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‘Anyway, let’s talk about something else.… What’s the brief for the wine later?’ I called, desperately trying to change the topic.
‘Luca is entertaining a wine merchant tonight, so it’s just the two of them. I’m keeping it simple with steak frites and salad. I imagine he’ll want an impressive red to balance it out. Should be easy.’ Xavier said, still refusing to look at me. This was ridiculous; what was his problem? Maybe I should have told him what was going on, as a friend; I was just about to go into the fridge and try and speak to him when Luca marched into the kitchen in smart trousers and a shirt.
‘Bonjour,Xavier. I heard you talking about dinner this evening. I have a second person joining me, so we will be three.’
‘No problem,’ Xavier called from inside the fridge, rattling things about.
‘Liv – can you lay an extra setting please, and I’ll need you to work tonight.’
‘Oh no, it’s fine,’ I said, jumping in. ‘Liv has plans this evening. I can lay the table and serve the three of you.’
‘I’m afraid that won’t work, Holly, as I’d like you to be the third guest.’ I felt my cheeks go instantly pink. ‘I am entertaining a very influential vintner who is in Verbier for the weekend – Henri Thienpont – and I want to impress him.’
‘Oh, of course. What do you want me to do?’
‘Well, we’ll all need to play our part,’ Luca said, ‘Xavier will impress him with amazing food, you and I will entertain him over dinner and impress him with some fabulous wine and conversation, and Liv will impress him with her sparkling wit and exceptional service.’
Liv was clearly furious.
‘Honestly Luca, I can talk about wine while serving it. I don’t need to sit down at the table with you both.’
‘I insist,’ Luca said. ‘You two don’t mind if Holly eats with us, do you? I need it to not feel like a business meeting.’
I mouthed ‘sorry’ at them both.
‘Of course not,’ Liv said, seething.
‘Makes no difference to me,’ Xavier said, popping his head around the fridge door and trying to look nonchalant.
‘Bien,’ Luca said, and left as Xavier disappeared back inside.
‘That’s just GREAT,’ Liv said. ‘I was supposed to be seeing Bella for date night. I’ll have to cancel now, thanks to your new boyfriend!’
‘Honestly, that’s the first I’ve heard of dinner tonight. And he’s not my boyfriend! We’re just… he’s not my anything,’ I said, feeling terrible.
‘I’ll do it, Liv; you go out with Bella,’ Xavier called from the fridge. At least he was still alive in there.
‘I can’t now he’s asked me to work it. Urghh!’ Liv stomped out of the kitchen in a rage.
‘I can suggest we eat at 6 p.m., no starters and just a really quick steak,’ I called out to Xavier. No reply. This was so unfair. I’d only just found out about the bloody dinner myself. There wasn’t much else I could do, so I left them both to stew on it. I’d do my best to make dinner as short a shift as possible and sort it out with them later.
*
I decided to wear one of my old London outfits seeing as I didn’t have to go ‘out’ to be ‘out out’ and could safely wear heels without worrying about breaking my ankle. I put a dark-green jumper dress on with my purple tights and boots. It felt strange to go into the dining room without a uniform on. Forbidden territory.
Luca was already sat down with Henri talking quietly when I walked in, and I couldn’t help but notice how closely he fit the archetypal perfect man. Tall, fit, French, rich, into wine, smelt nice. Not as funny as Xavier, but he tried his best.
‘Bonsoir,Holly,’ he said, holding a glass of red wine out to me, ‘please meet Henri Thienpont from Chartreuse Wines.’
‘Lovely to meet you,’ I said, taking in the small, thin man sat next to Luca.
‘Henri, this is Holly Roberts. Holly works at Chez Margot in London and is working with us for the winter season. She has an excellent nose and is an equally talented chef – she has been supporting Xavier on the foodaussi.’
‘Enchanté,’ Henri said, kissing my hand. It was quite the intro.
‘I’ve opened the Pomerol if you would like some?’ Luca said, smiling over at me.
‘Lovely,’ I replied. He poured it out and handed me a glass. I felt like a massive imposter and wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be doing to impress Henri. I took my glass from Luca and sloshed the wine about, sticking my nose in to enjoy the fruity smell. The blackberries and blackcurrants were coming through nice and strong; the aroma was divine, and it tasted even better. I savoured my first mouthful, slowly exposing it to each of my tastebuds in turn.
