Pinky promise
The chef stood to the side with a professional demeanor, watching as the two sampled the dishes. Now that he was present, he introduced the remaining items with a calm and soothing presence. His passion for cooking shone through as he spoke about each dish, sharing interesting facts and stories with a smile.
"And what's this?" Zheng asked, taking a bite of a small, oval-shaped dessert.
Zheng kept a composed smile as he tasted the dessert. He felt immense pride in Zane, who had come so far in his career. Despite Zane's independence and reluctance to accept too much help, Zheng had always cared for him like a son. Even though the young chef had moved away when he turned eighteen, Zheng and his wife continued to support him in spirit.
Zane beamed with pride as he introduced the small, oval-shaped dessert on the plate. "This is a Madeleine," he began, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "It comes from the Lorraine region of France."
He continued, "Madeleines are named after Madeleine Paulmier, a servant who is said to have baked these delightful sponge cakes for King Louis XV in the 18th century." Zane's eyes sparkled with passion as he shared the story. "They've been a beloved French treat ever since."
His love for food and its history was evident in the way he spoke. Every detail, every fact about the dishes he prepared seemed to excite him, making his job not just a profession but a true passion. Zane took pleasure in uncovering the stories and trivia behind each recipe, which only deepened his connection to his work and endeared him to those who tasted his creations.
Zheng, savoring the Madeleine, nodded appreciatively. "All the food so far has been exceptional," he said, turning to Zane. "Is there any other dish you've prepared for us today, Mr. Josh?" While all the desserts have been wonderful, Zheng's eager to try the other dishes as well. He thought that itll be just as impressive and tasty just like the other.
"The texture's a bit too spongy fo,r me," Max uttered, even though he too, likes the said dessert.
Zane ignored that critic and went on. "Yes. This one is called smoke salmon bagel. ." He opened a dish and gave the two a piece to try.
"Smoked salmon bagel, is a beloved dish in Jewish cuisine, combines the Eastern European bagel with American smoked salmon, creating a flavorful fusion. This food gained popularity in New York City in the early 20th century and is often topped with cream cheese, capers, and onions.
"The bagel not only offers a delicious taste but also provides nutritional benefits, including omega-3 fatty acids and pro,tein"
"Furthermore, if you taste some salt in it, which is not very much, smoked salmon bagels typically contain salt. The salt comes from the smoked salmon, which is often cured with salt before smoking, enhancing the overall flavor of the dish."
"Oh, that's why it's a bit too salty" Max kept interrupting as Zane was explaining the dishes he had prepared. Despite the frequent interruptions, which sometimes halted Zane's explanations, the chef continued to speak professionally.
Zheng, noticing the disruption, decided to step in. "I'll go over the details with you later, Mr. Josh," he said, addressing the chef. "I need to have a word with the young master."
Zheng then bowed slightly and gently led Maximus out of the room to scold him and take the situation more seriously.
Once they were outside, Old Zheng could no longer keep calm. He glared at the heir, who was now absentmindedly cleaning his ear with his index finger, staring into the distance.
"What are you doing, young master?! Are you out of your mind? That was Mr. Zane Josh, the most renowned chef in the entire country!"
"What you just did was outrageous and incredibly rude!" "Defying this chef is like defying half of the people in this country and all the mothers out there!" Mr. Zheng burst out, clearly exasperated.
"This deal is doomed," he sighed heavily. Despite knowing Zane personally, Zheng was reluctant to use their relationship to influence the restaurant deal.
"Nah, that's not going to happen... But . .is. .is he really that important to you for the project?" Max asked, his tone skeptical. Zheng could only nod in response.
"Let me talk to him real quick," he said, sensing the assistant's deep frustration. He realized he had spoken thoughtlessly about the chef's proud dish and knew he needed to take responsibility for his comments, both for the sake of their project and to make amends.
When Max returned to the VIP room, he found Zane sitting in a chair, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently on the tiled floor.
"HI," he said cheerfully, closing the door behind him.
Zane shot him a sharp look, silently cursing himself for not bringing his favorite kitchen knife. If he had known Max was coming, he would have brought it without hesitation.
"Don't act like you're my friend, weirdo," Zane said, rolling his eyes. Sure, he is planning to disabled the man in front of him. However, Zane was too professional to let his frustration affect his work.
What puzzled Zane the most was how his Uncle Zheng knew Maximus. Zheng had been a long-time butler for a wealthy family, but not the MacGregor family. Given the kindness, thoughtfulness, and generous salary of his former employers, Zheng wouldn't have left them easily. This left Zane confused about the connection between his uncle and Max.
"Okay. First, I want to apologize for what happened between us last week. I didn't mean to—I was drunk too—"
"Last week? What happened last week?" He asked, pretending not to remember. He knew perfectly well what Max was referring to but refused to acknowledge it. His pride wouldn't let him admit that he remembered their encounter.
Max's confusion deepened when Zane didn't seem to remember what happened last week. "Oh, you didn't know?" he asked, surprised. He had assumed the chef was aware of the situation, given the way he had glared at him occasionally earlier.
"Well, I don't mind filling you in," he continued, pulling out a chair for Zane. Despite his irritation, Zane sat down, still glaring at Max.
"I don't need your storytelling. We didn't see each other last week. Nothing happened." Zane spat, refusing to acknowledge that he and the heir had slept together.
"Okay, okay," Max conceded, thinking Zane genuinely didn't remember. After all, Max had been the first to leave that morning, leaving behind only a note with a cheeky emoticon.
'He probably thinks it was someone else who wrote that note, not me,' Maximus thought.
The young chef started to calm down, as Max seemed willing to drop the sensitive topic and move on to the business at hand.
"I'm asking for forgiveness for how I acted in the elevator. That was very immature of me. I'm really sorry if I caused you any trouble that day," he said sincerely. Apologising was difficult for him—it felt too formal, too cliché, like something out of a movie. But since he needed to secure this deal for the new hotel project and also to make peace, he swallowed his pride and lowered his head.
"I know I'm annoying. I insulted your food, which was very rude of me. Every dish deserves praise, no matter who cooks it, because food is essential to nourish our bodies and satisfy our hunger. I only said otherwise because I realised you were the one who made them. But I'm well aware that your dishes are the best I've ever tasted, even better than my mom's cooking." Sorry, Mom, but it's the truth—yours is a close second, so don't sulk.
"Please think carefully about this deal, Mr. Josh, " Max pleaded. It was the first time he'd ever begged anyone, aside from his parents. Normally, he got what he wanted without needing to beg, thanks to his family's wealth and influence.
Zane didn't know what to say. He hadn't expected the heir to be so serious. He couldn't just dismiss his plea, not when Max was genuinely and sincerely begging. He even apologised, though it was a little late.
"I-I'll think about it," Zane finally said, looking away. Dont want to make eye contact with the heir whose eyes are getting big and scary while looking at Zane. On the other hand, Max thought he was cute and the chef couldn't handle his cuteness. That's why he's not looking at him.
"Really?! No backing out, okay? Pinky promise to seal the deal," Max said, linking their pinkies together. In true Maximus fashion, he then hugged Zane tightly and planted several kisses on his cheek before the chef could react. Flustered and blushing, Zane shoved him away.
"H-Hey! Why are you kissing me out of the blue? Are you my lover or something?" Zane exclaimed, wiping the kissed cheek.
"Do you want to be?" The heir suddenly smirked, moving closer to tease the chef more.
"N-No! D-Don't come any closer, or the deal's off!" Zane warned, backing away.
Hearing that, he stopped in his tracks and raised his hands in mock surrender, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
"Okay, I surrender. I'll see you then, cutie," he said, lowering his voice on the last word, making it barely audible to Zane.
Once Max had left the room, Zane finally let out a deep sigh, his heart beat turning to normal beat. His cheeks and ears were burning red, froze on his position, and thinking what had just happened.
"I really hate him," the chef muttered as he leaned against the wall.