Page 18 of The Chef

A little bit arrogant, but okay.

Dominika shakes her head with another smile. “Shut up and come in here, Cliff. Let me introduce you two,” she says, fixating her pale blue eyes back on me. “This is Cliff Finn, the owner of Rockpool. Cliff, this is Bay Dover, an applicant to be a waitress here.”

I turn in my seat to get a look at this mysterious and all-powerful Cliff Finn.

It’s true, he’s half-naked. His top’s off and he’s wet. The first thing I see is his rippling muscles. The man really takes care of himself. There’s a prominent six-pack of abs right at my eyeline.

But then I turn my attention to his face. Our eyes meet, and I immediately recognize him.

No freaking way.

It’s him.

His eyes widen as he recognizes me as well. An expression of anger and surprise rock his face, probably the same expression as mine.

It’s the man from the bank.

Cliff Finn is freaking Superman.

Oh, shit.

7

CLIFF

No. Fucking. Way.

Bay Dover?

The girl from the bank? The one who publicly humiliated me?

She’s the one getting interviewed at my restaurant, she’s the woman sitting right in front of me right now? I didn’t think I would ever see her again but, here she is, sitting in my manager’s office. Sitting in my chair.

The water-throwing chick. She’s here.

Looking at her, I know it’s one hundred percent her. The brown hair. The pale skin. The large green eyes staring right back at me in shock and horror. It’s her alright, I’d recognize her anywhere. It’s her, and she’s sitting in front of me.

For a second I don’t even react, I’m so surprised by what I see.

I really didn’t think I’d see that annoying girl ever again.

But the initial shock wears off and both this Bay Dover and I speak at exactly the same time.

“You?” We both utter the same word together.

I shake my head and Bay scrunches up her face, narrowing her eyes at me. I see she’s taking me all in as well. We’re sizing each other up like vicious lions circling before a fight.

I lean against the doorframe of the manager’s office, my body going into rigor mortis just by looking at her.

I suddenly feel very exposed that I’ve walked in here wearing nothing but my shorts. To be honest, I didn’t think I’ll be running into the demon girl of my nightmares when I strolled in here a few moments ago, and now I’m suddenly very aware of how my torso is very exposed to this chick. My naked chest is right above her.

And she’s clearly trying hard not to check me out.

Can’t blame her. I do work out. Hard.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper to her. I try to sound menacing, but my voice comes out wavering. I’m still in shock.

Man up, Cliff. Get over the fact this chick’s here and stomp her pretty ass.