Chapter Four

Sebastian

I didn’t have to do it. It was a labor of love to get behind the stove. Developing those flavors put me in the right frame of mind. I was looking forward to some pleasant conversation. I didn’t expect anything more than that. It was a pleasure meeting Jessica. I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

“You know the chef was a little angry when he left here this evening. I think he’s worried that his job is in jeopardy. I understand this is your way of offering up an olive branch. The only thing he sees is the food coming out of his family’s mouth.” It was not my intention to give the chef a complex about his abilities.

“I don’t normally do this, but I feel like going the extra mile for her. I can tell she’s a survivor. Life knocks her down and she keeps getting up to dust herself off. I admire the strength it takes to rise above the expectations of others. I see a free spirit wild and untamed. She’s nothing like some of the other girls I have dated recently.” It was nice to have Steadman to talk to about these things without feeling weighed down.

“I’ve taken the liberty of choosing your attire for the evening. I hope I wasn’t being too presumptuous. You only have one chance at a good impression. It’s not like she doesn’t know you have money. She only has to look around to know how wealthy you are.” I was stirring the pot and using my hand to inhale the aroma of the spices I had mixed into my Gumbo.

It was a family recipe found withered in a recipe book weathered by age. The yellowed pages brought back my childhood in a wave of culinary delights. My mother knew her way around the kitchen. I think I disappointed my father by following her around tugging at her apron.

“I sometimes wonder what I would do without you. I still have my independence, but you have made things infinitely easier. I could muddle through without you, but I don’t want to.” It was simmering and marrying the flavors into every morsel.

“What are your intentions toward her? I can tell she’s had her fair share of heartbreak in her life. It’s not fair to dangle happiness in front of her eyes and snatch it away. This one isn’t going to be a skid mark in the revolving door of lovers coming out of your bedroom.” He saw those women in the morning and obviously made his assessment by getting to know them better.

The kitchen was pristine with Stainless Steel Appliances. The stove I was working at had six burners. I was only using two of them to make a meal to satisfy any appetite. I hardly ever broke out those recipes my mother had left me.

There were times I was feeling nostalgic and gave the staff the night off. It left me the solitude to revel in those creations by my mother’s hand.

“You don’t have to tell me that she’s different. There’s something broken inside of her. She tries to hide it, but it’s not easy when her eyes are the windows to the soul. She puts on a brave face, but I see the anger and resentment.” I had done my own research and found her father to be the cause for all of her worries.

Gambling was his weakness. Cards held a strong appeal. I pitied her, but I saw the strength it took to keep her father from falling through the cracks of society. She could have washed her hands and walked away. The family bond had her wrapped around his little finger. He probably didn’t mean it, but he knew who to call when the chips were down.

“It appears she is going to be fashionably late. Use this time to make yourself presentable. I’m going to make myself scarce for the rest of the evening. You don’t need me to seal the deal. Be careful and you already know that her heart is fragile. Take things one step at a time.” His wise words made me realize that my life of imitation was predicated on what I wanted the public to see about me.

“I want to kick start this date on the right note. It’s the reason why I decided to be proactive by going after her sweet tooth. The tiramisu is going to melt in her mouth. I’ve never gone to these lengths to impress. Money can only go so far.” Thawing her heart wasn’t going to be easy with the metaphorical ice hard to chip away.

“I see something more about this one. She has captured your interest and made you a prisoner of her bewitching smile. I saw your eyes light up when she walked in the room. I was a little stunned by your reaction. I thought you were immune to a woman’s sexual charms. I should’ve known from personal experience it only takes one.” I saw the faraway look in his eyes and sensed there was more to his statement.

“You know you can talk to me about anything. You are more than an employee. You’ve been my friend and confidant for too many years.” Steadman tried to keep his personal life to himself, but there were always chinks in his armor during late night conversations.

“I don’t like to talk about the one that got away. It hurts me deeply to think of her in somebody else’s arms. Don’t make the mistake I made by letting her go out of pigheaded pride. Fight for what you want.” I was about to make my rebuttal, but I turned and found that he was gone.

I had no idea how he was able to do that. If I didn’t know any better, I would have sworn there was an array of secret passages for him to come and go at will. He held onto the proud tradition of being a butler through several generations of his family. His service to me went well and beyond his duties.

I placed the cover over the pot and opened the oven to make sure the dessert would be ready on time. The custard was my secret weapon. I abandoned my post and made my way upstairs to find my black tuxedo on the bed.

I took a quick cold shower with the freezing droplets awakening all of my senses. I had to mute the feelings I had for her. The craving to touch her was stronger with every second that passed. Living like a refugee sequestered in my home made me appear to be an eccentric.

I didn’t venture too far away from the premises. I had everything I wanted within the walls of my estate. I did attend functions in my honor. It would have seemed rude not to make an appearance. They didn’t need to know I was more comfortable around inanimate objects.

People had a tendency to say what I wanted to hear. There was always an underlying meaning laced in their statements. I’d become a master of reading between the lines.

I put on my clothing one item at a time finishing with the cufflinks and bow tie. It was my fervent hope that Jessica would see more than the packaging. I had sophistication and refinement. I worked diligently to perfect the man born from catastrophe. It was interesting to talk about myself in the third person.

I heard the medley from the doorbell echoing through the estate. It was my favorite song called “The wayward son. There was a television show I watched in silence without any interruption. The hunters of the supernatural had become a guilty pleasure. The two brothers had me wondering what it would have been like to have a sibling.

I casually made my way down the stairs running my fingers along the mahogany staircase. It had recently been polished and it was tempting to slide down the banister taking on the guise of my childhood. I smiled guiltily.

I opened the door and found a scowl of contempt on her face. She brushed past me with her perfume delicately tickling my nostrils. I inhaled and found my eyes fluttering in appreciation for what she was wearing. The red dress was an extension of her body. There was obviously something on her mind.

“Don’t ask and I won’t tell. It’s galling to have you summon me here. It was a mistake to come here. I’m going to give you a little bit of my time. I’m doing this is for my father. The only reason why I do anything is for my father. It’s an endless cycle without an end.” I took her silk black wrap from her shoulders and put it in the closet.

“I won’t pretend to know what you’re going through. I never had my family around for those milestones. I inherited a small sum and parlayed it into what you see here today. I think we both know your father loves you dearly. I don’t know him, but I suspect gambling was something he didn’t see coming.” The candles were lit, but her attitude made me extinguish them with a quick puff of air from my lungs.

“I came over here to give you a piece of my mind. It’s not fair that you are being kind and courteous. You weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Knowing where you come from is half the battle. I don’t think I’m going to make good company tonight. We could postpone this until I have my head on straight.” She wanted to bow out gracefully, but I wasn’t going to give her that satisfaction.

“I want you to relax and forget about everything. I went to a lot of work and I don’t want it to go to waste. It’s not often that I have a female visitor for dinner. I would be offended if you walk out. There’s nothing here that will hurt you. Make yourself comfortable and I will be right back with refreshments.” She had a choice to make and I was hoping she was going to make the right one.

“I don’t see how any of this is going to help me. I’ve had some tough times in my life. The only constant was my father being there for me. He gave me the advice that my mother should have given me. Her death brought us closer together than ever before. Losing her changed him and he became bitter with aspirations of getting rich. He has been looking to grab the Brass ring for as long as I can remember.” She had a hard life but managed to emerge relatively unscathed. It was a testament to her strength and character.

“I have the perfect bottle of wine for the occasion. It’s from my own personal collection. I don’t feel bad for enjoying the finer things in life. I never had money growing up. My father had this house of cards which I had to deal with. I lost over half of my inheritance cleaning up his mess. It’s not nice when they leave us to become the gatekeeper of all of their secrets.” The only thing we had in common was our dysfunctional family dynamics.

I opened up the small fridge underneath the counter. The bottle I was looking for was soon in my hand. I popped the cork using a knife putting on a display like a magician for his audience. It appeared she was mildly impressed. She didn’t make a sound when the cork popped, but her body did jump a little from where she was sitting.

The leatherback chair with the accompanying ottoman was something special I had picked up in Brazil. It paled in comparison to the beauty and splendor of her long legs stretched out upon it.

She took the glass from my hand and polished off the contents by easily tipping her head back. She was a star burned out but there was still light ready to shine again. Somehow I was going to awaken the vibrant and vivacious woman underneath the caustic attitude.

“This does have a good body. I do have to warn you liquor goes right to my head. If your intention is to seduce me then you are on the right track. I’m going to take your advice. Nothing can be settled tonight concerning my father. The die has already been cast.” It was an ominous thing for her to say.

“Would you like to expand on that? I don’t want you to feel there is no way out. The heirloom you showed me has been verified to be the real thing. We can talk about the price over dinner. I prepared some of my childhood favorites. The recipes are my way of staying close to my heritage.” We adjourned to the dining room and I went into the kitchen to finish up some last minute details.