had experience working fancy weddings.
The drive home felt much shorter than usual, in part because traffic was good, in part because they had been travelling for six hours already. Zoe was relieved; she was so ready to shower, change her clothes and pass out for the rest of the afternoon. The car swiftly pulled over in front of Zoe’s house. Once they got inside, a familiar voice came from the living room.
“Zoe? Is that you?” Tom barged into the entrance hall. “Welcome home, love!” He pulled her into a hug and kissed her.
Zoe didn’t react much. “Hi Tom. Sorry, I’m wiped from this trip.”
“No worries, I know how it is.” He patted her on the shoulders. “Hi Nicki! Don’t stay here like that, come on! Sit down, do you want something to drink?”
“Hi Tom. I would love a coffee. Or five.”
“I’ll get the espresso machine going. Zo’, do you fancy one as well?”
“Sure.” She followed him in the kitchen, sitting at a bar stool at the island. Nicki sat next to her.
Clunking and vibrating sounds reverberated in the kitchen. Tom grabbed two cups and two saucers from the cabinets, with a towel on his shoulder like a proper barista.
“This espresso machine is the best thing I’ve ever bought.” His energy was tiring Zoe out even more.
It took him another five minutes to get the machine running before he finally brought the two cups of coffee over. “There you go! Two Italian espressos!”
“Thanks, Tom.” Nicki grabbed her cup like her life depended on it.
