Anna's point of view
He worked fast, I responded silently. Although what else did I expect?
My chin lifted a little as I met his gaze /'d held it. 'You could have checked with me first. The restaurant operates on a minimal staff. I have to be there. There's no one else to take my place at such short notice.
Eric's gaze narrowed. 'Find someone.
'Sure. My eyes blazed a brilliant blue. 'I'll just wave a magic wand and, proof, a sous' chef will appear out of nowhere, ready to start—'I checked my watch—'in half an hour.'
His expression didn't change, and the smooth silkiness in his voice held a silent warning. 'Take care of it, Anna.'
'Or will you?
One eyebrow lifted in silence and cynicism. 'Yes.
Time out for a deep breath or three. 'Hiring someone,' I managed with attempted calm, 'is my responsibility.
'Make it a priority. A celebrant will conduct our marriage on Sunday morning, after which we fly to New York.
My stomach executed a quick somersault and refused to settle. 'Excuse me?
Eric leaned back in his chair and regarded her steadily.
'You heard.
The nerves deep inside pulled tight almost to the point of pain, and she pushed her plate aside. 'Do I have a choice?
'No.
Succinct, adamant, and spoken with an indolence that made me wary.
'Why? My presence in New York will be unnecessary. You'll be wheeling and dealing by day, and…'
'Sharing your bed at night.
Did hearts stop? She was willing to swear hers had. What was more, for several long seconds it seemed my whole body shut down. Then I remembered to breathe.
Payback time, I managed. 'How could I have forgotten?
'Should I be flattered or flattened?
I summoned a deliberate smile. 'Flattened. His faint laughter sent goosebumps scudding down my spine.
A reaction I refused to examine in any detail. In order to survive, living with Eric would mean adopting a facade.
Something I shouldn't find too difficult, given I'd had practice presenting a sociable mask on the occasion I'd found myself in Eric's presence.
'Finish your coffee. 'He checked his watch. 'We need to leave. 'Without a further word, he crossed to the console and collapsed a set of keys.
I wanted to protest and almost did. Except one look into those dark grey eyes was sufficient warning I couldn't win.
He moved in close and pressed a forefinger to my lips.
'Don't push it.
Within minutes, I slid my feet into comfortable shoes, applied lipgloss, then took up my shoulder bag and accompanied Eric from the suite.
The legalities were straightforward; the lawyer's explanation merely endorsed Eric's instructions, and the pre-nuptial agreement drawn at my insistence absolved Eric from providing me with anything other than a home, and a generous allowance.
Any children issued from the marriage would become their joint financial responsibility.
Signatures were applied to various documentation and duly witnessed, the lawyer offered his congratulations and best wishes…and it was done.
Sunday. Dear heaven. Five days.
Don't think about it, I cautioned silently as I accompanied Eric down to the car. Just take each day thrown at you, and achieve what you can.
Not the best scenario for someone who covets perfection in most things. Especially finding a suitable sous chef in so short a time.
Or the number of things quickly escalating in my mind as Eric eased the Lexus out of its parking bay.
'Is there a close relative you'd like to witness our civil ceremony on Sunday? Your father, perhaps?
Maya had been an only child; there were no aunts, uncles, or cousins. Just my father…a man who'd declined to attend his ex-wife's funeral, and was unlikely to accept an invitation to his daughter's wedding.
'No.
It didn't take long to reach the rocks, and I released the safety belt as soon as he slid to a halt adjacent to my restaurant.
I reached for the door latch. "Thanks.
'Call my mobile phone when you're done for the evening.
I paused in the process of closing the passenger door, a refusal on the top of my lips, only to have him lean towards me.
'Do it, Anna, he reiterated, and I simply pushed the door closed and filched a set of keys from my bag.
The rest of the day proved hectic, with a discrepancy in production supplies necessitating phone calls and an adjustment to the lunch menu.
The title 'chef', in my instance, covered a broad spectrum as I checked food preparation, utilized my cooking skills, took care of business, and ensured everything ran smoothly to plan.
Temperament, swearing, and hissy fits we're not tolerated, and the motto in my kitchen varied from 'just do it, 'suck it up', to 'customer satisfaction rules'.
The team comprised junior chefs and wait staff who worked well together, surmounting the inevitable daily hiccups with minimum angst and occasional humor.
By early afternoon, I had apprised the staff of my temporary absence in New York, my marriage, and provided assurance that their jobs were secure.
The news was that both Shontelle and Sally refused to accept without voicing concern, and they urged a confrontation as the staff returned to their positions.
'Like, why…and why the rush? Sally quietly demanded.
'Eric has to get back to New York, and he wants to get married before we leave.
'I can go with that. Except there are holes in the overall story, Shontelle pursued with a faint frown.
'Uh-huh, Sally agreed. 'You're not exactly the ecstatic, starry-eyed bride-to-be. So what gives?
They deserved my honesty, for we worked together, shared a lot, and provided unstinting support when Paul, my business partner, had left me financially bereft.
I provided the expurgated version, encapsulating it in one sentence, and went on to explain, 'I hated that my trust in Paul was totally misplaced…ashamed he managed to fool me so successfully.
I've fought hard to hold on to my…something I couldn't have managed without your support, and your willingness to go that extra mile for me, I added with sincerity.
'I care for Eric, and I know he's an honorable man with whom I'll share a pleasant life. Our forthcoming marriage is a sensible solution, I concluded.
'And you're OK to settle with sensible? Sally queried with concern, if he gives you grief, he'll pay—big time, Sally promised.
Shontelle added fiercely. 'When do we get to meet him?
'For the visual once-over and a verbal third degree? I teased.
A few phone calls resulted in two interviews arranged for mid-afternoon, each applicant presenting an impressive CV…although proof involved follow-up calls to their current or previous employers, which is satisfactory, they relied heavily upon a hands-on trail.
Something I organized to occur over the next two consecutive days.
Evening reservations ensured efficient handling in the kitchen. Not an easy task when operating on minimum staff.
However, they managed—just—and shortly after nine, the orders for mains lessened and progressed towards desserts and coffee.
'Party of five, and a gorgeous hunk—solo, Sally imparted with an appreciative rolling in my eyes as she presented our order.
'At a score of one to ten, he's eleven.
I merely lifted my speculative eyebrows, checked the order, and set to filling it.
Sally made a humorous game of according to scores of attractive men frequently in the restaurant.
'Going to spread some charm.
"Sally grinned as she filched a bottle of still water from the display refrigerator and then exited the kitchen.
Good luck, I offered silently as I seared a medallion of eye-fillet steak, selected the appropriate sauce, and arranged the accompanying salad.
'Think I'm in love, Sally enthused when she returned, and I shot her a telling look. 'Yeah, I know. Like he's going to even look at me.
But a girl can fantasize. A telling sigh emerged, accompanied by a feigned dreamy expression.
'You're a riot.
Sally offered an infectious grin as she collected the order.
"Help pass the time, darling.
So it did. Lightening the load when stress threatened to reach the stratosphere, as it did, for one reason or another, on a reasonably regular basis.
I worked the evening with efficient speed, clearing my mind of everything except the essential need to pay attention to detail, and the individual touch that made each dish on the menu special.
Events of the past few days were beginning to take their toll, and I rolled my shoulders in an attempt to ease the muscles in her upper body.
Battling a tension headache didn't help, and I looked forward to closing down for the night and sinking into bed.
Last night, a medically prescribed sedative ensured a good night's sleep. What would the coming night bring?
Oh, for heaven's sake! Take a reality check!
Sex with Eric was a given. It was just a matter of when.
So get over it!
He was a man…like any other.
Sure he is.