Ethan leaned against the counter as he watched the kitchen staff move with practiced efficiency.
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The mansion’s chefs were some of the best, and he made sure they were well-compensated for it, with even increases in their pay sometimes.
The scent of grilled meat and sautéed vegetables filled the air, a sign that dinner was coming along well.
"Make it extra good tonight," he instructed the head chef, a seasoned woman named Marianne, who nodded while flipping something expertly in a pan.
From their movements alone, one could tell that they were professionals at what they did, besides he wasn’t about to hire rookie chefs for himself.
"Of course, boss. Special occasion?" she asked, briefly glancing up.
"Not really, just have a visitor over," Ethan replied, looking toward the living room where Vanessa was sprawled across the couch, lazily scrolling through her phone.
Marianne nodded and got back to cooking, a small smirk on her face that didn’t go unnoticed by Ethan, he couldn’t help but wonder what she was smirking about but his eyes soon flicked back to Vanessa again.
Her long black hair was tied up with a band, seemed she had done it just now, though a few strands fell over her face as she tapped at her screen, seemingly lost in thought.
Ethan walked to the fridge, pulled out two drinks from the boundless reservoir that was restocked daily, and tossed one to her.
She caught it effortlessly, popping the cap with ease before taking a swig, though she was a bit annoyed it wasn’t alcohol but she didn’t say.
"Haven’t seen you racing in a while," he said, twisting off the cap of his own drink and taking a sip. "What, did you retire early?"
Vanessa scoffed. "Hardly. There just aren’t any races worth my time lately."
Ethan sighed.
Classic Vanessa.
She had always been the type to chase thrills, but only if they were actually challenging. If a race didn’t push her to her limits, she wouldn’t bother.
"You’re gonna get rusty if you don’t keep at it," he teased.
She raised an eyebrow. "Please. I could go six months without touching the track and still dust half the guys out there."
He chuckled. "Confident as always. I hope you can actually live up to it and not be some all bark but no bite kind of person."
Her eyes landed on him with a small frown that quickly turned to a smirk.
"You could test me if you want, we could run a lap around the city if you want." Vanessa said.
He was about to say something but their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of dinner. Stay tuned to freewebnovel
One of the chefs, a young woman with sweat-stained clothes and a slightly flushed face, brought the dishes to the dining room, carefully setting them down.
Vanessa sat up, cracking her neck before standing and making her way over, eyes locked on the food.
Ethan pulled out a chair for her, but she ignored it and sat down in another one, arms crossed. He smirked but said nothing, taking a seat across from her.
The food looked great — a perfectly grilled steak, roasted potatoes with a golden-brown crisp, and a fresh garden salad with a light dressing.
Steam rose from the dishes, carrying the rich aroma of seasoned meat and butter.
Vanessa took her knife and cut into the steak, lifting a piece to her mouth. Ethan watched as she chewed thoughtfully, waiting for her critique.
She swallowed, then shrugged. "Not bad."
Marianne, who had come to check on their reaction, raised an eyebrow. "Not bad?"
Vanessa smirked. "It’s good. But I could name a place or two that does it better."
The head chef huffed but didn’t look too offended. "Maybe next time, you should cook for us then."
Vanessa tapped her chin in mock consideration. "Maybe I will."
Ethan shook his head, amused. "Just eat."
She laughed, finally relenting as she took another bite, this time with clear satisfaction.
They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds being the occasional clink of silverware against plates.
Ethan hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he started eating, and soon his plate was nearly empty.
Vanessa was taking her time, savoring each bite, probably thinking about how to criticize the meal while still enjoying it.
"So," Ethan said, pouring himself a glass of water. "If there’s no racing, what have you been up to?"
Vanessa leaned back in her chair, swirling her drink in her hand. "Messing around, mostly. Working on my car. Testing a few new modifications."
"Modifications?"
She grinned. "Nothing illegal, if that’s what you’re thinking."
"That wasn’t what I was thinking, but now I am."
She laughed. "Relax. Just tuning things. The engine, the suspension, testing a new set of tires. I need something to keep me occupied."
Ethan hummed in understanding. Vanessa never sat still for long. If she wasn’t racing, she was working on her car, and if she wasn’t doing that, she was looking for some other adrenaline rush to chase.
"You can show me the modifications sometime," he said. "Wouldn’t mind taking a look."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You interested in cars now?"
He shrugged. "I know enough to get by. But I wouldn’t mind seeing what you’re working on."
She considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Maybe I’ll show you tomorrow."
"Looking forward to it."
They finished up their meal, and Ethan stood to stretch. Vanessa pushed back her chair, yawning.
"I’ll help clean up," he said, but Marianne waved him off.
"Boss, you aren’t supposed to be stressing yourself with all this," she said and Ethan sighed.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes at Ethan who sighed. "Come on, that shouldn’t make you whine."
"I’m not whining," Ethan said.
"Sure you aren’t,"
Vanessa rolled her eyes, standing up and stretching her arms over her head. "I’m heading to bed."
Ethan walked her to her door, and she paused before stepping inside.
"Thanks for dinner," she said.
He raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t expect that from you."
She smirked. "Don’t get used to it."