CHAPTER 1

 

The heavens opened, baptizing them with fat drops of rain as everyone stood on the sidewalk in Manhattan.

For any other resident of the Big Apple it might’ve just been another day in late fall, but for Cayden Lee it was a day that he had been waiting for five years.

Cayden Lee had arrived.

He cut the red silk ribbon with the oversized scissors; the sound of metal splitting fabric was the sweetest sound he had ever heard.

When he had inherited his parent’s Italian Restaurant Rosetta’s Ravioli five years ago, he had dreamed of large scale success. Opening Rosetta’s Ravioli in Manhattan was a large step in that direction.

He had franchised the chain shortly after he took over, opening Rosi’s in coastal towns on the East Coast. But Manhattan had been his shark, the one that had stalked him daily. The shark he had almost caught a few times but every time something prevented him from catching it.

He stepped over the now soaked wet ribbon on the side walk and opened the double glass doors with flourish; nothing was standing in his way now.

“Welcome to Rosetta’s Ravioli Manhattan.” He said over the cheering and clapping of the press and small crowd that had gathered for the opening. “May Rosi’s be your choice for fine Italian cuisine, good company and great service?”

Cayden couldn’t help the large smile that spread across his face, or the way success made him stand taller. He finally did it.

The crowd rushed inside, excitement bubbling through the chattering voices. Alberto the chef had been dejected that morning, proposing they delay the opening due to the weather. Cayden had refused on point. He had waited long enough for today without delaying it even further.

Moving through the crowd that waited for the maitre d’ to seat them, Cayden caught bits of conversation.

“The design is so sleek yet inviting.”

“I can’t wait to taste the ravioli.”

“Did you see how hot the owner is?”

Cayden smiled devilishly at those words; maybe he would get even luckier today.

He stepped into the kitchen where the acclaimed Italian chef was shouting orders as he inspected each plate before it left the kitchen.

“You still think we should postpone?” Cayden asked cocking an arrogant brow.

That served him a murderous glare from the chef. “Vaffanculo!”

Cayden laughed easily. He understood Italian and even spoke enough of it to know exactly what Alberto had just told him. You couldn’t grow up with an Italian mother and not pick up Italian even though they were raised English. He remembered fondly whenever his mother got mad she would revert to her native-tongue. Vaffanculo had been one of her favorites.

Cayden had enticed Alberto from one of the top Italian Restaurants in Manhattan. During their initial meetings Cayden had quickly learned Alberto was the perfect man for the job. He didn’t hesitate to voice his opinion, knew how to cook and was willing to follow the franchise recipes. The fact that he had a colorful vocabulary with a few profanities thrown in didn’t bother Cayden in the least.

O solo mio started ringing in his coat pocket. The ringtone Cayden had assigned to his office. He pulled out the phone and briskly moved towards a quieter part of the kitchen before he answered.

“Cayden.”

“Hi, it’s me.” Came the husky voice over the phone. Cayden recognized it instantly. It was Elizabeth Brown. Ever since Cayden had opened his first franchise Elizabeth had been the head of his marketing.

“Yeah Elizabeth?”

“You do remember you need to be back in South Hampton at two pm?”

“For what?” Cayden asked knowing it was going to irritate her.

“Cayden Lee! For five years I’ve helped your business grow and for five years I’ve been playing your assistant as well. The interviews are today Cayden, if you don’t hire yourself an assistant I won’t be coming back to work in the morning.”

“Whoa! I was just kidding. I’m on my way back now. Besides you’re so good at it, I don’t understand why you don’t just keep on assisting me.” Cayden smiled mischievously, he knew he was asking for it.

“I’ve got an MBA from Harvard Cayden, I grow businesses. Making coffee, answering calls and doing your paperwork isn’t exactly my cup of tea. You promised me a year ago you’re going to do this Cayden. I’m done waiting. I’ve arranged the interviews, handpicked the applicants! All you need to do is show up!” Her voice rose as she spoke, her lightly veiled temper was peeking through.

“I’ll be there Elizabeth. I just hope they’re pretty.”

“Goodbye Cayden!” Elizabeth said before hanging up.

Cayden laughed at the phone but knew Elizabeth was serious. She had spoiled him in the beginning helping out wherever it was needed but Cayden understood her time could be better spent. Cayden knew that, he just didn’t like change.

 

 

Caleb sat behind his desk in his office above the original Rosetta’s in South Hampton watching the middle aged brunette across the table from him.

“I’m over-qualified for this job, but I’m willing to take it in return for a fair package.”

Cayden bit his cheek, agitated with her already. “I understand. What package do you have in mind?”

“Well to start with I need full medical aid, twenty days leave per annum, forty percent discount on take-out from the restaurant, I prefer to only work six hours a day as I’m more efficient than anyone else you’ve ever met.” She bit her lower lip scrunching up her face as she counted her fingers. “Oh and I need a company car. You can’t expect me to put mileage on my own car for driving to work.”

Cayden leaned forward on the desk with a wide smile. “Why don’t I offer you all that including double the salary you asked for, forty leave days per year, a company car and a holiday once a year at my house in Colorado?”

Her beady brown eyes lit up with excitement. “Really, are you kidding me?”

Cayden smirked. “Yes, but you started it.”

Beady eyes huffed as she grabbed her purse and stood up. “Screw you Mr. Lee.”

Cayden laughed as the door closed behind her.

So far he had interviewed a high school drop out that believed she was going to be the first female president; a gum-chewing Barbie-type that couldn’t even pronounce Rosetta’s correctly, and now beady eyes.

He sighed, he knew he needed an assistant or Elizabeth was going to kill him, but surely she couldn’t expect him to hire one of these dimwits?

He scanned through the application of the next candidate. New Jersey, just finished college, waitressed up until now, was living in the city at the moment but would move if she got the job.

He swiveled around in his chair and looked at the Atlantic in the distance. When he had realized he needed an office and the existing Rosi’s didn’t allow for it he had built on a second story to house offices. A decision he had never regretted. The view alone calmed him whenever the demands of running a million dollar franchise sometimes overwhelmed him. He thought back to his parents, would they be proud of him? He heard the door open behind him and turned around in his chair to meet the next applicant.

“Shit!” He heard coming from the mass of hair currently covering her face as she bent to pick up the folder she dropped. Her hair wasn’t brown; it was like a melody of all Cayden’s favorite things, burnt butter, dark chocolate and hints of caramel at the ends.

She wore a pale blue cashmere jersey and lightly ripped jeans. Cayden had a feeling they were ripped from wear not by design.

He felt his groin stir as she straightened herself. Blue eyes reminding him of the sea and the sky, she looked at him reservedly. “Hi, sorry about that. I’m Anna-Sophia Jackson.”

Cayden swallowed the lump in his throat and for the first time that day stood and held out his hand. “Cayden Lee, pleased to meet you.”

Her hand was soft and warm in his, her nails a bright orange contrasting the light blue sweater but the clashing colors suited her somehow.

“Thank you for coming in today Anna-Sophia.” Cayden said sitting down.

“Please, don’t call me that. My mother always dreamed of being a Southern Belle and somehow the thought of giving me a double name would pass on the dream. Just call me Anna.”

Cayden smiled, liking her more by the minute. “Okay Anna. Tell me more about yourself?”

“Well there’s not much too tell. I’m twenty-two, grew up in a trailer park in New Jersey, put myself through school waiting tables and just qualified as a personal assistant a couple months ago. I’ve just moved in with a friend in Manhattan but plan to move out once I get a job.”

Cayden was shocked by her honesty but even more shocked by her poise and confidence as she told him about growing up in a trailer park.

“Right.” Cayden said clearing his throat. “Why do you think you’re suited for this job?”

“Honestly? I don’t think I am. Rosi’s has seven chains nationally and that’s excluding the one you opened this morning in New York. You need someone that can read your mind, anticipate your needs and work side by side with you without direct orders.”

Cayden tried his best to suppress his amazement. That was exactly what he needed; she was exactly what he needed. He found a strange camaraderie with her because he also wasn’t born into wealth. He had worked damn hard for every penny and although he didn’t regret it, he knew his life would’ve been easier if he had started out with a trust fund like his friends.

His eyes trailed from her sky blue eyes to her full cotton-candy pink lips. He wondered if they would feel as soft as they looked.

“What remuneration package are you expecting? You didn’t mention anything in your application.” Cayden said trying to compose himself. His mind had travelled beyond working with her to sleeping with her.