"Ah, good, you're still here," Aine said, looking right at me.
"There's plenty of work left to do in the kitchen," I pointed out."Service doesn't end just because I've finished sending food out."
"And who can argue when the food was as good as what you served," Aine said.There was no denying that it was flattery, but it worked on me anyway.
"I only serve the best to any of my guests."Something I knew she understood, that was why she'd asked me to cater for her event in the first place.Everyone knew that her business was flourishing, she could have her pick of celebrity chefs.
"I was hoping you'd join us as a guest now that service is done," the goddess responded."But I'm glad you're here because I have a favour to ask."
I raised an eyebrow."I'm in the middle of the last favour you asked of me."
The woman beside Aine smothered a small laugh.
"It's related to that," Aine said."This is Laila Mandal.She has a few questions to go along with her review."
"Is that so?"I looked over to the woman in question.
She quirked up into a smile."If that's all right with you."
"I can talk about food," I responded.
"Excellent," Aine said."Then my work here is done.Don't forget to join the rest of us once you're done."
I wasn't sure which of us she was talking to, but I didn't suppose it mattered.
"You have questions, Ms Mandal?"I asked, leaning back against the worktop behind me and crossing my arms.
She looked me up and down as if she was trying to size me up.I stood a little straighter and waited for her assessment.
"You were the chef tonight?"she asked.
I nodded."I'm Poseidon."
"I know."There was a curious expression on her face as she looked at me."I didn't realise you were the one who made the food until Aine told me."
"Jinx has a way of pulling all of us in eventually," I said, thinking back to how Aine had somehow managed to convince me to cater for her.
"So it would seem.I never expected to find myself at a Jinx event when I started working atParanormal Gourmet."
If I hadn't already made the connection to who she was, that would have done it for me."I should thank you for the good review you gave me."
"You can, if you want," she responded.
"I just did."
"No, you said that youshouldthank me.You didn't actually do it."
I blinked a couple of times.She had me there."Thank you."
"I gave your food the review that it deserved.It had nothing to do with you being a god," she said, not showing an ounce of surprise that I'd actually said the words.I liked that.A lot of people thought I was too proud to apologise, but they were wrong.
"I should hope not.But you didn't like my Indian inspired course?"
"Are you sure you want more critique on that?"she asked."Especially as I'm supposed to be here to write about the Jinx event."
"I always want to better my food."
She arched a perfect eyebrow and set down her bag."I thought it was technically fine, but it was uninspired.Scallops with a curry reduction?That's the best you could come up with for India?"
